About Us
Mission
The Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy (PBHJP) is committed to improving the health and well-being of children, families, and adults served by the mental health, chemical dependency, child welfare, and justice systems. We aim to achieve this mission by implementing, supporting, and informing effective interventions, empirically based training, and collaborative research. We are dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome challenges by emphasizing their strengths and enhancing their skills.
Core values
We aim to accomplish this mission through commitment to several core values:
- Relevance & Credibility – Using science to guide “real world” policy and practice,
- Partnership – Engaging and empowering stakeholders in our mission, and
- Sustainability – Helping communities and partner agencies build infrastructures that allow them to effectively intervene over the long term.
We are also dedicated to conducting our work…
- With respect and support for one another,
- With enthusiasm for the cause of helping others,
- With a willingness to take on difficult challenges, and
- With integrity and a continual striving for excellence
How PBHJP was Established
The Division of Public Behavioral Health Policy and Justice Policy was originally established in 1982 through a Washington State Legislative proviso. The goals of the proviso were to improve recruitment and retention of mental health professionals who would choose careers in the public sector and to provide technical assistance to the legislature and executive branch on issues related to behavioral health and justice policy. In addition, the Division was intended to serve as a resource to the state by conducting research on services and systems related to public behavioral health, and to provide continuing educational opportunities for providers and families statewide.