Washington State DSHS

Washington State DSHS Government organization
Supporting Washingtonians with autonomy and independence in their health, finances, care services and social supports. linktr.ee/wa_dshs

The Department of Social and Health Services is Washington's largest state agency. In any given month, DSHS provides some type of shelter, care, protection and/or support to 2 million of our state's 7.2 million people. Social Media Policy: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/socialmediapolicy

Additional Information:
DSHS is divided into five direct service administrations and two support administrations. As

a department we are tied together by a single mission: to transform lives. Each administration within DSHS has a refined focus on this mission. Individually we have the following missions:

Aging and Long-term Support Administration – Supports seniors and people
with disabilities living with good health, independence, dignity and control over decisions that affect their lives. Behavioral Health Administration – Supports sustainable recovery, independence and wellness through funding and delivering effective prevention, intervention and treatment services for youth and adults with mental health conditions and their families. Developmental Disabilities Administration – Supports people with intellectual and/
or developmental disabilities and their families to get services and supports based on
need and choice. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation – Provides unemployment services and counseling to individuals with disabilities who want to work but experience barriers due to physical, sensory and/or mental disability. Economic Services Administration – Works to build a Washington without poverty and injustice by helping children, adults and families weather the storms of life so they can reach their full potential through various programs; provides tools and resources to build well-being including cash grants, food and medical assistance, employment-focused services, refugee assistance, disability determinations and child support collection. Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration – Provides the necessary stewardship
of the department’s physical, financial and intellectual resources by safeguarding the resources needed to care for and support our clients. Office of the Secretary – Supports the success of all programs within the agency through technology services; human resources; equity, diversity and inclusion; Indian policy; communications; innovation and strategy; public records requests; and many more critical central services. Values
DSHS is also tied together by the following set of values:

Honesty and Integrity – because leadership and service require a clear moral compass. Pursuit of Excellence – because it is not enough to get the job done, we must always challenge ourselves to do it better. Open Communication – because excellence requires teamwork and a strong team is seen, heard and feels free to contribute. Diversity and Inclusion – because only by including all perspectives are we at our best and only through cultural competency can we optimally serve our clients. Commitment to Service – because our challenges will always exceed our financial resources, our commitment to service must see us through. Vision
People are healthy,
People are safe,
People are supported,
Taxpayer resources are guarded.

We want to hear from you about how Washington can build Age- and Dementia-Friendly communities. These communities promot...
11/06/2025

We want to hear from you about how Washington can build Age- and Dementia-Friendly communities. These communities promote high quality of life for each person regardless of age, allowing older people the opportunity to remain active and engaged. Take our Age- and Dementia-Friendly WA Survey to help us create communities that support dignity, independence, and connection for all. Find the survey at the link in the comments.

11/06/2025

With outstanding support from our community, Washington state applied for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) this week. Thank you all for sharing your ideas and excitement for this work, and thank you to our partners at Washington State Department of Health and Washington State DSHS for their collaboration.

You can read some of the key documents from our application on our RHTP webpage: https://www.hca.wa.gov/rhtp

Jin wasn’t ready for someone to come into his home. He wanted independence but also needed support to continue living sa...
11/01/2025

Jin wasn’t ready for someone to come into his home. He wanted independence but also needed support to continue living safely at home.

Remote caregiving was the perfect fit: medication reminders, live video check-ins, and guidance. All without a home visit. Now he’s starting his referral with Catholic Community Services to get care in a way that works for him.

Learn more about eligibility at the link in the comments.

The October edition of Caregiving in Action is now available—and it’s packed with updates, inspiration, and resources fo...
10/31/2025

The October edition of Caregiving in Action is now available—and it’s packed with updates, inspiration, and resources for Washington’s caregiving community.
This month’s issue features:
• Caregivers Supporting Client Choice
• Helping Caregivers Stay Well During the Darker Fall Months
• Blindness Awareness Month
• Ways to get involved and share your story
Whether you're a caregiver, partner, or advocate, there's something in this issue for you. Find a link to the newsletter in the comments.

UPDATE: DSHS is working to interpret court rulings issued Friday, Oct. 31, and awaiting federal guidance to get food ben...
10/30/2025

UPDATE: DSHS is working to interpret court rulings issued Friday, Oct. 31, and awaiting federal guidance to get food benefits issued as soon as possible. Check our website often for new updates.

