About CoLab

CoLab for Community and Behavioral Health Policy is a university-based think tank advancing youth wellness by equipping local governments and communities with scalable solutions to complex public challenges.

Based in the University of Washington’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, we combine community wisdom with research to drive creative, practical change in behavioral health systems—especially those serving young people and families.

We believe the best solutions are built in partnership. Communities and systems hold deep wisdom, and we work to amplify that knowledge to shape programs and policies that are effective, inclusive, and built to last.

We work across sectors—with grassroots organizations, coalitions, government agencies, and healthcare systems—thanks to support from public and private funders at the national, state, and local levels.

CoLab also houses the Evidence-Based Practice Institute (EBPI), a statewide resource dedicated to improving mental health care for children and youth in Washington.