Youth Inpatient Services

For youth experiencing serious emotional and acute behavioral disturbances, inpatient evaluation and treatment may be the best setting for recovery. Our Youth Inpatient Team provides collaborative, family-centered care that’s designed to help youth and their families build skills that allow them to thrive when they return home to their communities. With 10 beds for children and adolescents ages 12-17, the Youth Inpatient Unit serves clients from across the state (including Kitsap County) with a wide variety of clinical symptoms.

Admission can be on a voluntary or involuntary basis, depending on the needs of the client and family, and the youth’s individual presentation.  If you or someone you care about may be in need of inpatient evaluation and treatment services, call the Volunteers of America Crisis Call Line at 1-888-910-0416 where professional staff are available 24/7 to offer assistance. They will ensure that the help offered is appropriate for the situation.  Depending on the level of need, this may include dispatching the KMHS Designated Mobile Crisis Response Team for emergency assessment. Following assessment, clients may be referred to inpatient care for involuntary or voluntary detention in our evaluation and treatment center or other psychiatric facility or substance use treatment facility. Our goal is to provide care in the least restrictive environment that supports clients in their recovery.

Visitors – All visits must be approved by the Child Mental Health Specialist and scheduled in advance. Click on the “Visitor Guidelines” tab below for details.

Visiting Hours:

  • Mondays and Wednesdays – 3-5 pm and 7:30-9:30 pm
  • Saturdays – 1-5 pm
  • Sundays – 9-11 am
  • Holidays – Check with staff for schedule

Please note: All visits must be approved by the Child Mental Health Specialist and scheduled in advance.

Support from family and friends who visit can be an important part of a treatment program. To ensure that your visit is a positive experience for the resident and supports the resident’s treatment plan, we’ve set the following requirements:

  • All visits must be scheduled by the units Care Team Assistant or Receptionist during office hours, Monday thru Friday 8 am – 5 pm.

  • All visits need to be scheduled 24 hours in advance.

  • If scheduling a visit for a weekend time slot, visitors must call by 4 pm Friday.

  • All allotted time slots will be available for visits on most holidays.

  • Visits will range from 30 – 45 minutes. Exceptions to these hours may be made with staff approval for individual patients to accomplish treatment objectives.

The safety of residents, guests and staff is our top priority. Please follow these safety precautions:

  • Leave purses, cell phones, etc. in your car, hidden from view.
  • Do not give money to a resident without prior clearance from staff. Please do not bring your child food (candy, fruit, etc.).
  • Visiting is strongly discouraged during the first 24 hours after admission.
  • Cooperate with any requests made by staff regarding the location, length and frequency of visits, or any special concerns regarding the resident you are visiting.
  • Generally, visits will be limited to parents. Any other visitors must schedule with the primary therapist. No one under the age of 18 is allowed to visit. The waiting room may be available for residents to visit with family members, including minors. This space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve this space, make arrangements through your child’s therapist. Your visit will be normally limited to 60 minutes (30 minutes if other families are in need of the space). Other areas for private visits can, at times, be arranged with the therapist.
  • Although we welcome visitors, occasions may arise when staff may need to limit or restrict the length of visits. You will be given an explanation should such a situation arise. We ask for your cooperation in these matters.

If you have any questions regarding the general treatment program, feel free to ask staff. Questions regarding a particular resident’s treatment or progress are limited by confidentiality requirements and are best addressed by the resident’s primary therapist.

Many people with mental illness also struggle with substance use. We treat both.