Back-to-school is an exciting transition after a break over the last couple months with more free time. Students are now headed back to the structure and community of a new school year. At the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division in DCHS, we hear from providers who serve youth for whom summertime often means less adult supervision, fewer touch points with supports like teachers, guidance counselors and after-school programming, and more opportunities for risk taking behavior.
Parents of youth struggling with substance use often don’t know what to do. Next Day Appointments offer quick access to drug and alcohol use assessments which can be a first step toward getting help.
A great resource for parents, guardians, adults, and teachers—Next Day Assessments are available now.
Next Day Assessment Appointments for substance use disorder (SUD) are a go-to resource for parents, caregivers, teachers, school administrators, or anyone who could make a referral for youth and young adults.
These appointments for youth and young adults ages 13-24 provide a holistic assessment facilitated by a clinician at a licensed community behavioral health facility. Their goal is to make it easier to access treatment and resources and find options that work best for the person seeking care.
Appointments are scheduled within 1-2 days of a request, during business hours, excluding weekends and holidays.
The appointments are a great starting point to connect youth and young adults to substance use treatment as well as a variety of individualized supports to help them thrive.
To schedule an appointment, call the Washington Recovery Help Line at 1-866-789-1511.
“Clients and parents say the process is easy to get scheduled for an assessment.” – Friends of Youth Program Manager
Next Day Assessments are provided by Friends of Youth, who are based in Kirkland, but can serve youth across the county virtually. Referrals are gladly accepted from parents or caregivers seeking care for their child, from practitioners working with clients, and also from young people seeking care for themselves.
Please download the flyer above and feel free to share widely.
“Once youth take the assessment, they understand that SUD outpatient treatment is not so scary anymore. They get an understanding that it’s about maintaining a life worth living, not just to make them quit using.” – Friends of Youth Program Manager
The assessment appointments are made possible by funding from the MIDD behavioral health sales tax fund. Questions and feedback about Next Day Assessment appointments are welcome. Please contact Robyn Smith, SUD Specialist, at robynsmith@kingcounty.gov.
Friends of Youth offers many services in addition to Next Day Assessment appointments:
- Behavioral Health:
- Mental health and substance use counseling services are provided through individual, family and group sessions for children and young people ages 4-24.
- Services are provided Monday through Friday by appointment only, virtually or at their offices in Issaquah, North Bend and Duvall. They also have a mental health therapist at the valley school in Duvall and Snoqualmie.
- Friends of Youth accepts most commercial insurance plans and Apple Health, although exclusions may apply.
- Drop In Services:
- Providing basic needs resources for young adults ages 18 – 24 including shelter, food, showers, laundry, clothing, and hygiene materials.
- Access to case management, behavioral health, employment services, and housing navigation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- 12735 Willows Road NE, Kirkland WA 98034 (between 139th Ave NE to the north and 141st Ave NE to the south)
- Call or text 425.449.3868 for more information or transportation
- Education and Employment:
- Friends of Youth’s Youth Employment Program provides comprehensive employment services and job-readiness skills to youth and young adults, ages 18-24, who are experiencing homelessness in King County.
- Friends of Youth also provide individually-focused continued education support for current clients for local GED programs, colleges (2 year and 4 year), and vocational training.
- For more information email eduemploy.support@friendsofyouth.org.
- Healthy Start:
- Home Visiting for pregnant and/or parenting families with children younger than age six. Home visitors provide a safe space and meet families where they are at while providing basic supplies, parenting support and information, group activities, developmental and health screenings, and referrals to community resources.
- For more information, call 425.785.8720
- Transitional Living and Supportive Housing:
- Multiple sites, located in King County, offer safe housing, case management, counseling, and life skills for young adults, pregnant and parenting mothers, parenting families, and their children ages 18 – 24.
- For more information email housingintake@friendsofyouth.org or call 206.409.6009
“We would love to partner with any support we can provide for youth, young adults and their families in the community.” – Friends of Youth Program Manager