1/28/2025 Bridge Coalition Meeting Notes

by | Feb 19, 2025 | Bridge Coalition Meeting Notes | 0 comments

Meeting Notes: Bridge Coalition Meeting on January 28th

Opening Comments (Sarah): 

  • Chat Introductions were done,
  • A broad overview of NorthStar Advocates Mission and purpose was discussed,
  • Focusing on return to community: safe housing, relationships, and supporting young adults facing unaccompanied homelessness interests and passions.

The Bridge Scope and Vision (Vy): 

  • High rate of return to homelessness for young people exiting inpatient care,
  • Cross-system information sharing and training,
  • Developing Return To Community Plan,
  • Developing opportunities for systems reform.

The latest Bridge Coalition meeting was an engaging and informative session featuring key discussions on youth outreach, advocacy, and program updates. Below is a recap of the highlights and important takeaways from the meeting.

Guest Speaker: Erica Chang – Hear Me WA

Erica Chang, Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Hear Me WA program at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, joined the meeting alongside the Youth Programs Manager, Youth Program Outreach Lead.

Key Takeaways from the Presentation:

  • Origins of Hear Me WA: The program was born from grassroots efforts in the Tri-Cities when a young person recognized the alarming rates of youth suicide and mental health challenges in their community. They began organizing local advocacy efforts, sparking a movement that eventually led to engagement with policymakers and community leaders.
  • Legislative Collaboration: The initiative gained traction when youth advocates met with state legislators, emphasizing the need for structured mental health programs tailored specifically to the needs of young people. Their advocacy resulted in increased recognition of youth-driven solutions and funding allocations toward youth mental health awareness initiatives.
  • Core Services & 24/7 Support: Hear Me WA operates a 24/7 helpline that provides immediate access to professional support for youth experiencing stress, anxiety, violent threats, and other urgent concerns. Young individuals can access assistance by calling 888-537-1634, texting “HearMeWA” to 738477, or using the HearMeWA app available on Google Play and the App Store.
  • Coordination with Other Systems: In addition to direct support, Hear Me WA collaborates with schools, local agencies, and community organizations to ensure that young people receive the necessary resources and interventions tailored to their specific needs. This approach creates a robust support network that addresses both immediate concerns and long-term well-being.
  • Empowering Youth Leadership: Beyond crisis support, Hear Me WA encourages youth participation in policy discussions, leadership training, and advocacy efforts. By providing these opportunities, the program fosters a sense of agency, equipping young people with the skills and resources to influence mental health policies and systems in their communities.

Guest Speaker and Presenter: Erica Chang, Youth Outreach Coordinator | Hear MeWA Office of Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown

Presentation Summary: Erica Chang, along with the Youth Programs Manager, and Chevy  the Youth Program Outreach Lead presented on Hear MeWA, a statewide reporting system for youth safety and well-being. The program was developed in response to youth-led advocacy efforts and legislative action to create a youth helpline and resource connection service.

Key Takeaways:

  • Core Services & 24/7 Support: Hear Me WA operates a 24/7 helpline that provides immediate access to professional support for youth experiencing stress, anxiety, violent threats, and other urgent concerns. Young individuals can access assistance by calling 888-537-1634, texting “HearMeWA” to 738477, or using the HearMeWA app available on Google Play and the App Store.
  • Origins of Hear MeWA: The program was born from grassroots efforts in the Tri-Cities when a young person recognized the alarming rates of youth suicide and mental health challenges in their community. They began organizing local advocacy efforts, sparking a movement that eventually led to engagement with policymakers and community leaders.
  • Legislative Collaboration: The initiative gained traction when youth advocates met with state legislators, emphasizing the need for structured mental health programs tailored specifically to the needs of young people. Their advocacy resulted in increased recognition of youth-driven solutions and funding allocations toward youth mental health awareness initiatives.
  • Empowering Youth Leadership: Beyond crisis support, Hear MeWA encourages youth participation in policy discussions, leadership training, and advocacy efforts. By providing these opportunities, the program fosters a sense of agency, equipping young people with the skills and resources to influence mental health policies and systems in their communities.
  • Youth up to age 25 can access support via phone, text, the Hear MeWA app, or the website.
  • Reports are triaged into three urgency levels:
    • Life Safety (imminent threats) are sent to 911 and education services.
    • Urgent cases (e.g., child abuse, sexual assault) may be directed to CPS, behavioral health services, or law enforcement.
    • Critical cases (e.g., bullying, anxiety) are handled by behavioral health services and education providers.
  • The program works with advisory groups, including youth with lived experience, to ensure equitable implementation.
  • Outreach efforts are focused on underserved communities, including rural areas, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ youth, and military families.
  • Hear MeWA is increasing awareness through school outreach, flyers (including placements in bathroom stalls for privacy), and upcoming social media campaigns.
  • Youth can remain anonymous when submitting reports, and this feature is being emphasized more in outreach materials.

