Whitney Bryen

Whitney Bryen reports on injustice and vulnerable populations for InvestigateWest. A journalist since 2010, she is dedicated to raising marginalized voices and holding power to account especially at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice.

Austin Wheeler spent two weeks in an Idaho Falls emergency room after he was kicked out of a youth treatment home for

Government

Idaho ramped up investments in round-the-clock youth psychiatric care. But concerns over safety, accessibility loom

Parents of children who were turned away from Idaho Youth Ranch criticize its ‘unrealistic’ admissions standards

July 25, 2024

Brandon Wheeler sat in the chair that he slept in the night before in the emergency room where he waited for help for his

Government

Following InvestigateWest report, Idaho approves funding for teen’s long-awaited care — but now there’s nowhere for him to go

Idaho lacks options for teens requiring highest level of psychiatric treatment

July 11, 2024

Brandon Wheeler and his son, Austin, who is referred to by his middle name, spent a week in the emergency room in Idaho

Government

Experts say a teen needs psychiatric residential care. Idaho still won’t pay for it.

Idaho funded less than one-third of requests for youths to receive the highest level psychiatric care since 2019, data reveals

July 1, 2024

Every morning, John Parke packs up his tent and sleeping bag, piles them onto his wagon, and hauls all of his belongings off

Government

As ‘empowered’ cities ban them from public spaces, homeless people in WA scatter in search of refuge

Attorneys say bans could become more common following U.S. Supreme Court decision in June

May 2, 2024

Help us investigate how Trump’s immigration orders are impacting the Pacific Northwest

Watchdog: Idaho regulators still fail to penalize youth facilities where kids are at risk

InvestigateWest seeks Oregon collaboration partners

Idaho ramped up investments in round-the-clock youth psychiatric care. But concerns over safety, accessibility loom

Following InvestigateWest report, Idaho approves funding for teen’s long-awaited care — but now there’s nowhere for him to go

Experts say a teen needs psychiatric residential care. Idaho still won’t pay for it.

As ‘empowered’ cities ban them from public spaces, homeless people in WA scatter in search of refuge

Get the inside scoop in your inbox, free.