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In the beginning, there was recognition that no facility in the state of Washington could adequately provide psychiatric care to seriously disturbed children. Children with severe psychiatric disturbances were frequently placed in settings that were not prepared to deal with their disturbance, or the children were sent to more costly facilities out of state. In 1977, the Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) approached Seattle Children’s Home for assistance in developing a program model to provide extended psychiatric care to seriously disturbed children.
By 1980, the Washington State legislature authorized funds to establish 60 Treatment Beds for Psychiatric Impaired Children and Youth. These state-funded beds were to be located at and administered by private, non-profit agencies under contract to the Division of Mental Health (MHD/DSHS). Rules and regulations for licensing standards were set forth in Chapter 246-323 of the Washington Administrative Code and codified under authority of Chapter 71.12 RCW, February 1980.
During the early to mid-1980s, the four Treatment Facilities opened and began serving psychiatrically impaired children and youth. McGraw Center at Seattle Children’s Home opened March 1981 as the first facility licensed under the new regulations established the previous year. Martin Center opened in February 1982, in Bellingham, operated by Catholic Community Services Northwest. Tamarack Center opened in September 1984 under the then existing authority of the Spokane County Mental Health Board. Pearl Street Center opened in January 1985 in Tacoma, operated by the Tacoma Comprehensive Mental Health Center.
The facilities were defined as statewide resources. This meant that any child in the state of Washington had equal access to these services if the need was demonstrated. By locating the facilities in different regions of the state, services could be provided close to home whenever possible.
From 1981 until 1986 all children who were admitted to the facilities had to meet admission criteria, whether they were voluntary applicants or committed for involuntary mental health care. In January 1986, the new juvenile Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) came into effect. Adolescents who were involuntarily committed on a 180-day Restrictive Order for inpatient care were now automatically eligible for admission to the facility and to Child Study and Treatment Center (CSTC), the state-operated psychiatric hospital.
In late 1990, while involuntarily committed adolescents were automatically eligible for admission to any of the five CLIP Programs, there were two separate voluntary admissions procedures for CSTC and the RTFs. The Mental Health Division (MHD) asked that a plan be devised for system consolidation and improvement. As a result, the CLIP Committee took on the role of reviewing all admissions for the inpatient beds at CSTC in March 1991. This established a single centralized point for access to extended inpatient care for all children, the CLIP Administration.
Since the mid-1990s, CLIP management and certification authority (CLIP Administration) has continued as a central process. CLIP services remain a statewide resource and any child in the state of Washington has equal access to these services if the need is demonstrated.
The CLIP agreements with the community-based Regional Support Networks (RSNs) continue to be modified in accord with current best practice standards and to build upon gains made since they were initiated. It is expected that any changes will parallel local community efforts to effectively manage the whole range of services available for children.
By 1980, the Washington State legislature authorized funds to establish 60 Treatment Beds for Psychiatric Impaired Children and Youth. These state-funded beds were to be located at and administered by private, non-profit agencies under contract to the Division of Mental Health (MHD/DSHS). Rules and regulations for licensing standards were set forth in Chapter 246-323 of the Washington Administrative Code and codified under authority of Chapter 71.12 RCW, February 1980.
The CLIP Administration continue to be the central process. CLIP Services remain a statewide resource and any child in the state of Washington has equal access to these services if the need is demonstrated.
There are 84 CLIP-funded beds available to serve children and adolescents with sever psychiatric disturbance. There are five CLIP Programs Pearl Street Center, Sunstone Youth Treatment Center, Tamarack Center, Two Rivers Landing and 3 age-divided cottages at Child Study & Treatment Center (CSTC).
Previous CLIP agreements have been folded into contracts with the community-based Administrative Service Organizations (ASO) and Managed Care Organization (MCO) and continue to be modified in accord with current best practice standards and to build upon gains made since they were initiated. It is expected that any changes will parallel local community efforts to effectively manage the whole range of services available for children.
In the beginning, there was recognition that no facility in the state of Washington could adequately provide
psychiatric care to seriously disturbed children. Children with severe psychiatric disturbances were frequently
placed in settings that were not prepared to deal with their disturbance,
All children served in a CLIP Program are eligible for Medicaid funding while in residence. If the child has private insurance that covers psychiatric inpatient care, those benefits are also applied to the cost of stay. Read more about Medicaid.
The voluntary application process is a two-tiered process that begins with contacting your local BH-ASO/MCO representative. If a local decision is made to proceed with a referral to CLIP, the BH-ASO/MCO gathers all the application materialsand contacts the CLIP Administration. The CLIP Administration is the final authority for determining a child’s eligibility for admission.
Each child’s length of stay varies according to his/her individualneeds and progress toward treatment goals. The average length of stay 9 months. Children are returned to their home/community as soon as possible. The community partners including family, DSHS case worker, therapists, schools, etc., are expected to collaborate with the CLIP Program to assure appropriate discharge resources are in place prior discharge.