Gaps, Barriers, Challenges

Washington Thriving’s findings highlight widespread and serious challenges

The Big Picture

Families face a maze, not a front door

Entry points vary by payer, region, program, and need; warm handoffs aren’t reliable.

Equity gaps are structural

Outcomes differ by race, language, disability, geography, and identity—and the data to prove (and improve) it is fragmented.

The middle of the continuum is thin

We have crisis and in-patient on one end, prevention on the other, and not enough intensive community options in between.

Workforce strain is the system’s pressure valve

Burnout, turnover, and supervision gaps compound access delays.

Financing fights coordination

Rules and contracts reward activity in silos, not outcomes for whole families.

Data adds burden without insight

Measures don’t travel with families; they rarely power real-time learning.

Where the System Breaks Down

Eight primary areas where challenges arise.

Fragmentation and complexity

Responsibility for administering Washington’s behavioral health services and supports for young people and families is scattered across dozens of separate agencies. Similarly, a plethora of programs and initiatives exist at state and local levels, many mandated by legislation often resulting in duplicative but not complementary efforts.

Who Feels It Most

A happy family of five, holding hands and smiling in a grassy field

Rural & remote families

Distance, workforce scarcity, and limited crisis response and stabilization services close to home

Smiling person holds a rainbow flag, engaging with another individual waving a colorful flag

Youth of color, 2SLGBTQIA+, immigrants & refugees, and youth with disabilities

Structural barriers and service designs that don’t fit individualized needs and identities

Two kids outdoors, one on a skateboard, the other on rollerblades. They smile under a clear blue sky, surrounded by leafless trees and streetlights.

Tribal Nations & Native youth

Underfunded, under-recognized sovereignty and culturally anchored care pathways

Young girl with braids, wearing a sweater with a sequined cat design, sits outdoors. She's framed by trees, creating a playful and warm atmosphere.

Child welfare, justice-involved, & unaccompanied young people

System lack of adequate behavioral health supports, frequent transitions with weak handoffs, and significant care gaps