Connect (Events)

Barriers to Mental Health Care for Families of Color presented by Wa State Family Engagement Center and Dr. Carmela Maxell-Runyon, PsyD, MA, LMHC, Mental Health Professional, WAFE board member, PLTI Graduate and senior faculty lecturer, and part-time faculty at Antioch University and Seattle Central College. 6/1, 7-9 pm. Register here.

Book Study of Regulation and Co-Regulation from Attachment and Trauma Network.  is a 15-Minute Focus book from the National Center for Youth Issues written by Ginger Healy, MSW, LCSW.  This book is available for teachers, counselors and parents alike. ATN's Book Study of Regulation and Co-Regulation that starts June 5, and meets virtually for 4 consecutive Monday evenings, 5 pm PST. Register here | Purchase the book.

The eQuality Community Convening will focus on ways adults can collaboratively create safer and more affirming care for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. This Convening is rooted in community, and attendees should come ready to share perspectives, questions, expertise, and experiences in a conversation-based learning environment. Join the Center for Children and Youth Justice in-person at the eQuality Community Convening in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington on June 6 | Bridgeview Resource Center, 505 Omaha Way, Vancouver | Learn more, register, and share a flyer here.

Washington State DEI Empowerment Conference 2023: Bridging Gaps and Leaning into Action. The 2023 WA DEI Empowerment Conference will held virtually over Zoom each Wednesday in June (June 7, 14, 21 and 28). We are committed to supporting statewide and agency-specific equity and anti-racism work, with the goal of building more just systems and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging with our state workforce. The conference will be hosted by Dr. Adrian Thompson, chief equity officer for the Department of Enterprise Services. Admission is free and open to all employees from Washington state agencies, boards and commissions. Learn more and register here.

The Call for Liberation: Black Maternal Mental Health Redefined (for WA State Providers). Join us for a day of networking, learning and empowerment. In this training, we will cover mental health screening, systemic racism, discrimination, and social determinants of health that impact Black women's mental health. This free training is offered by Perinatal Support WA and the Shades of Motherhood Network through a grant from Strengthening Families Washington at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). June 8 | 9:15-4:00pm PST | Register Here.

2023 Washington Behavioral Healthcare Conference from Washington Council for Behavioral Health.  So much has changed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and there have been many challenges along the way. But as we emerge from these difficult years, we also see promising signs of hope, recovery, and resiliency. There is unprecedented support and recognition of the need for expanded access to behavioral health care, including community-based treatment and peer support services. There is long overdue attention and growing momentum to address structural racism throughout our communities and institutions. We’ll weave these themes together in Kennewick in June, hearing from community providers, regional and national experts, and people with lived experience to share their wisdom, knowledge, and tools. June 15-16, 2023 |  Kennewick, WA | Register Here.

The Intersection Between Infant Feeding, Sleep, Mental Health, & Family Well-Being Webinar: New parents often have questions and concerns about balancing infant feeding and sleep, and the changes and challenges that go along with it. As perinatal professionals, we can support them in gaining greater understanding of what to expect for infant feeding and sleep, as well as how to navigate challenges that may arise during their transition to parenthood and the first years with their little one. This free training is offered by Perinatal Support WA through a grant from Strengthening Families Washington at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). June 13 | 12:30-2pm PST | Register Here.

The Power of Relationships in Advancing Child and Family Well-Being: Lessons from Rural Communities. CWLA invites urban and rural providers to join us for a special virtual summit that will share strategies for community collaboration. Many rural child- and family-serving agencies have innovative approaches to partnering with community-based organizations to bring holistic services to families. This summit will provide an opportunity for urban providers to hear directly from national rural leaders about methods for working with local organizations, outside of child welfare, and how these lessons can be applied to their own communities. Each day will end with a dialogue session for shared learning with peers. June 20 and June 22, 2023, 10-1:30 PT | Register Here (fee required).

2023 Together We Can Conference: This free conference features workshops throughout the day for individuals experiencing developmental disabilities, families and support professionals, a complimentary lunch, a resource fair and an opportunity to connect with others and learn about community resources. Breakout Session Topic Include:                 Special Education; Transition; Guardianship; DDA Eligibility and Services; Self Advocacy and more | June 23 | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Lower Columbia College 1600 Maple Street, Longview, WA | Register Here.

