BHA General FAQ

What types of services are available?

Community mental health agencies provide mental health services through contracts with the Regional Support Networks. Services could be provided at the mental health agency, in your home, or elsewhere in the community.  Treatment services should be individualized and tailored to meet the needs of your child and family.

Treatment may include:

  • Brief intervention or individual treatment: A solution focused, outcomes oriented, time limited intervention designed to achieve goals identified in the treatment plan.
  • Medication management: The prescribing and/or administering and reviewing of medications and their side effects.
  • Medication monitoring: Cueing, observing, and encouraging consumers to take their medication as prescribed and reporting back to persons licensed to perform medication management services.
  • Psychoeducation: A set of activities that teach and explore the provision of emotional support, education, reducing stressors, resources, and problem solving skills to consumers and their family members.
  • Group treatment: Face-to-face activities provided by one or more staff to two or more individuals under the supervision of a mental health professional.
  • Family support: Support groups and advocacy to families to which there is a seriously disturbed child or adolescent.
  • Other services and supports as defined in the treatment plan.
Who can give consent for minors to be admitted to acute or long-term inpatient care?
  • Admission to any inpatient setting requires a determination of medical necessity, financial eligibility, and willingness of the program to admit the youth.
  • The following are referred to as voluntary admissions:
    • For all minors under 13 years of age, a parent must give consent.
    • A minor 13-18 years of age and their parents may jointly give consent.
    • A minor 13-18 years of age may give consent for admission without parental agreement.
  • The treatment facility must notify the parents in a way that will most likely reach the parent within twenty-four hours of the admission. RCW 71.34.044
  • Involuntary admission:
    • In the event of any minor 13 years of age or older (and/or his/her parent) refuses admission, the minor may be evaluated and detained involuntarily by a DMHP (DMHP) in accordance with RCW 71.34.
  • If the DMHP makes a decision that the minor does not require inpatient treatment, the parent can seek review of that decision made by the DMHP in court. RCW 71.34

  • Parent initiated admission
    (an option created in 1995 through legislation known as the At Risk Youth or "Becca" bill):

    •  A parent may give consent for admission of their minor child. The consent of the minor is not required. RCW 71.34
    • A parent may give consent for continued in patient care in the event his/her previously unwilling minor child requests discharge during an inpatient stay. RCW 71.34
    • Providers are not obligated to provide treatment to a minor under the provisions of this section. RCW 71.34 (4)
    • ​This is NOT considered an “involuntary admission” in spite of the fact it is against the minor's will.
Who qualifies for publicly funded mental health services?
  • Children and adults qualify for medically-necessary mental health services through their RSN if they are covered by Medicaid.
  • RSNs are managed care plans for mental health services.  They coordinate mental health services in their service area through contracts with community mental health agencies
  • Other people who do not qualify for Medicaid, but have a serious or long-term mental illness, can receive services as resources allow.
  • All citizens of the state qualify for crisis mental health services, disaster response services, and involuntary treatment services.
Why should services be coordinated?

Families may be involved in more than one child-serving system (i.e. special education, child welfare, juvenile justice) and can benefit from a coordinated planning that is thorough and comprehensive and reduces overlapping or conflicting assessments, plans, time limits, and requirements. Such a coordinated plan enhances achievement of family self-sufficiency and stability and thus supports the best interests of the parents/guardian and child.