If the federal government shutdown continues, food assistance benefits in Washington will end on Oct. 31, 2025. Losing food assistance will have devastating impacts on the well-being of hundreds of thousands of Washington residents and will hurt local economies across the state. DSHS will continue to accept applications, eligibility reviews, mid-certification reviews and changes beyond Oct. 31, 2025, and those will be addressed once federal guidance is received.

We're grateful for our Washington Economic Justice Alliance partners in this work! We have more information about the impacts as well as what clients can do to prepare for the loss of benefits.

Has your Medicare plan changed for next year?Health plans often make changes to their costs, coverage, and doctors each ...
10/30/2025

Has your Medicare plan changed for next year?

Health plans often make changes to their costs, coverage, and doctors each year. If you're on Medicare, now is the time to check your plan to avoid surprises in 2026. For help call Washington's Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors at 1-800-562-6900.

More people are needing personal caregiving to remain at home, but the number of available caregivers isn’t keeping up. ...
10/26/2025

More people are needing personal caregiving to remain at home, but the number of available caregivers isn’t keeping up. That’s where remote caregiving comes in.

Using screen-based technology, certified caregivers can support people virtually with medication reminders, daily routines, and friendly check-ins.

- Great when in-person caregivers aren’t available.

- Perfect for those who prefer virtual support.

- Works seamlessly alongside in-person care.

Remote caregiving is helping Washington residents get the care they need with flexibility, reliability, and a personal touch.

Learn more at the link in the comments.

10/24/2025

We’re holding an additional webinar about the Rural Health Transformation Program on Monday, October 27 from 12–1 p.m.

After receiving over 280 written comments and working for several months, we’re close to finalizing Washington’s application for funding. This webinar will share details about:
• Initiatives and activities Washington will be proposing to support through the RHTP
• How our application aligns with federal expectations
• Next steps for our state

Join on Zoom: https://loom.ly/4eJHoFQ

It's the final day of the Tribal Initiative Learning Collaborative Summit in Thurston County. Today Elders and cultural ...
10/24/2025

It's the final day of the Tribal Initiative Learning Collaborative Summit in Thurston County. Today Elders and cultural leaders shared perspectives about the value of incorporating tradition in the development of home and community-based long term care systems. Our closing session will focus on the future of long-term services and supports in tribal communities.

It's day two of the Tribal Initiative Learning Collaborative Summit in Thurston County. Today was a chance to meet, conn...
10/23/2025

It's day two of the Tribal Initiative Learning Collaborative Summit in Thurston County. Today was a chance to meet, connect, and forge relationships with our partners across five states (Minnesota, North Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma) to learn and collaborate on solutions in creating better lives for the tribal nations we serve. We are committed to continuing advocacy by designing and delivering care to restore balance, dignity, and choice.

Today we have heard from subject matter experts on Medicaid enrollment barriers and opportunities, best practices for retaining caregivers, and had breakout sessions focusing on a wide range of related topics, including caregiver recruitment and retention strategies.

Today kicks off the annual Tribal Initiative Learning Collaborative Summit at the Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center. Mo...
10/22/2025

Today kicks off the annual Tribal Initiative Learning Collaborative Summit at the Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center. More than 150 people from five states (Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Washington and Wisconsin) are gathered to represent tribes and state partners working together to strengthen long-term services and supports and home and community-based services for the tribal nations they serve. This event uplifts tribal voices, honors sovereignty, and ensures our Elders and relatives with disabilities receive care that reflects traditional knowledge and access to modern care. The relationships built over the next three days will help create systems of care to meet the needs of current and future generations.

Remote caregiving helps with daily tasks through live video with a caregiver. There's no need for someone to come inside...
10/18/2025

Remote caregiving helps with daily tasks through live video with a caregiver. There's no need for someone to come inside your home.

Certified caregivers from Catholic Community Services offer assistance, equipment, and tech setup. It's a service available to people who qualify for in-home personal care through Washington state’s Medicaid programs and don’t need hands-on assistance, or when hands-on care can be supplemented with remote caregiving.

Learn more at the link in the comments.

Address

PO Box 45131
Olympia, WA
98504-45131

Telephone

+18007370617

Website

https://www.dshs.wa.gov/socialmediapolicy

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