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:

Parents in crisis this week

  • Suicidal 17 year old’s 5th suicide attempt. Parent must defend herself against a false CPS complaint while being blocked by the treatment center from discussing treatment plans.
  • Parents of 16 year old homicidal child are relinquishing custody to CPS wondering if there are any good options for their son
  • Parent seeking residential care for suicidal transgender child in transition looking for a referral
  • Parents fighting a safety plan for hospitalized suicidal child. Child refusing to go home. Hospital says they will release her to a youth shelter.
  • Mom of a child repeatedly restrained in Kindergarten by school staff is now fighting with the district to allow an inclusive middle school placement.
  • Kinship grandmother trying to prevent relinquishing custody of her child by obtaining residential care because the child is refusing WISe. HCA has been unresponsive for months.

Other advocacy efforts taken

  • Reached out to Attorney General’s office to learn what course of action we can take to hold the HCA accountable
  • Called upon my legislators to ask our Governor to call a meeting to address the crisis in children’s behavioral health
  • Emailed HCA leadership calling them on the carpet for their bias against residential care and failure to educate the system about HB 1874
  • Filed a public records request for HCA internal communications and work output on implementing HB 1874 & 2883
  • Reached out to multiple lawyers considering a class action lawsuit or crowd-funding one
  • Attempting coalition building efforts with BLM & JR reform constituents
  • Organized parents to write in support HB 1086 Creating the state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy passed unanimously in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.
  • Tried to find a way to send books and art supplies to incarcerated youth in Green Hill.
  • Helped 2 families draft letters about their family behavioral health crises and ensuing trauma.
  • Moderated Youth Behavioral Health Care Advocates of Washington. If you aren’t already a member, please join us!