Youth Mental Health Counseling

The Seattle Human Services Department funds nonprofit agencies to provide youth mental health counseling services. These services support City of Seattle goals to improve school readiness, academic achievement and health for all children and youth. They also support the City’s Healthy Communities Initiative goals to eliminate health disparities, promote access to health care, protect and foster the health and well-being of residents, end homelessness, close the academic achievement gap and confront domestic violence.

Youth mental health counseling programs provide culturally appropriate services to low-income youth of color and their families who are not eligible for Medicaid and do not have private mental health insurance. Programs focus on youth who are at risk of dropping out of school; are between the ages of 11 and 19 years old; live in central, southeast or southwest Seattle; and have limited access to mental health services. This includes youth of color; immigrants and refugees whose first language is not English; homeless or low-income youth; and young people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Programs have been funded by City of Seattle General Funds since 1983. Funding awards are determined through a competitive process that is conducted by the department at least once every four years. Funding during funding cycles depends upon program performance and funding availability. The current four-year cycle ends in 2010. The 2007 and 2008 commitment is $743,000 per year.

2008 Funded Agencies and Programs

• Asian Counseling and Referral Services
• Consejo
• Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers
• Southeast Youth & Family Services
• Southwest Youth & Family Services
• Therapeutic Health Services/Central Youth and Family Services Branch

Information

For more information about this program and other Seattle Human Services Department-funded youth programs, call 206-386-1017 or e-mail youthservices@seattle.gov.

For information about our partners and related programs, contact the agencies listed above or the 211 Community Information Line by dialing 211 or 1-800-621-4636.

Links

• Current Funding Opportunities
• News