Mental Health

A DCYF strategic priority is to improve the quality and availability of provider services. As an outcome indicator, we are monitoring the needs and provided treatment of children and youth in foster care. Research shows that exposure to traumatic events and chronic stress — such as poverty, housing instability, family conflict, abuse and neglect, and exposure to caregivers’ mental illness or substance use disorder — contribute to the greater behavioral health needs of children and youth experiencing out-of-home care.

READ THE REPORT FROM THE RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

Needs and Treatment of Children and Youth in Foster Care, SFY 2014-2021

 

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Needs and Treatment of Children and Youth in Foster Care, SFY 2014-2021

Source: Iverson, A., Pavelle, B. Lucenko, B. & Felver, B. (2023). "Behavioral Health Treatment Needs and Outcomes among Medicaid-Enrolled Children in Washington State." Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Research and Data Analysis.
Notes: Total in out-of-home care includes all children and youth age 0-17 ever in out-of-home care, for any length of time, during the state fiscal year. Mental health treatment need includes any mental health diagnosis, prescription, or service recorded in state administrative data in the past 24 months. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment need includes one or more substance-related diagnosis, procedure, prescription, treatment, or arrest in the past 24 months. Treatment need indicators that are not captured by state administrative data, including privately paid or insured services, are not included. SUD is not measured for children under age 12.

Another outcome indicator for the strategic priority to improve the quality and availability of provider services is mental health need and parole aftercare availability for youth and young adults released from Juvenile Rehabilitation facilities. Post-release aftercare services increase the likelihood that youth and young adults will reenter their communities and live socially responsible and stable lifestyles. About half of youth and young adults with identified mental health needs are released with no parole aftercare services. DCYF continues to strive to find creative ways to service the unfunded post-release needs of this group. Each year, among the youth and young adults who are released to Intensive Parole services, more than half have identified mental health needs.

READ THE REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE, INTENSIVE PAROLE SERVICES FOR HIGH-RISK JUVENILE OFFENDERS

Youth and Young Adults Released from Juvenile Rehabilitation, by Identified Mental Health Need and Parole Aftercare, SFY 2016-2023

 

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Youth and Young Adults Released from Juvenile Rehabilitation, by Identified Mental Health Need and Parole Aftercare, SFY 2016-2023

Source: DCYF. (October 2023). Automated Client Tracking System (ACT) [July 2016-June 2023]. 
Notes: This measure has been updated to indicate mental health need based on the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - Short Screener (GAIN-SS). Approximately 2% of clients who release each year were not assessed by the GAIN-SS. Mental health need is identified using the Internalizing Disorder Screener in the GAIN-SS. A score of 1 or more was used as it suggests a need for mental health treatment (Dennis, M. L., Feeney, T., & Titus, J. C. (2013). Global Appraisal of Individual Needs–Short Screener (GAIN-SS): Administration and scoring manual, version 3. Bloomington,IL: Chestnut Health Systems.)

In 2021, the HYS surveyed 9,378 10th-graders in Washington. Of the 8,506 who reported their living situations, 8,150 (95.8%) lived with parents/guardians, 194 (2.3%) lived with other relatives, 30 (0.4%) lived in foster care, and 132 (1.6%) lived with others or on their own. Of those living with parents/guardians, 37.4 percent reported feeling depressed, compared to 52 percent of students who did not live with parents/guardians.

10th Graders Reporting Depression, by Living Situation, 2021

 

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10th Graders Reporting Depression, by Living Situation, 2021

Source: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Health Care Authority Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, & Liquor and Cannabis Control Board (2021). Healthy Youth Survey [2021]. https://askhys.net
Notes: "Does Not Live with Parents/Guardians" includes students who live with other relatives (kinship care), who are in foster care, or who have other living situations.