Office of Behavioral Health Advocacy: Provide behavioral health advocacy services to individuals needing access to and current recipients of behavioral health service providers or facilities in Washington State. OBHA is tasked with ensuring that the rights of recipients of behavioral health services are respected, and that services are responsive to individuals’ needs. OBHA provides recommendations to local, regional, and statewide community and governmental entities to bring about changes in laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that will improve to the quality of behavioral health services for Washington’s residents.

We seek compassionate and committed advisory council members to join the Advisory Council for the Office of Behavioral Health Advocacy in Washington State as guided by RCW 71.40.

Our goal is to have diverse representation on the OBHA Statewide Advisory Council that includes (RCW 71.40.040 (7)), a majority of which must be composed of people with lived experience that shall consist of:

(a) Individuals with a history of mental illness including one or more members from the black community, the indigenous community, or a community of color;

(b) Individuals with a history of substance use disorder including one or more members from the black community, the indigenous community, or a community of color;

(c) Family members of individuals with behavioral health needs including one or more members from the black community, the indigenous community, or a community of color;

(d) One or more representatives of an organization representing consumers of behavioral health services;

(e) Representatives of behavioral health providers and facilities, including representatives of facilities offering inpatient and residential behavioral health services;

(f) One or more certified peer specialists;

(g) One or more medical clinicians serving individuals with behavioral health needs;

(h) One or more nonmedical providers serving individuals with behavioral health needs;

(i) One representative from a behavioral health administrative services organization;

(j) Two parents or caregivers of a child who received behavioral health services, including one parent or caregiver of a child who received complex, multisystem behavioral health services, one parent or caregiver of a child ages one through 12, or one parent or caregiver of a child ages 13 through 17;

(k) Two representatives of Medicaid managed care organizations, one of which must provide managed care to children and youth receiving child welfare services;

(l) Other community representatives, as determined by the office; and

(m) One representative from a labor union representing workers who work in settings serving individuals with behavioral health conditions;