In crisis?
Child and youth behavioral health services
Mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services — also referred to as behavioral health (BH) — are available for children and youth through community mental health agencies and licensed therapists.
Does your child need immediate help?
- For a life-threatening emergency: Call 911.
- For suicide prevention: Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TRS: 1-800-799-4889).
- For 24-hour emotional support and referrals: Contact the Washington Recovery Help Line or the crisis line in your area.
On this page
Do you want to receive announcements about children's mental health?
How do I find services for my child or youth?
If you receive health insurance through Medicaid, you have two types of benefits for behavioral health services:
- Through Apple Health: This benefit is for lower intensity outpatient mental health treatment only.
- Through behavioral health organizations (BHOs): This benefit is for higher intensity mental health services not covered by the Apple Health plan, and for substance use treatment.
Read the two-page Medicaid-funded behavioral health treatment guide for individuals and families to learn more about Medicaid-funded versus non-Medicaid-funded behavioral health services and find a provider.
How much do services cost?
There is no cost for services provided to Medicaid families, and reduced fees for low income families enrolled in a Washington health plan.
Other health plans offer different premiums and fees for services. Some services at community agencies are provided on sliding-fee scales, or may offer reduced costs with private support or help from organizations like United Way.
Private health insurance plans usually have lists of their counseling providers available by phone or on their website. Online and printed telephone directories have lists of counselors and mental health agencies in the counseling section or community services pages.
How do we access services?
All children and youth with Medicaid can receive a mental health assessment through a community mental health agency, and can receive other needed services. Services are generally provided at the mental health agency, in your home, or at other locations in your community.
To find a service location:
- Call the BHO that serves the county you live in.
- If you live in Chelan, Douglas, Clark or Skamania county, you will not have a BHO to administer behavioral health services. Contact your Apple Health plan directly to request treatment. For more information, call Apple Health customer service at 1-800-562-3022.
Are there resources to help us?
Yes. In addition to the following resources, you can find more information on our mental health services page and substance use treatment page (including alcohol use treatment, opioid use treatment, and tobacco use treatment).
- Child Study and Treatment Center (CSTC)
- Children's Long-term Mental Health Inpatient Program
- Children's mental health intensive services (WISe)
- First Episode Psychosis Program and Early Psychosis Initiative
- Improving children's mental health with a system of care (SOC)
- Parent initiated treatment
- Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe)
- Youth substance use involuntary treatment
- Youth substance use recovery services
- Youth substance use treatment services
- Youth treatment improvement
Collaborations, round tables, and work groups provide guidance, direction, and oversight.
Contact
Diana Cockrell
Email: Diana.Cockrell@hca.wa.gov