Race & Ed | Supporting the Mental Health & Educational Needs of LGBTQIA+ Students: Studies suggest our nation is experiencing a mental health crisis amongst youth and college-aged LGBTQ persons. Many equate this to the COVID-19 Pandemic and legislative attacks that often target trans individuals. This webinar will focus on the importance of creating inclusive environments that aid in improving the mental health and educational outcomes of LGBTQ students. June 27 | 11:00 a.m. | Register Here.

Learn (Educational Resources)

Child Trends’ Child Welfare Financing Survey, recently updated with data from state fiscal year (SFY) 2020, found that child welfare agencies continued to spend little in 2020 on prevention of factors that lead to family separation, relative to expenditures on other services and activities. This resource provides detailed profiles of child welfare agency expenditures from federal, state, local, and other funding sources for SFY 2020 and analyzes inflation-adjusted changes over time, both state-by-state and nationally. Read the findings here.

MHAYC Implementation report: the Healthcare Authority published a new report summarizing the feedback of 20 different providers on their experience implementing a new set of policies referred to as Mental Health Assessment for Young Children (MHAYC). Providers reported that MHAYC policies have made billing for IECMH services easier, increased provider competence in serving young children, and improved access to developmentally appropriate services. Read the report here.

Innovate (News and New Insights)

Two articles from the Seattle Times: Shrink WA foster care safely with investment in social safety net (article) and We all scream for capital gains tax dividends for working families (article). “Decades of brain research have proved that simply being taken into foster care is a major trauma itself, separate from anything that preceded it. The problem is, moms and dads who are without stable housing or money for food, who have mental health or substance abuse problems, need substantial help. And Washington does not yet have a robust system of high-quality services ready for them.”

Joint policy statement on the roles of 988 and the regional crisis lines: Since the national implementation of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in July 2022,  (with the passing of E2SHB 1477), Regional Crisis Lines (RCLs) in Washington state have remained an important resource and primary access point to Washington’s behavioral health crisis system. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and the Department of Health (DOH) have made a policy decision to support the continued work of the RCLs. Currently, contacting either 988 or a RCL will connect a person with the appropriate resources, and they should utilize whichever resource is most comfortable during this transition. View the policy statement here.

Grow (Funding and Resources)

Behavioral Health Facilities Grants. Funding available for two types of crisis stabilization facilities from Wa Department of Commerce:  Behavioral Health Facilities grant applications are open for Children and Youth Residential Crisis Stabilization Programs (RCSP) and Adult or Child Crisis Stabilization Units (CSU). Grant funds can be used for new construction, renovation and acquisition and must result in an increased number of beds. The competitive funding round is open to nonprofits, for-profit businesses, public entities, and tribes who are either a community hospital or a community-based behavioral health provider. Pre-applications are due by 5 p.m. June 15; Funding round closes at 5 p.m. June 30. See the full application process here.

Tribal Focused Organizations RFA: The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families is excited to announce a funding opportunity for Federally Recognized Tribes, Recognized American Indian Organizations (RAIOs), and other Native Serving Organizations. Through this funding opportunity, DCYF will contract with Tribal Governments, RAIOs, and Native Serving Organizations to pilot culturally responsive and specific prevention services to reduce entries into out-of-home care among Native children. This pilot will help DCYF and its pilot partners learn what it takes to achieve that goal in advance of an anticipated expansion in these kinds of services in the coming years.

The application will be live from May 10, 2023 and due by July 7, 2023, by 5 p.m. The agency anticipates awarding 3-6 contracts, valued at approximately $100,000-$200,000 for one year, with a possibility of further extension dependent on available funding and pilot success. The initial contract will run from October 2023, through September 2024.

All Washington Federally Recognized Tribes, Recognized American Indian Organizations (RAIOs) and other Native Serving Organizations are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Information about this opportunity including the Request for Applications (RFA) form, is available at Washington’s Electronic Business Solution, WEBS Website: https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/

Please contact Rachel Denny at  Rachel.Denney@dcyf.wa.gov for any questions.

If you have suggestions for what to include in this newsletter, email Joy Lile.