Shorter Commutes and Stronger Support: Expanded Mental and Behavioral Health Services Now Available at Seattle Children’s Federal Way Clinic

Beginning in late March, Seattle Children’s began offering expanded mental and behavioral health services at the Federal Way Clinic. Families in the area now have a closer, more convenient option to receive care. Purpose-built, dedicated space enables the existing Child and Adolescent Latino Mental Health Assessment and Treatment (CALMA) Clinic and the Mood and Anxiety Program (MAP) to offer a greater proportion of appointments in-person at the Federal Way Clinic rather than virtually. New services include autism diagnostic evaluations for patients 5 through 12. This is Seattle Children’s first dedicated behavioral health space at a regional clinic.  

Meeting the Growing Needs of the Community

While Federal Way is served by other community-based mental health centers, the region has lacked specific types of services, including autism evaluations and higher-intensity care. Filling in these gaps is an example of Seattle Children’s commitment to addressing the ongoing pediatric youth mental health crisis by providing linguistically and culturally appropriate care in communities of greatest need.

Despite unprecedented growth in telehealth services in recent years, it is essential to provide in-person care close to where families live, especially for families who face language, cultural and economic barriers to using telehealth for behavioral health care.

The Federal Way Clinic now includes two rooms for group therapies, three consult rooms and a small, dedicated area for families actively participating in appointments who need to remain close by during lengthy appointments.

Reducing the Wait for an Autism Evaluation

In addition to opening the new space at the Federal Way Clinic, Seattle Children’s is also increasing access to care by offering autism diagnostic evaluations to patients ages 5 through 12. Evaluations are completed by a clinical psychologist and psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner.

“We’re excited to expand autism diagnostic services to the Federal Way Clinic. Early and accurate diagnosis is a critical step in connecting children and families to the support they need, and this expansion helps reduce some of geographic barriers to that care. We are currently focused on expanding diagnostics for children ages 5 through12 to offset the longest wait for our current diagnostic services,” said Lisa Nowinski, PhD, MA, clinical and operational director, Autism Clinic and Psychiatric Urgent Care.

Appointments for autism diagnostic evaluation at Federal Way Clinic will be offered first to families who are already on the Seattle Children’s Autism Center wait list. New referrals for evaluations will be added to the centralized waitlist and triaged to each location by appointment availability and geographic location.

For more information: Additional articles will be shared in Provider News as services expand. Visit the Seattle Children’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine refer a patient page to explore locations, services and referral resources.