OHY funds residential programs for youth (ages 12-17) that provide basic needs, individual assessments, referrals to relevant resources, and support in family reconciliation whenever safe and possible while focusing on assisting youth to obtain safe and stable housing. This may mean resolving conflict in order to return home, identifying alternative existing supportive adults, or looking for long-term housing options for youth approaching adulthood. Youth are connected with resources that support their holistic wellbeing and address health, education and other basic needs.
Residential programs providing overnight care of unaccompanied minor youth are licensed by the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) and must comply with all requirements outlined in RCW 43.185C.250-330 including notifying the parent/guardian, law enforcement, or DCYF that the youth is in the program. OHY develops programmatic requirements that ensure alignment with legislative directives, state regulations, and supports best practices for working with youth.
HOPE Centers provide an out-of-home resource for youth lacking stable housing with their family, youth on a Child in Need of Services petition (CHINS), and state-dependent youth. Youth are eligible if they are living outdoors or another unsafe location or who will continue participating in increasingly risky behavior without placement. Youth must voluntarily self-refer and may be assisted by family, friends, schools, law enforcement, tribes, social workers, or other community-based organizations.
Youth may stay in HOPE Centers for up to 90 days. HOPE Centers provide some services onsite, but youth continue attending their school whenever possible, receive medical and behavioral health support from external providers, and participate in social, recreational, work, and community events with approval as determined by individual program rules.
See HOPE/CRC/SCRC OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.
CRCs provide a temporary overnight resource for youth who have run away, are experiencing family conflict, or whose health and safety may be at risk. Youth may voluntarily self-refer, be referred by law enforcement because circumstances constitute a danger to the youth’s safety or be referred by DCYF or the court when an out-of-home placement has been approved. Currently, all CRCs are co-located with HOPE Centers.
CRCs serve youth for a maximum of 15 days. During that time, CRC staff work to address any urgent basic needs and support youth in moving to longer-term safe and stable housing.
See HOPE/CRC/SCRC OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.
TLPs provide a long-term housing option for unaccompanied youth (ages 16-17) who are unable to establish stable housing with their family or community and do not qualify for state dependent services. Program structure is designed for increasing independence and developing life skills to support youth in planning and preparing for adulthood. TLPs must provide transition planning at least 6 months prior to the youth turning 18 to ensure safe and stable housing is available when they leave the program.
TLPs may be co-located within a HOPE center, operated within a DCYF licensed stand-alone TLP, or in unlicensed host homes. Host home programs are responsible for ensuring a safe and supportive environment in the private homes of volunteer host families. Host home programs recruit and screen potential host homes, provide on-going case management to the youth, and support both the youth and host home in transitioning to safe and stable housing and must comply with RCW 74.15.020.
See TLP OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.
Current SCRCs and are located within juvenile detention centers in Chelan and Clallam counties. Youth may only be referred by law enforcement due to circumstances which constitute a danger to the youth’s safety or be court ordered for contempt in at-risk youth proceedings. SCRCs serve youth for 24-72 hours (no longer than 5 consecutive days when accounting for weekends/holidays).
See HOPE/CRC/SCRC OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.
Ancillary Therapeutic Service grants fund additional supports for youth residing in licensed youth residential programs, i.e. HOPE Centers, Crisis Residential Centers, Transitional Living Programs, Secure Crisis Residential Centers, and Overnight Youth Shelters. ATS funds may be used for any youth residing in these programs even if their specific services or “bed” is funded through a non-OHY source (i.e., Runaway and Homeless Youth, local government, etc.).
*Please note that OHY does not fund basic operational costs for Overnight Youth Shelters.
ATS funds add onsite capacity to increase access to mental health and substance use related services that may last longer than the residential program services. A key function of this model is to provide a soft launch into deeper after care supports which may include inpatient or outpatient treatment, WISe support, individual or family counseling, etc.
Services must be trauma informed, culturally competent, participant-driven, and evidence-based. Services may include screening and referral, diagnosis by a licensed mental health provider, brief behavioral health treatment, individual or group counseling, substance misuse prevention, harm reduction, care coordination, and other similar services. Services can be provided through a staff clinician, behavioral health professional providing case consultation and/or staff training, connection to online counselors, peer counselors, or other methods.
See ATS OHY Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information.