Generation REACH

Child health always includes mental health.

Locally and nationally, we are grappling with an escalating youth mental health crisis. One out of every five kids has a mental health disorder that significantly affects their life, yet currently only about half of those kids get treatment. Research shows treatment works, but far too few children and families get appropriate, timely access to care.

This is the healthcare challenge of our lifetime. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the trajectory for children, youth and families.

Seattle Children’s has made a long-term commitment to mental and behavioral health as an inextricable part of child health. This organizational commitment combines generous philanthropic support with a multiyear commitment through our strategic plan.

Our vision is that every child will have access to the support and resources they need to succeed and to be happy, safe and well within their family, school and community.

With your help, we can make that vision a reality. Learn about the Generation REACH areas of focus and what we have accomplished so far — and how you can join our effort to transform mental and behavioral health care for all youth and families.

Examples of Our Progress So Far

Research and Innovation

Accelerating the pace of progress

• Innovating Care: Seattle Children’s researchers are at the forefront of developing evidence-based therapies to improve outcomes and leveraging the latest research to develop new and more effective ways to prevent and treat mental health problems in pediatric and young adult populations.
• Scope of Research: Projects include prevention strategies to proactively treat vulnerable youth and improve well-being at the population level; examining specialized interventions for specific groups with mental health needs; and community partnership to reduce health disparities.
• Clinical Synergy: Clinical teams continue to innovate and develop new models for outpatient crisis care, pediatric psychiatric urgent care and digital health interventions to provide integrated care to youth with mental health needs.
• Community Engagement: Researchers use infrastructure provided by the Community Engagement Core to include the perspectives of people with lived experience in study design. The annual Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Research Summit provides learning and collaboration opportunities for researchers, clinicians and community partners.

Ecosystem and Health Equity

Innovative clinical improvements focused on responding to community need for specialized services

• Intensive services expansion: Multi-week intensive outpatient programs for youth with specific diagnostic challenges, including a Partial Hospitalization Program for adolescents who need full-day treatment, piloted in 2021 and expanded in 2022. A new Partial Hospitalization Program for early adolescents ages 11 through 14 will open in 2026.
• Disruptive Behaviors Crisis Clinic: Crisis care for children with challenging or unsafe behaviors and their families/caregivers. Opened April 2020.
• Biobehavioral Outpatient Program: Intensive program providing short-term applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have complex behavioral needs that may cause them to harm themselves or others. Includes coaching caregivers on effective behavioral support strategies with their child. Opened March 2025.
• CALMA Clinic: Culturally and linguistically appropriate care for Spanish-speaking patients/families by Spanish-speaking providers. Opened October 2021.

“The most effective mental and behavioral health services reach people where they are: in the language they speak, using culturally meaningful approaches. That’s why we’re committed to developing a skilled mental and behavioral health workforce that reflects the youth and families we serve.”

— Laura Knapp, vice president, Mental and Behavioral Health Services

Access

Meet the need for crisis intervention with innovative models

• New Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Program: Care for youth with substance use disorder as a primary concern, or co-occurring with a mental health condition. Opening late 2026.
• Psychiatric Urgent Care Clinic: Same-day in-person and virtual care for youth experiencing a mental health crisis who do not need the care of an emergency department, made possible by generous donor support. First in the Washington region for children and youth, and first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest! Opened October 2024.
• Complex Care Clinic: Outpatient care for youth with multiple diagnoses who struggle to access care in the community and are at high risk of inpatient readmission. Opened April 2023.

“This was our first experience with the psychiatric urgent care at Children's, and I couldn't have been more impressed. From the moment we walked in the door, we were cared for in the most professional and compassionate way. This was the first time in a long time that [my daughter] felt safe with an adult other than me, and she opened up to each provider, which she has never done before. After our appointment, we got in the car and she said, 'I feel optimistic.' [My daughter] was screaming for help, and your team answered the call. I know it's a long road, but [my daughter’s] optimism is contagious. Our visit on Monday set her on a better path and gave me more resources to help and support her along the way.”

— Amy B., Redmond

Capital

Expanding Seattle Children’s regional footprint to reach even more youth and families who need specialty mental and behavioral health care

• Seattle Children’s Magnuson: Opened in December 2022 for outpatient psychiatry and autism thanks to philanthropic support.
• Biobehavioral Inpatient Program: Specialized inpatient care for children and youth who are profoundly impacted by autism and/or intellectual or developmental disability and have severe behaviors. The only program of its kind on the West Coast! Thanks to visionary donors, dedicated inpatient space was built to support these patients’ unique therapeutic needs. Opened March 2025.
• Federal Way Clinic: Purpose-built space for outpatient behavioral health, including autism diagnostic evaluations and a new Partial Hospitalization Program for kids ages 11 through 14. The first dedicated behavioral health space at a Seattle Children’s regional clinic! Opened March 2026.

“Co-locating our autism and mental and behavioral health services under one roof, in a space that was specifically designed for the needs of our patients, creates synergies between mental and brain health experts from across Seattle Children’s and will lead to new ideas and models of care that will benefit kids in our region and beyond.”

— Dr. Mendy Minjarez, director, Applied Behavior Analysis Early Intervention Program, Seattle Children’s Autism Center

Healthy Families and Communities

Increasing community awareness and capacity for effective prevention and early intervention

• School-based health training and clinical consultation: Integrated with 21 Public Health Seattle and King County school-based health clinics, beginning in the early 2000s.
• Partnership Access Line (PAL): Since 2007, provides tele-psych consulting services to primary care providers. Now serving Washington, Wyoming and Alaska.
• Washington Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens: Since 2019, this free service helps families find mental and behavioral health services in their communities.
• Mental Health Resource hub: 400K+ views/year of online library of Seattle Children’s-authored content supporting parents and caregivers.
• First Approach Skills Training: Free video classes with tools and skills for parents, including on parenting youth with disruptive behaviors and anxiety.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid classes: Offered for free in partnership with Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care. Participants learn to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among youth.