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Where mission
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We are committed to building a system of care that ensures children, youth, families, caregivers and young adults can easily access the support they need. Through coordinated efforts and community-focused initiatives, we are strengthening connections and improving access to behavioral health services.
From raising awareness and empowering families with Kids Mental Health Washington and the Center of Parent Excellence (COPE) to providing real-time crisis support with Youth Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), these programs work together to create a comprehensive network in accessing care.
In this month’s newsletter, we’re also sharing overdose prevention resources, updates on statewide initiatives like Washington Thriving, and upcoming opportunities to connect and learn, including the Psychosis CARE Virtual Conference and free family education on substance use.
Together, we can continue to work toward healthier, more connected communities where support is always within reach.
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Did you know that in Washington State, there are programs available to support families, caregivers, and young people seeking pathways to behavioral health help regardless of funding or ability to pay? Today, we’re highlighting three key services that provide immediate help, community collaboration, and family-centered support—but there are more out there!
For families in crisis, Youth Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) offer rapid, community-based intervention for youth experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges. Available 24/7, MRSS teams respond directly to home or community to provide stabilization, helping to prevent unnecessary hospitalization or out-of-home placements. Not only do they address the immediate crisis, but they also connect families and caregivers with ongoing care and resources.
Kids Mental Health WA - Across every region in Washington, local communities come together to create resource lists and access "portals" to connect families and caregivers with the support they need. These collaboratives bring together individuals and organizations committed to supporting young people, families and caregivers, ensuring that behavioral health resources are available and easy to find. The regional teams bring a curated group of people from the community collaborative together to support a young person or their family/caregiver with options for support that match the request for help. Every regional team has a dedicated person from the Developmental Disabilities Administration to ensure these efforts are inclusive and comprehensive.
Lastly for this month, we would love to highlight our Center of Parent Excellence (COPE) Project. Hosted by A Common Voice, which is Washington state’s longest standing family run organization, and built by parents for parents. All Lead Family Support Specialists are peers—those with lived experience in raising children with mental health or substance use challenges. The Center of Parent Excellence (COPE) is a hub of support for parents and caregivers. COPE equips families with tools to navigate complex systems and advocate for their youth’s well-being.
These programs reflect Washington State’s intentional efforts to ensure families and caregivers can easily access help when they need it most regardless of insurance type or funding. Whether through crisis response, community collaboration, or empowering parents and caregivers, these initiatives are transforming and empowering communities to support their community in accessing behavioral health for young people.
If you’d like to see a broader list of programs like these, let us know! We can continue this as a series in upcoming newsletters, highlighting more services and supports for young people, families and caregivers.
No matter the challenge, our goal is to support communities and providers in ensuring help is available. For more information about these programs and how to access services, visit the Prenatal, child, youth and young adult behavioral health services website.
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Stay informed and join Washington Thriving
Washington Thriving is a collaborative statewide effort to develop a strategic plan that will transform the behavioral health system for children, youth, and young adults from birth through age 25.
Read the February newsletter to learn more about this exciting initiative and how you can get involved.
Weekly office hours: Join the Youth & Young Adult Housing Response Team (YYAHRT)
YYAHRT core members are available to consult with youth, families, providers, and public employees, offering support and resources for young adults facing or at risk of unsafe housing after exiting a System of Care.
Substance Use Disorder family education & curriculum training
Health Care Authority is offering free online training to empower families and communities with tools to support loved ones navigating substance use challenges.
Why attend?
- Learn about substance use and its impact on families.
- Gain practical tools to support recovery and build resilience.
- Access developmentally specific resources.
Who should join?
- Families, youth-serving organizations, peer support specialists, behavioral health providers, and community advocates.
Psychosis CARE virtual gathering
HCA is dedicated to engaging in Community Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE) on First Episode Psychosis.
This free, two-day virtual conference will take place on April 29 and 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) provides information and resources to support overdose response efforts and to improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs. The documents below cover topics related to naloxone products and access and the contribution of syringe service programs to overdose prevention and response. We encourage you to share these documents with your networks to help ensure that more people are prepared to prevent and respond to overdoses in their communities.
While these documents primarily focus on adults, they are just as important for young adults. In Washington, opioid-related deaths among individuals aged 18-24 have increased, with at least 127 fatalities reported in 2023. This highlights the need for overdose prevention, recognition, and response strategies tailored to this age group. Ensuring young adults have access to overdose prevention, recognition and response education, naloxone, and harm reduction services can be lifesaving.
- Naloxone (often known by the brand name NARCAN®) is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and is available as a prescription and over-the-counter product. DOH provides guidance on how to get naloxone from pharmacies using health coverage. The Statewide Standing Order to Dispense Naloxone and this guide are helpful tools to support naloxone access in Washington.
- To find this information in Russian, Spanish, or Vietnamese and to find printable versions of this document, visit this webpage and scroll down to “Resources”.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and how to take action on the Naloxone Instructions webpage.
- This issue brief provides a summary of the current data and DOH’s recommendations on opioid overdose reversal medication types and dosages. Organizations can consider these recommendations when purchasing or acquiring these medications for community-based distribution. DOH supports the use of standard-dose naloxone in community settings.
- This resource highlights the critical functions of syringe service programs (SSPs) in overdose prevention and response. SSPs provide comprehensive services beyond syringe access and disposal, including overdose education, naloxone distribution, and connections to substance use disorder treatment, health care, housing, and transportation.
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Stay informed and connected with the latest resources and updates on behavioral health services for prenatal, child, and young adult care. Visit our website for more information on the programs and support available.
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