Haven Treatment Center begins admitting children to new Vancouver facility

May 13-A new residential treatment center in Vancouver began admitting children earlier this month.

This is Clark County's second inpatient option for kids with mental health issues since Madrona Recovery took over the building vacated by Daybreak Youth Services in Brush Prairie.

The state Department of Health licensed Haven Treatment Center, 2805 E. 19th St., for 60 mental health treatment beds. Unlike Madrona, it is not licensed to treat substance-use disorder. Founder Margie Barilla said the center has 30 beds ready so far, and she expects to fill them by the end of the month.

However, a former Haven employee raised concerns about the program's readiness to care for children with severe mental and behavioral problems. And although Haven's website states "beds are reserved for children displaced in foster care," the center does not have the license required for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families to refer foster children there, an agency spokesperson said.

A need

According to its website, Haven Treatment Center offers psychiatric medication management and treatment of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma.

Barilla said children first undergo a mental health screening and assessment before they are scheduled for admission. Families can pay out of pocket, or with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, she said.

Barilla said she expects Haven Treatment Center to receive accreditation from Joint Commission International, an independent healthcare accreditation organization, within 60 days.

Barilla acknowledged the center is not licensed to care for foster children but said they can be referred by their guardians.

Haven Treatment Center's website states that it welcomes clients from all over the United States. Barilla said the center is receiving inquiries from out of state, including Oregon, Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Texas and Tennessee.

Barilla said the goal is to keep children in their own states, but if they do cross state lines, preserving stability is important. She said if a child is coming from out of state, the staff maintains communication with parents or guardians with regular calls. There are also family visitation hours, she said.

Although Barilla did not say how many children are currently at the center, she said a majority coming to Haven Treatment Center are referred from emergency rooms and are sent to the facility after they stabilize. Barilla said the center has received referrals from PeaceHealth, as well as other hospitals in Seattle and Tacoma.

Barilla said she is working with human trafficking coalitions that have scheduled screenings and assessments with the facility.

"For us, it's a huge blessing. It shows there's a need," Barilla said.

Ready or not

On Friday, Barilla gave The Columbian a tour of Haven Treatment Center, with stops in a classroom, a workout room and the room where children complete the intake process. In one communal room, boxes of shoes and clothing were waiting to be sorted by employees. Barilla said clients will wear a uniform.

Barilla said the daily schedule includes prayer or meditation, physical education and schooling. Clients can take weekly piano lessons and Pilates classes, she said. Clients can also take part in individual, group and family therapy, she said.

"It's a home where people can be at ease," Barilla said.

But one former employee of Haven Treatment Center - who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation - said staff were unprepared to handle the level of care children may need at the facility.

The former employee was hired as a care coordinator. The job description states the role assists with intake processes and supports transitions into care, but care coordinators were actually more like "glorified babysitters," the worker said.

"We were never informed until much later on in our employment that we were going to be the first point of contact with the children," the former employee said.

Barilla said staff must complete at least 90 days of training on CPR, Handle With Care behavior intervention, mandated reporting, client care and health-information privacy requirements.

The former employee said almost all training was provided through Federal Emergency Management Agency online modules, YouTube-style mental health videos, free online courses, podcasts and short online knowledge quizzes.

The former employee said that when the first child arrived, the staff did not have any of the child's classwork to complete, so the staff member printed educational sheets for the child's age range and coloring sheets.

"We basically just had to fly by the seat of our pants," the former worker said, adding there were many points of the day where the child was doing nothing.

Barilla told The Columbian the goal is to work with the child's school by sending excuse notes, requesting information on the student's learning plans and keeping on pace with schoolwork. But she said the staff have run into issues connecting with districts.

"We want schools to be part of their treatment plans," Barilla said.

Barilla said the facility has on-site medical staff, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants. The center currently has 31 staff members, with another 19 scheduled to start soon, Barilla said. She said the center receives 75 to 100 resumes a day.

"We have no issues with the workforce at all," Barilla said.

However, the former employee cited major staff turnover and said the center lacked sufficient on-site medical staff, relying largely on virtual therapy.

The former employee said that when the first child arrived, staff were not told about her background except for general information, not enough to know the child's needs or triggers.

The former employee said staff did not know how long the child would be staying there.

"(The child) didn't really understand why they were there - kept asking, 'Why am I here?' 'When can I go home?' " the former employee said.

A spokesperson from the Vancouver Police Department said the agency has taken one informational report regarding Haven Treatment Center.

Challenges

In late 2024, Barilla took over the building in the Harney Heights neighborhood from the original owner, the Mullen Polk Foundation, she said.

Barilla has operated numerous businesses in the healthcare industry in the past, according to the Texas Secretary of State.

Several of those businesses were under Elevate Healthcare, which operated 15 youth mental health clinics in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and California starting in 2018. All of those clinics closed a few years after opening due to insurance reimbursement issues and staff losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Barilla previously told The Columbian.

Barilla and staff hosted a ribbon-cutting for the facility in February 2025 and then a celebration for its "first admission date" two months later, although the center didn't actually admit its first client until this month. Barilla cited delays in obtaining occupancy permits from the city and licensing from the state health department.

"There was no sense of urgency," she said. "I don't think the community is making the most of this facility."

Barilla said licensing and upgrades cost $3 million, which was covered by Barilla's company and loans. She's now looking for federal grants and other funding streams.

"I went through the challenges, and it shows my commitment to this work," Barilla said.

Barilla said her plan is to launch similar facilities in every state. She added that her company is preparing to open another facility in Fulton, Miss., and is acquiring a third facility with up to 300 beds in Austin, Texas.

Last week, Barilla gazed out of one of the Vancouver center's windows at a patch of land next to Haven Treatment Center's playground, where she plans to add another building.

"We're not going anywhere," Barilla said.

This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

Unlock all stories. Stay informed.

Starting at just $1.99/week

Become a subscriber and get unlimited access to every story, plus our ePaper and app for seamless reading anywhere. Stay informed, support local journalism, and stay connected to your community.

Subscribe today

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 7:18 AM.