Recent program closures for Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center

December, 2011

Dear Partners and Friends,

For nearly a century, Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center has provided high quality, compassionate care to thousands of children, adolescents and families in our community. On behalf of our staff, board of directors and clients, thank you for the support and partnership we have received for these efforts.

Over the past year, Navos has worked with Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center to help shepherd the organization into a new era of healthcare. In that time, we have been proactive in developing ideas about how to grow RDCC services in ways that are compatible with the healthcare environment of the future.

For the last several years referrals have significantly declined and state reimbursement rates have also decreased. As a result; maintaining a high quality residential program has become impossible. Many other Puget Sound area organizations have had to reduce their residential services for children and adolescents as well. It is clear that both nationally and in the State of Washington the priority for delivering services for youth is to provide wrap-around (comprehensive) services in the home or with the extended family of a troubled child, leaving residential treatment as a resource of last resort. After thoughtful consideration, the residential care programs that we have been providing for adolescent boys and for young women in transition will be closing in December. We have taken great care to place the boys and young women impacted by this change safely into other programs.

We plan to continue to provide on-going and expanding services in our children’s residential program (ages 6-12) and to our community, children, youth and families at the RDCC campus, including a critically needed drug and alcohol program for adolescents. In addition, we continue to help thousands more low income children, adolescents and their families that are reached by Navos’ outpatient Child and Family Services.

Navos is engaged in the process of long-term strategic planning regarding all of our services and campuses. A plan will be finalized in January that outlines how we will further develop and diversify children’s services at RDCC and at our other sites so we may continue meet the mental health and wellness needs of the community and to be responsible and mindful stewards of your support. We will keep you informed as to coming developments and programming and look forward to maintaining the viability of our services to the community.

Please contact Alice Braverman, Vice President of Development and Community Relations at Navos, if you have any questions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 206-933-7032.