BHA General FAQ

The hospital is located ten miles south of Tacoma, Washington and one-half mile from the town of Steilacoom.

The street address is :

9601 Steilacoom Blvd SW

Lakewood, Washington 98498-7213

• Admission to any inpatient setting requires a determination of medical necessity, financial eligibility, and willingness of the program to admit the youth.
• The following are referred to as voluntary admissions:
  • For all minors under 13 years of age, a parent must give consent.
  • A minor 13-18 years of age and their parents may jointly give consent.
  • A minor 13-18 years of age may give consent for admission without parental agreement.
• The treatment facility must notify the parents in a way that will most likely reach the parent within twenty-four hours of the admission. RCW 71.34.044
• Involuntary admission:
  • In the event of any minor 13 years of age or older (and/or his/her parent) refuses admission, the minor may be evaluated and detained involuntarily by a DMHP (DMHP) in accordance with RCW 71.34.
• If the DMHP makes a decision that the minor does not require inpatient treatment, the parent can seek review of that decision made by the DMHP in court. RCW 71.34

• Parent initiated admission
  (an option created in 1995 through legislation known as the At Risk Youth or "Becca" bill):

  •  A parent may give consent for admission of their minor child. The consent of the minor is not required. RCW 71.34
  • A parent may give consent for continued in patient care in the event his/her previously unwilling minor child requests discharge during an inpatient stay. RCW 71.34
  • Providers are not obligated to provide treatment to a minor under the provisions of this section. RCW 71.34 (4)
  • ​This is NOT considered an “involuntary admission” in spite of the fact it is against the minor's will.

Bonnie Staples, Mental Health Program Administrator

DSHS Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery

Bonnie.staples@dshs.wa.gov

If your question is lengthy, please call  360-725-1883 or (888) 713-6010.

• Children and adults qualify for medically-necessary mental health services through their RSN if they are covered by Medicaid.
• RSNs are managed care plans for mental health services.  They coordinate mental health services in their service area through contracts with community mental health agencies
• Other people who do not qualify for Medicaid, but have a serious or long-term mental illness, can receive services as resources allow.
• All citizens of the state qualify for crisis mental health services, disaster response services, and involuntary treatment services.