Community Resources
Meet the Family Services Coordinator
Alicia Roberts
360.988-1949 (work cell)* aroberts@meridian.wednet.edu
*can receive texts
Alicia received a BA from Western Washington University in Human Services with a focus on Education. She grew up in Whatcom County, left for a little while, but returned here to raise a family. She likes to take walks, listen to audiobooks, bake, host family parties, and serve in her community.
Alicia looks forward to connecting with you!
For assistance during the COVID-19 Crisis, check out https://www.whatcomabc.org/quality-of-life/covid-19/ for up-to-date resources. You can also find many of them below.
Mental Health
Finding a Mental Health Provider:
Do you have health insurance?
If no, there are a couple options to get connected:
You can go online to wahealthplanfinder.org to apply online
Phone support: 1-855-923-4633
Need help signing up? Our community has Outreach and Enrollment Specialists that are a great resource in navigating enrollment in health insurance, available at:
Unity Care NW, call 360-788-2669 for more information
SeaMar, call 360-671-3225 for more information
If yes, contact your provider to see what providers accept your insurance
Example: if you have Molina, you can access their website to search providers accept this insurance, click here to get redirected to Molina's website
Finding a Mental Health Counselor
List of providers that accept Apple Health/Medicaid, and/or sliding scale fees
Catholic Community Services: Call to schedule initial intake in order to start services, 360-676-2164
Common referral for youth patients
WISe (Wraparound with Intensive Services) for youth, see link for more information: 360-676-2164
Unity Care NW - Behavioral Health: Must be a Unity Care NW patient to receive mental health services, call for more information at 360-676-6177
Sea Mar Behavioral Health: Call to schedule initial intake, 360-734-5458
Sea Mar Behavioral Health - Child & Family Services: Call to schedule an initial intake, 360-398-5444
Psychology Today offers a database of most mental health therapists in Whatcom County.
Able to search based on what insurance is accepted and specialty (youth, grief, depression, etc.)
Parenting/Support Groups
Virtual Parenting Seminars
Attend a virtual seminar at the Parenting Academy! These 60-minute seminars focus on a range of topics for parents and provide research-based, practical tips for everyday parenting! Limit of 12 participants per seminar.
Please register for each seminar you are interested in attending. Seminars will not be held if nobody has registered.
Upcoming Seminars:
- March 4, 5:30PM- Coping with Stress
- March 11, 5:30PM- The Attention Principle
- March 18, 5:30PM- The Power of Positive Parenting
- March 25, 5:30PM- Parenting in the Digital Age
For questions about which seminar is right for you, feel free to call us at (360) 922-3600 or email us at contact@parenting-academy.org
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Whatcom offers multiple support groups for individuals and families living with mental illness and for people who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Phone: 360-671-4950
Family Care Network provides an online listing of a wide variety of support groups for individuals and families. Some groups include:
Parent to Parent Support (for families of children with developmental disabilities, delays, and ongoing health care needs)
Our TreeHouse Grief Support (groups/events for children, teens, and families)
Whatcom Hospice Grief Support (groups for adults)
PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of the LGBT community)
DVSAS Survivors of Abuse (groups for teens, parents, men and women)
Caregiver Connection (group for adults caring for an adult loved one)
Phone: 360-734-4676
Provides evidence-based parenting programs, an array of both individual group programs, as well as one-time trainings
Call Brigid Collins to speak to the on-call staff to discuss what programs might be a good fit for your family (Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Dad’s Support Group, Parenting Academy)
Phone: (360)303-0554
Parents Matter meetings and resources for parent education on many topics (drug and alcohol, healthy relationships, building resilience, difficult conversations, etc.)
Crisis Support
The following resources are available 24 hours a day:
VOA Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-800-584-3578 (more information about crisis line provided above)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services: 360-715-1563 or 1-877-715-1563, hotline to get connected to confidential support services if you are fleeing domestic violence
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741, free confidential crisis intervention through texting
Crisis Chat: Crisis chat line through Volunteers of America
Teen Link: 866-833-6546, a confidential teen-answered help line, every evening, 6pm-10pm
Church Network Financial Assistance
Hillcrest Chapel: limited availability by phone, call 360-733-8400
Humanitas Ministry (Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship): accepting requests for assistance by phone 7 days/week, 10 AM to 6 PM. Assistance via check or voucher for clothing, food, utility bills, ID, licensing, and other needs on a case-by-case basis. Call 360-224-5604
Love, INC.: limited availability by phone, call 360-671-6201
Other Church Programs: Hope House, St Paul’s Episcopal Church Almsgiving, and St Vincent de Paul/ Sacred Heart Catholic Church financial assistance program currently closed until further notice
Didn't find what you were looking for? Fill out this request form and someone from the Family Services Team will contact you.