Key Discussion Points:

  • Concerns about mandatory reporting and its impact on youth willingness to seek help were raised.
  • The importance of making anonymity clear in all outreach materials was emphasized.
  • Youth receive a disclaimer before submitting a report and are informed that crisis counselors are mandated reporters.
  • It was discussed if flyers and digital promotions will highlight anonymous reporting options.
  • Follow-up questions centered on school-based outreach and how Hear MeWA is ensuring accessibility beyond counselor referrals.

Health Care Authority – Updates on 1929 Housing Programs

Following the Hear Me WA presentation, representatives from the Health Care Authority (HCA) provided critical updates and an overview on the 1929 housing programs, which aim to support young adults transitioning from behavioral health inpatient treatment into the transitional post inpatient housing programs, also known as Bridge Housing, with the eventual goal of a successful return to their community and stable living situations. Presenter: Rachel Baxter, Transitional Aged Youth Behavioral Health Stable Housing Policy Lead | Health Care Authority (HCA)

Key Takeaways:

  • The program funds two facilities (one east, one west of the Cascades) with 6-10 beds each, offering up to 90 days of housing.
  • NorthStar Advocates was awarded the contract for transitional support services and technical assistance.
  • It was announced that there is an apparent successful Eastside Bidder but no formal announcement of the provider would be given until the site visit had occurred.
  • Facilities must be voluntary, trauma-informed, and supportive but not secured or locked.
  • The program does not require Medicaid eligibility and is not reimbursed per bed but can incorporate Medicaid-billable services like Foundational Community Supports (FCS).
  • The goal is to add two additional facilities in northern and southern Washington in the next budget cycle.
  • Providers must have experience with young adults, behavioral health, and housing services.
  • Funding for the program is budgeted through 2029, pending legislative approval.

Key Discussion Points:

  • Westside facility provider applications are still needed.
  • Interested providers should submit a letter of interest to HCA, outlining their qualifications and experience, with the exact process coming soon.
  • Facilities must already be operating with the required bed capacity to qualify.
  • Applicants can subcontract behavioral health services but must have peer support on-site.

Action Items:

  • Rachel will send the meeting slides and a template for the letter of interest.
  • Sarah will distribute this information to interested providers and coalition members.
  • Providers interested in applying for the westside facility should reach out to HCA as soon as possible.

Agency Spotlight: Guided Pathways

The meeting also featured an agency spotlight on Guided Pathways, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing family-centered support and peer navigation for families and youth experiencing mental health and behavioral challenges.

Key Services Highlighted:

  • Peer Support & Family Navigation: Guided Pathways provides hands-on support for families navigating complex behavioral health systems. Their trained peer specialists work one-on-one with families and young adults, helping them access appropriate resources and advocate for their needs.
  • Community-Based Approaches: The organization emphasizes holistic care by integrating mental health services, peer support, and community-based interventions. Their programs focus on improving social connections, building life skills, and creating personalized support plans for young people in crisis.
  • Advocacy & Education: Guided Pathways actively participates in legislative advocacy efforts to improve mental health services for youth. They provide training and educational resources to families, empowering them to better support their loved ones through challenging transitions.
  • Leadership: The organization is led by Pattie Marshall, an experienced nonprofit leader with over 25 years in human services. She specializes in operationalizing peer support within youth and family-run community organizations. Pattie holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from a Wellness Perspective and has extensive experience working in behavioral health. As a person in long-term recovery, she uses her lived experience to advocate for reducing stigma and increasing awareness about behavioral health recovery.

Community Updates: 

  • There were no community updates.

Closing Comments:  

  • Sarah closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their support and participation in this work. Sarah reminded everyone that the next meeting will be February 25th
Sarah Spier
Author: Sarah Spier