A first-of-its-kind: new facility for youth in crisis opens in Washington
The facility offers intensive behavioral supports for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
BURIEN — Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Jilma Meneses and Developmental Disabilities Administration Assistant Secretary Dr. Tonik Joseph led a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 17 for the new Lake Burien Transitional Care Facility. The innovative new treatment center provides person-centered care for youth who require intensive behavioral support.
Lake Burien TCF will be one of the nation’s first-of-its-kind facilities, uniquely offering a comprehensive range of services for youth ages 13 to 17 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, all under one roof. This includes mental health support, medication management, life skills training, substance use counseling, behavior management and support for youth in foster care. Additionally, the facility will provide community education, employment support and aid in community integration, making it a holistic center for those it serves.
Gov. Jay Inslee made opening remarks at the event, and representatives from the Department of Children, Youth and Families, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Multicare Health Systems also spoke about the partnerships supporting the new therapeutic facility.
Inslee noted Lake Burien TCF is the “first of its kind in our state.”
“These are great kids with great futures,” he said. “Those kids will go into this facility where they can blossom so they can take the steps into permanent living situations.”
The facility’s mission is to support youth with complex needs by providing a safe and inclusive environment that fosters independence, self-advocacy and personal growth, said Candice Pineda, the facility’s executive officer.
Pineda further explained that the facility is partnering with the National Association of Developmental Disabilities and participating in its Dual Diagnosis Accreditation Program to ensure Lake Burien TCF staff receive industry-standard training. With NADD, the facility will have access to a broader range of resources, to enhance services, improve youth outcomes, and demonstrate a commitment to serving youth.
Meneses shared the story of how the idea of this facility came to life about a year ago after a conversation with DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter. Hunter expressed concerns about kids with multiple diagnoses being placed in hotel rooms.
“I think we (DSHS) can help,” Meneses replied. “Let me see what I can do.”
DSHS and DDA teams began looking at possible solutions.
Around the same time, Dr. Jeff Sperring, CEO of Seattle Children’s, invited Meneses for a tour of the hospital and highlighted a problem. According to him, there weren’t enough facilities to accommodate all the kids who needed certain types of treatment. On her way home from the tour, Meneses called MultiCare to check if it had a facility to help the displaced youth. MultiCare officials confirmed that they had a facility — in Burien and at the time unoccupied — available for lease that could serve that purpose.
The next day, Meneses called Sperring and Hunter and told them, “We have a solution; we have the answer.”
Meneses, Joseph, and the DDA leadership team came together to put together a treatment model for the facility. Meneses praised the partnership DDA, DCYF, Seattle Children’s and MultiCare have forged throughout the process.
In collaboration with Inslee’s support for the project, the Legislature approved $12.3 million last session to support the facility.
“Having a safe space for youth with a temporary life crisis is important,” Joseph said.
Lake Burien will offer young people a safe and supportive environment to help them continue their education, develop skills to overcome their current challenges and involve their families in supporting them during their healing process at the facility. It will be a vital resource for youth in crisis, particularly those who have spent extended periods in emergency rooms, out-of-state placements, or other temporary accommodations.
The facility will accept its first youth on Aug. 1 and will slowly build up to serving 12 kids at a time.
You can watch the entire ribbon-cutting ceremony on TVW.