How to Get Services

Ask your primary care provider about services to meet your child’s mental health needs. A primary care clinic may be able to provide mental health services sooner than we can. Also, ask your primary care provider whether a referral to specialty care with the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Department is needed. They will help you with the next steps.

Once we get a referral from your provider, we will review the referral and send a fax to your provider if we need additional information. If we don’t offer the requested service, we will fax a notice to your primary care provider with some suggestions for other options and expect your provider to notify you.

Most of our specialty services have a wait.  Some programs require a full evaluation before starting treatment, while others start with a one-time consultation to determine eligibility and match to the service.  When we have an opening, we will call you to schedule.

Even if we do not have openings, it is important to get care when your child needs it. There are many resources in the community that can help. Our providers offer a class for families who are seeking mental health services for children or youth under 18 and who are not familiar with the mental health system in Washington state.