Mapping a New Behavioral Health System for Washington’s Youth

Meeting the behavioral health needs of youth in Washington will require policy changes and new investments (Photo Credit: FatCamera)

Two years ago, Hugh Ewart worked with colleagues to draft legislation calling on Washington state to follow a rigorous process to produce a comprehensive strategic plan to realize the vision of a behavioral health system that meets the diverse needs for youth across all ages. This Prenatal through 25 Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, set for completion in a year, will feature a detailed roadmap of all state and federal policy changes and public investments necessary for this vision to become a reality.

The plan will address diverse factors including workforce, access and coverage, financing, school-based interventions and more. Hugh is currently working on the prenatal to age 25 behavioral health strategic plan on a team with the state to support completion of the plan. The Washington State Health Care Authority is driving the plan through a consultative process involving many key stakeholders including youth and young adults, parents and care-givers, providers, advocates, and other state- and nationally- focused technical experts.

When the plan is published, Washington will join a small handful of other states that have committed to creating a detailed behavioral health strategy for children and youth which will map out all the public policy changes and public investments necessary to implement the plan. Hugh is hopeful that Washington state’s plan will stand up as a model for the rest of the nation to follow.