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Dec
17

Children's Long-term Inpatient Program (CLIP)

What is CLIP?

  • CLIP is psychiatric treatment provided in a secure and highly structured setting designed to assess, treat and stabilize youth diagnosed with psychiatric and behavioral disorders. CLIP is the most intensive inpatient psychiatric treatment available to WA State residents, ages 5-18 years of age.
  • Individualized treatment is provided through the use of evidenced based practices designed to increase the youth's skills and adaptive functioning with a focus on reintegration back into a community setting, as quickly as possible.
More information about the Children's Long-term Inpatient Program


How to Apply for CLIP in King County:

In King County, all voluntary CLIP applications begin through the wraparound process.

Learn more about Wraparound

Wraparound Referral


Application details

Voluntary Applications:

  • Through Wraparound, the Child and Family Team (a team of individuals who are relevant to the well-being of the youth) will determine, along with the youth and their family, whether a youth meets medical necessity criteria for a higher level of mental health treatment.
  • King County Wraparound staff will support the team in completing the application for CLIP.
  • Application requirements are comprehensive and include records that document the child's inpatient and outpatient treatment, any out-of-home placements, school history and any other services the child may have received.
  • Once completed the team, including the youth and family, will present the application to a Community Resource Team (CRT).  CRT’s meet monthly and consist of representatives from various child serving systems. The CRT functions as a gatekeeping mechanism at the local community level, to ensure those youth who meet criteria are accessing the appropriate level of care
    • If the application is approved at the CRT, it will be sent on to the CLIP Administration.
    • CLIP Administration submits the application to the CLIP Certification Team for final review
    • If the CLIP Certification Team approves the application, the child's name is placed on the statewide waiting list until a bed becomes available at the most appropriate CLIP Program.
  • Youth age 13 and older must agree and be willing to participate in treatment.


Involuntary Commitment (ITA) 180-day Restrictive Orders for Inpatient Treatment

Under Washington State's juvenile mental health services law (RCW 71.34), adolescents aged 13-17 may be committed for up to 180 days of involuntary inpatient psychiatric treatment. Under this 180-day restrictive court order, the adolescent becomes eligible for admission to a CLIP Program. The adolescent's name is placed on the statewide waiting list as of the date of the 180-day Restrictive ITA order.

The CLIP Administration's Placement Team is legally authorized to assign committed adolescents to the CLIP Programs. The assignment is based on preferences expressed by family members, community team members and by professionals directly involved in the adolescent's care. The location of the adolescent's supports and the availability of beds within the CLIP Programs also influence the assignment. Once admitted to a CLIP Program, the adolescent may agree at any time to remain as a voluntary patient. 

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