Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center

What Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center does

Lake Whatcom Residential and Treatment Center (LWC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit behavioral health provider founded in 1968 in Bellingham, Washington, operating under DSHS and DOH licensure. It serves adults with severe and persistent mental illness, including those with co-occurring mental health and substance use diagnoses, across Whatcom County and surrounding Pacific Northwest communities. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio spanning 24-hour residential care (Birchwood Assisted Living Facility with 84 beds, Baker Creek Residential Treatment Center, and Maplewood Enhanced Services Facility with 16 beds), community-based outpatient programs (Community Case Management, Intensive Outpatient Program, PACT, Therapy with CBT/DBT/EMDR/Trauma-Informed Care), the 24/7 HEART crisis intervention program with eight recovery beds, supported independent living across eight apartment complexes, and auxiliary services including employment, medical, and protective payee services.

LWC's business model is anchored in government-funded healthcare reimbursement (Medicaid, Medicare, and DSHS contracts) supplemented by a documented sliding fee scale based on family size and income, with charitable donations supporting operations. There is no proprietary technology platform disclosed; the organization's stated technology stance is that it focuses on behavioral health treatment programs rather than technology platforms, and clinical service delivery relies on licensed clinicians rather than AI-assisted systems. GTM motion is sales-led but referral-driven: clients are accessed through DSHS and healthcare provider referrals, walk-in inquiries at the Orchard Outpatient Office, and direct intake, rather than through commercial marketing channels.

The organization operates across five Bellingham locations plus eight apartment complexes, governed by a board of directors, with leadership led by Executive Director Jenny Billings. As of the available data, LWC is privately held with 101–250 employees, no institutional equity backing, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center

Legal name

Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center

Website

https://lwrtc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing residential, outpatient, crisis, and supported housing services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Whatcom County, Washington, funded primarily through Medicaid, Medicare, and DSHS contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Mental health treatment
• Residential treatment programs
• Assisted living services
• Crisis intervention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded healthcare services: Revenue generated through Medicaid, Medicare, and other government health insurance programs for behavioral health services provided to adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
2. Sliding Fee Scale Program: Discounted/sliding fee schedule available based on family size and income for clients unable to pay for behavioral health and healthcare services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center (LWC) is a DSHS and DOH licensed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing an integrated continuum of behavioral health services to adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Whatcom County, Washington. Services span 24-hour supervised residential living, assisted living, residential treatment for co-occurring disorders, community outpatient programs (CCM, IOP, PACT, Therapy), crisis intervention via the HEART Program, supported independent housing across eight apartment complexes, and supplemental services such as employment support and protective payee services. The organization accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and offers a sliding fee scale to ensure access regardless of ability to pay.

