Youth Services

Pierce County is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide behavioral health (BH) services exclusively for youth and young adults ages 5-24. The County aims to fund programs that address behavioral health needs across the continuum of care, from prevention and early intervention to treatment and recovery. Services must not be reimbursable through Medicaid or private insurance, can be school or community based and should demonstrate willingness to collaborate with local school districts across Pierce County.

This procurement is aligned the Pierce County Behavioral Health Improvement Plan , the Pierce County Council's Behavioral Heath Focus Areas, and the County's 2026-2027 behavioral health funding priorities.

Proposers must be either a Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) providing youth and/or school-based services or a faith-based organization providing youth and/or school-based services or a community agency employing licensed behavioral health providers who will provide services under this proposal. If your project is not providing Youth and School-Based services, please go to the Peer Services, Services for Justice-Involved Adults, Shelter and Housing Support Services, Wellness, Prevention, and Early Intervention, and/or Outpatient and Community-Based Services RFPs, as applicable. Please see the Solicitations and Competitive Bids page.

All agencies may apply for funding through the Pierce County Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Court (BHTC) Tax program. Proposed projects that serve more than one geographic area of the county will be given priority. Projects located in the City of Tacoma and serving only Tacoma residents must receive City of Tacoma funding.

Pierce County is particularly interested in proposals that leverage partnerships across systems of care; and demonstrate measurable improvements in stability, access, and long-term outcomes for diverse populations, including survivors of domestic violence (DV).

In December 2020, the Pierce County Council passed Ordinance 2020-138 , authorizing a 1/10th of 1% Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Courts Tax (BHTC) in accordance with RCW 82.14.460 . The BHTC fund was established for the purpose of improving the quality of life for Pierce County residents and decreasing criminal justice system costs and emergency department use by reducing negative outcomes associated with untreated mental health and substance use disorders.

Since the passage of the Behavioral Health Tax, Pierce County has made significant progress in addressing the behavioral health needs of its youth. All school districts teach Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula in grades K–3, and many districts in Pierce County have gone beyond these mandates. Several have implemented comprehensive district-wide screening and referral systems, with some offering on-site, in-person, and telehealth therapy services.

However, critical gaps in access and capacity remain. Many schools lack sufficient resources—or even physical space—to fully meet the needs of every student. Home-school connections continue to be a challenge for many students, and some essential services are not covered by all insurance types, further limiting access. With this procurement, Pierce County seeks to fill those gaps and strengthen youth-based services that support the mental health and well-being of Pierce County students, improve their academic and social outcomes, and reduce the need for crisis intervention.