By Linnea Anderson
As Washington state lawmakers finalize the 2025-2027 budget, a crucial decision lies ahead: whether to preserve $14 million in funding for the Becca Program’s early intervention services. Provided by the state to counties since 1995, Becca Program funding is not just a budget line item, it’s a lifeline for thousands of young people in crisis. Last year alone, over 8,000 youth and families received services or support from Becca-funded programming.
The Becca Program, named after a young girl who was killed at the age of 13 slipped through the cracks of our system. Programming named in her memory became a promise that young people and families would receive early intervention support for youth who are truant, at risk of running away or already engaged in behaviors that can lead to deeper involvement with the juvenile justice system. Becca Programs offer professional court staff support and wraparound services that address the root causes of risky behavior — mental health needs, unstable housing, family conflict and more.
It’s deeply concerning when commitments to support vulnerable populations, like at-risk youth, fall short. The Becca Program services provide critical interventions, treatment and support for vulnerable young people, and the statewide elimination of this funding will have significant repercussions on families and our community.
The assurances made during the passage of E2SSB 5290 in 2019 highlighted the importance of Becca Program services, but the current budget situation may undermine those promises. The lack of Becca Program funding will leave many young people and their families without the resources they need to navigate difficult circumstances, potentially exacerbating issues like homelessness, truancy and other challenges.
Without this funding, Becca Programs across the state will be forced to scale back or eliminate these life-changing programs. That means fewer counselors, fewer community outreach efforts and fewer second chances. We will lose a critical safety net for our most vulnerable youth.
The numbers speak for themselves. Early intervention is proven to reduce long-term justice system involvement, improve school attendance and connect families to the help they need. School connectedness is found to reduce risk factors across multiple categories. In many cases, Becca Program services are the first point of meaningful support for a youth in crisis. Removing this funding would be shortsighted, expensive and ultimately harmful — not only to youth in crisis but to our communities at large.
The Becca Program is not about punishment. It’s about investing in preventive measures rather than punitive ones. Prevention-focused initiatives, like those provided with Becca Program funding, can help break cycles of poverty and delinquency, reduce future costs associated with incarceration or unemployment and empower young individuals to contribute positively to their communities. It’s about standing up for children before they fall too far. The $14 million allocated for Becca Program services statewide is not new funding or a luxury — it’s an investment in public safety, in long-term cost savings and, most importantly, in the lives of young Washingtonians.
We urge lawmakers to keep the $14 million for Becca Program early intervention services in the final state budget. The cost of cutting this funding is too high — and the value of giving our youth a chance to thrive is immeasurable.