Product overview

Lake Whatcom Residential and Treatment Center (LWC) operates as a not-for-profit organization providing an integrated continuum of behavioral health services through multiple facilities and programs. The organization offers a multi-layered service portfolio comprising: Residential Services including Birchwood Assisted Living Facility (84 beds), Baker Creek Residential Treatment Center (co-occurring treatment), and Maplewood Enhanced Services Facility (16 beds); Community-based outpatient programs including Community Case Management (CCM), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), Therapy, Employment Services, and Medical Services; Crisis intervention through the HEART Program with 24/7 outreach and 8 recovery beds; Independent Living through 8 apartment complexes; and Protective Payee Services. These programs work together to provide comprehensive care from 24-hour supervised residential living to independent community-based living, serving adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Whatcom County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Birchwood Assisted Living Facility An 84-bed assisted living facility providing a safe, supportive, and community-oriented living environment for adults requiring assistance with daily living, supporting independence through Wellness Specialists.
• Baker Creek Residential Treatment Center A co-occurring multi-bed facility providing 24/7 clinical support for individuals diagnosed with persistent mental illness and substance use challenges, offering psychiatric, MAT, and counseling services through an integrated approach.
• Maplewood Enhanced Services Facility A 16-bed facility specializing in recovery-oriented, community-based residential behavioral health services to individuals transitioning out of hospital, inpatient, or institutional settings with complex behavioral, medical, and mental health needs.
• HEART Program (Holistic Engagement through Allied Recovery & Treatment) A 24/7 face-to-face intensive community outreach program providing crisis intervention/prevention and recovery stabilization services to adults, including Emergent Crisis Stabilization, Non-Emergent Recovery Stabilization, and Transition Support.
• HEART House Recovery Beds Eight recovery beds providing safe temporary housing for individuals needing placement while working toward finding safe and permanent housing in the community.
• HEART House Community Center A community space open three days a week offering social activities, games, arts and crafts, cooking skills, and community meals.
• Community Case Management (CCM) Individualized support services for people with chronic mental illness to help them reach treatment outcomes and goals.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) A home and community-based treatment program providing intensive mental health services.
• PACT Program (Program for Assertive Community Treatment) A person-centered, recovery-oriented mental health service providing assertive community treatment.
• Therapy Program A supplemental service supporting individuals in gaining insight into their mental health experience, offering individual and group therapy using evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Trauma-Informed Care.
• Employment Services Assistance in determining employability, employment exploration and preparation, job placement, and job retention.
• Medical Services In-house medical services partnering with behavioral health teams to provide an integrated, holistic approach to preventative care and unique health challenges.
• Protective Payee Services Representative payee services for clients, following Social Security Administration and DSHS guidelines to help clients with money management and benefit budgeting.
• Independent Living (Supported Housing) Eight apartment complexes providing safe and affordable housing in the community, with most apartments being two-bedroom shared units that are completely furnished.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bellingham Whatcom County Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Whatcom Center works with the Bellingham Whatcom County Housing Authority to help clients with rental assistance and subsidies for affordable housing in the community.
• NAMI WhatcomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLWC participates in annual NAMI Whatcom Stigma Stomp community event to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental illness.
• DSHS (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services)coreOthersDSHS licensed organization providing behavioral health services. DSHS is the state agency that funds and regulates many of the services provided.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Frontier Behavioral Health: Washington State non-profit providing behavioral health services including residential treatment, outpatient, and crisis stabilization in the Spokane region. Operates a similar service mix and DSHS-licensed model, making it a structurally comparable peer.
• Compass Health: Largest behavioral health non-profit in Washington State, providing a similar integrated continuum of residential, outpatient, crisis, and supported housing services for adults with mental illness and substance use disorders — a directly comparable peer operating at greater scale across multiple counties.
• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Western Washington non-profit providing behavioral health, housing, and supported living services for adults with mental illness. Operates a comparable integrated model with DSHS contracts and similar sliding-fee accessibility.
• Valley Cities Behavioral Health: King and Pierce County-based non-profit offering outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, housing, and crisis services under DSHS contracts. Directly comparable in service mix and Medicaid-anchored revenue model.
• Pioneer Human Services: Washington State non-profit providing behavioral health, housing, and reentry services with a similar integrated care model for adults with mental health and co-occurring disorders.

Broad incumbents

• Wellpath: Large-scale behavioral health and correctional healthcare operator providing residential mental health and substance use treatment services. Significantly larger and broader scope, but overlaps in residential behavioral health delivery.
• Telecare Corporation: Multi-state behavioral health operator providing residential mental health, crisis, and assisted living services. Operates at significantly larger scale and across multiple states, including Washington, making it a broader incumbent peer.
• Acadia Healthcare: National for-profit operator of behavioral health hospitals, residential treatment, and outpatient programs. Operates at vastly greater scale but offers overlapping residential mental health and co-occurring disorder services.

Regional players

• Lifeline Connections: Southwest Washington non-profit providing mental health and substance use treatment, including residential and outpatient programs. Comparable in service portfolio though serving a different geography.
• Unity Care NW: Federally Qualified Health Center serving Whatcom County with integrated behavioral health, primary care, and pharmacy. Geographically co-located peer with overlapping mental health services for low-income populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Lake-Whatcom-Residential-Treatment-Center-121347744589816
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lakewhatcomcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center