4 Behavioral Health Bills to Pass in Washington State in 2021

New bills come fast and furious at the beginning of the legislative session. Things stay in flux – that is everything is on the table – until *MONDAY* February 15, 2021 which is when a bill must have passed through it’s “chamber of origin” that is either the House or Senate. Until then, you canContinue reading “4 Behavioral Health Bills to Pass in Washington State in 2021”

Centering families in Children & Adolescent Behavioral Healthcare

What does it mean to involve families in our children’s behavioral health care and why is it important? 6 mothers of struggling Washington State children, who were failed by our community safety net, met on December 26 and drafted a bill proposal. These values became the first draft of the Family Cares Act, SB 5412.Continue reading “Centering families in Children & Adolescent Behavioral Healthcare”

One week in the life of a children’s behavioral health advocate

Behavioral health advocacy is intense. This week it was like standing in front of a fire hose. Nearly all of the issues below predate the pandemic. Governor Inslee must assume leadership and help guide a path to fixing our broken system. Parents can’t do it alone. Documenting new evidence of our system in crisis: DisabilityContinue reading “One week in the life of a children’s behavioral health advocate”

Rooting Out Stigma and Bias in Our Healthcare System

Eliminating stigma and bias in favor of behavioral health equity and parity must become part of our healthcare agenda if we truly wish to eliminate systemic harm to BIPOC and struggling families. Are you aware that you hold unconscious judgements about people who have behavioral health challenges that contribute to societal harm of vulnerable families,Continue reading “Rooting Out Stigma and Bias in Our Healthcare System”

Behavioral Health Bias Hurts Children and their Families

Behavioral health equity and parity must become part of our healthcare agenda if we truly wish to eliminate harm that comes from the stigma associated with behavioral health. Recently, the American Psychiatric Association apologized for it’s long-standing history of discriminatory practices that have undermined the health, safety and welfare of BIPOC individuals and their families.Continue reading “Behavioral Health Bias Hurts Children and their Families”

Where to Turn In Washington For Children’s Behavioral Health

When your child or family needs immediate help For immediate help with a life-threatening emergency: call 911 For immediate help with a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide: contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 Where to Find A Behavioral Health Provider Medicaid Contact your primary care physician to find your local behavioralContinue reading “Where to Turn In Washington For Children’s Behavioral Health”

The “No Wrong Door” is the Wrong Approach

I’ve sat in a lot of behavioral health policy discussions where providers justify adding yet another way for children to access behavioral health care by endorsing the “no wrong door” approach. An effective no wrong door approach would connect any person seeking help for a child (including their parent) to an robust system of care.Continue reading “The “No Wrong Door” is the Wrong Approach”