The bill establishes a children and youth behavioral health work group in Washington State, aimed at enhancing access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults. The work group will identify barriers to service access, strengthen coordinated care, and advise the newly formed children and youth behavioral health leadership council on implementing the Washington thriving strategic plan. It will consist of diverse members from various sectors, including state agencies, healthcare providers, and community advocates, and will monitor relevant legislation, improve service delivery, and ensure equitable access to care.

Additionally, the bill creates an advisory group to develop a strategic plan that assesses the current behavioral health service landscape and identifies gaps. This plan will focus on a comprehensive continuum of care and include input from community members with lived experience. The bill also specifies reimbursement policies for legislative members of the work group and stipends for nonlegislative members with lived experience. It mandates annual recommendations to the governor and legislature, emphasizes the need for coordination among state agencies, and establishes a leadership council to address children's health and wellness issues, ensuring representation from various stakeholders, including those with lived experience and tribal representatives.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 74.09.4951, 71.36.025