Foster Care and Mental Health

A DCYF strategic priority is to improve the quality and availability of provider services. As an outcome indicator, we are monitoring the needs and provided treatment of children and youth in foster care. Research shows that exposure to traumatic events and chronic stress - such as poverty, housing instability, family conflict, abuse and neglect, and exposure to caregivers’ mental illness or substance use disorder - contribute to the greater behavioral health needs of children and youth experiencing out-of-home care.

All of the numbers of children and youth needing and receiving these services have been decreasing since 2018, as the number of children and youth in foster care has decreased more generally. Treatment rates have also declined, albeit only slightly. From 2017-2019, 79-80% of foster children and youth who needed mental health treatment received it, while 2022-2024, 77% received needed mental health treatment. Similarly, from 2017-2019, 39-42% of foster youth who needed SUD treatment received it, while in 2022-2024, 38-40% received needed SUD treatment.

READ THE REPORT FROM THE RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

Needs and Treatment of Children and Youth in Foster Care, SFY 2017-2024

Needs and Treatment of Children and Youth in Foster Care, SFY 2017-2024

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Source: Iverson, A., Pavelle, B. Lucenko, B. & Felver, B. (2026). "Behavioral Health Treatment Needs and Outcomes among Medicaid-Enrolled Children in Washington State." Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Research and Data Analysis.
Notes: Total in out-of-home care includes all children and youth age 0-17 ever in out-of-home care, for any length of time, during the state fiscal year. Mental health treatment need includes any mental health diagnosis, prescription, or service recorded in state administrative data in the past 24 months. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment need includes one or more substance-related diagnosis, procedure, prescription, treatment, or arrest in the past 24 months. Treatment need indicators that are not captured by state administrative data, including privately paid or insured services, are not included. SUD is not measured for children under age 13.