Examples of How KMHWA Helps

Why Contact KMHWA? Who Refers to KMHWA?
What are Examples of How KMHWA helps? 

Frequently Accessed Services F.A.S

Kids Mental Health Washington (KMHWA) helps school-aged youth and their families find mental health services, understand their options, and connect with community supports. KMHWA helps families navigate systems and find resources that meet their needs.

Who Refers to KMHWA?

Referrals can come from many different people, including:  

  • Family members
  • Foster and adoptive parents
  • Adults concerned about a youth not consenting to treatment.
  • Youth of any age- 13 and older can request and receive treatment for mental health, reproductive health, and other covered medical issues without notifying or getting permission from a parent or guardian.
  • School staff
  • Hospitals and emergency rooms
  • Crisis response teams
  • Mental health providers
  • Juvenile justice professionals
  • Community organizations

Why Do People Contact KMHWA?

Many people reach out when they:

  • “I’ve tried everything.”
  • “I don’t know where to start.”
  • “There are so many people involved, but no one is working together.”
  • Feel overwhelmed by the number of programs and resources available.
  • Have been to the emergency room more than once for mental health concerns.
  • Need help finding autism or developmental disability resources.
  • Need help understanding insurance or service options.

Real Examples of How KMHWA Helps

Finding Counseling or Therapy: A parent has called several counseling offices, but none are taking new clients.

  • KMHWA can find providers with openings, explore telehealth options, and connect the family to local supports.

School Support: A student is struggling at school because of mental health or behavioral concerns.

  • KMHWA can connect families with school-based mental health resources, provide information about IEPs and 504 Plans, and facilitate a meeting with the family, mental health providers, and the school to coordinate across home, school, and services for consistency across environments and holidays/ breaks.

Autism and Developmental Disability Resources: A family is concerned about their child’s development and is unsure where to get an evaluation.

  • KMHWA can connect families to evaluation services and explain available programs including Developmental Disabilities Administration.

Care Coordination: A youth is working with several providers, but communication between services is difficult.

  • KMHWA can bring people together, improve communication across systems, and create a coordinated plan.

Crisis and Emergency Support: A youth has visited the emergency room multiple times because of mental health concerns.

  • KMHWA can connect families to ongoing community services to prevent hospitalization, identify crisis resources, and help with follow-up care planning.

Caregiver Support: A caregiver feels overwhelmed and needs help understanding available services.

  • KMHWA can connect families to peer support, share caregiver training opportunities, and help families understand next steps.

Foster Care, Adoption, and Juvenile Justice: A youth involved with foster care, adoption services, or juvenile justice needs behavioral health support.

  • KMHWA can coordinate with child welfare, identify services that meet the youth’s needs, and coordinate new resources if the youth moves.

When Should You Contact KMHWA?

You may want to contact KMHWA if:

  • You feel stuck and need help exploring options.
  • The child’s needs are becoming more complex.
  • Different systems or providers need to work together.

 

Ready to get started?

Visit the Kids Mental Health Washington website. You will be connected with your local KMHWA team for support and referral assistance.

You do not have to figure it out alone. KMHWA can help you find the right support for your child and family.