NW Washington Expands Youth Crisis Teams to Meet Urgent Mental Health Needs

EVERETT, Wash. – March 04, 2026 – By Janet Adams

In a significant move to bolster the region's mental health safety net, Compass Health has expanded its YGo Youth Mobile Crisis Program, strengthening access to immediate, no-cost behavioral health support for children, teenagers, and families across Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties.

The expansion increases staffing and service hours, allowing specialized teams to respond more rapidly to youth under the age of 20 who are experiencing acute mental health crises, from debilitating anxiety and depression to thoughts of self-harm.

This development arrives at a critical juncture for youth mental health in Washington. While recent state-level data shows some encouraging improvements, the underlying need for accessible, on-demand care remains profoundly high, a reality this program aims to address head-on.

A Response to a Persistent Crisis

While headlines about the youth mental health crisis have become common, the data reveals a complex picture of both progress and persistent struggle. According to the 2023 Washington Healthy Youth Survey, the number of 10th graders reporting depressive feelings and contemplating suicide saw a significant decrease from the peaks of 2021. The rate of suicide contemplation among this group hit a 20-year low.

However, these gains do not erase the ongoing challenges. The same survey found that nearly 30% of 10th graders still experienced persistent depressive feelings, and about one in seven had considered suicide. Furthermore, disparities remain stark, with LGBTQ+ youth and students with disabilities reporting significantly higher rates of mental distress. In Whatcom County, for example, data shows that Black, Indigenous, and Multiracial youth are more likely to experience depressive feelings and consider suicide than their white peers.

In Snohomish County, a 2023 community assessment revealed that nearly half of all residents reported experiencing anxiety or depression since the pandemic began, with a recognized shortage of providers to meet the surging demand. It is within this landscape of urgent need that the YGo program's expansion provides a crucial lifeline.

“Soon after launching this program in 2024, it became clear that more youth and families across the region needed timely access to this kind of care,” said Amy Pereira-Clevenger, director of crisis response and stabilization at Compass Health. “With support from the state, we were able to grow the program’s capacity by adding team members and extending service hours. This growth has allowed our teams to reach youth sooner, while continuing to provide services that are community-based, family-centered, and focused on stabilization.”

How YGo Delivers On-the-Spot Care

The YGo program is designed to meet youth where they are, both physically and emotionally. Instead of requiring a visit to an emergency room or clinic, multidisciplinary teams of licensed mental health clinicians and peer support specialists travel to homes, schools, shelters, and other community settings to provide on-site intervention.

Access to the service is streamlined for ease and urgency. Youth, family members, educators, or anyone concerned about a young person can connect with YGo by calling or texting 988, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or by contacting the VOA Crisis Services line.

The expansion has enabled a significant boost in coverage. The Southern YGo team, which serves the more populous Snohomish County, now operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a staff of 33 professionals. The Northern YGo team serves Skagit and Whatcom counties seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a team of 10. This ensures that help is available around the clock in the highest-need area and during critical hours across the entire region.

Teams respond to a wide variety of situations, including panic attacks, escalating family conflicts, substance use concerns, and school refusal or disengagement. The goal is immediate de-escalation and stabilization.

“YGo exists to show up for youth in moments of crisis and make sure they’re not facing those moments alone,” said Rick Deluga, program manager for the Southern YGo team. “Expanding our team and resources means we can get to families faster, provide thoughtful and effective care, and help stabilize situations before they escalate.”

From Crisis to Stability: A Pathway to Ongoing Care

Mobile crisis intervention is not a long-term solution, but rather a critical first step. The YGo program model provides intensive, short-term support for up to eight weeks. During this period, the team's primary focus shifts from immediate stabilization to creating a durable plan for ongoing care.

This function is vital in a healthcare system where navigating services can be daunting. A 2024 report from the Washington State Health Care Authority highlighted a significant service gap, noting that in 2022, 38% of children and youth enrolled in Apple Health with an identified mental health need did not receive any services. YGo acts as a bridge over that gap.

Once a youth's immediate needs are addressed, the YGo team works to connect them and their family to the most appropriate long-term resources. This often involves a warm handoff to other programs within Compass Health, such as outpatient therapy or the state's Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) program, which provides comprehensive, coordinated care for youth with complex behavioral health needs. Referrals are also made to other trusted community-based providers, ensuring a continuum of care tailored to the individual.

To date, YGo teams have already responded to more than 4,500 calls for help, demonstrating the program's significant impact since its initial launch.

A New Name for a Vital Mission

The program recently underwent a rebranding, changing its name from the Child, Youth, and Family Crisis Team (CYFCT) to YGo. The new name was chosen to better capture the program's core purpose and resonate more directly with the young people it serves.

“The name YGo better communicates our mission and the positive momentum we aim to create for youth in crisis,” said Bobbie Racine, program manager for the Northern YGo team. “It’s a name that resonates with youth and their families and reflects the supportive, solution-focused approach of our teams.”

The name signifies action, hope, and the forward movement from a state of crisis toward recovery and stability, empowering families with the tools and support they need to continue that journey.

YGo is a key component of Compass Health’s broader continuum of crisis services, which also includes the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) for adults. By investing in accessible, community-based crisis response for all ages, the organization is reinforcing the regional safety net. This expansion represents a significant step forward in ensuring that when a young person is in crisis, help is not just available, but on its way.