Programs
Washington
TBI Lead Agency
Dept. of Social & Health Services
Aging & Disability Services Admin.
Home & Community Service Division
PO Box 45600
Olympia, WA 98504-5600
Sue McDonough, MSSW
360-725-2533
360-438-8633 (Fax)
mcdonsc@dshs.wa.gov
Service Delivery
In Washington individuals with TBI contact the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), which has seven administrations within the department that offer services that may be appropriate for individuals with TBI. Individuals with TBI may contact local offices throughout the State as an entry point into the system. Within Aging and Disability Services Administration (ADSA), there are two divisions which provide access to services for persons with TBI. The Home and Community Services Division provides home and community-based services and residential services to person 18 and older. Personal care services are provided as a Medicaid State Plan service. In addition, two in-home waivers and a residential waiver provide services to those who are eligible. The department is also completing and implementing two additional waivers, one of which is for cash and counseling. Persons must meet both financial and functional eligibility. Persons eligible for programs may receive personal care and household assistance, as well as a number of additional services under the waiver programs. There are currently 835 persons with TBI being served by waivers operated by the Home and Community Services Division.
The second division within ADSA is the Division of Developmental Disabilities, which provides services to eligible clients beginning at birth. That division administers five waivers, each with its own eligibility criteria.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Mental Health, and Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse are located within the Health and Rehabilitation Services Administration and offer some services to persons with TBI who meet eligibility requirements.
Find out more information on this State's services in its current profile by clicking here. [PDF 50KB]. You can also order a hardcopy of our latest "Guide to State Government Brain Injury Policies, Funding and Services" for profiles of all States and much more.
HRSA-Funded Projects
Washington received a Planning Grant in 2000. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation was the Lead Agency on the Planning Grant. The TBI Advisory Board was developed during the Planning Grant, with participation from a broad array of entities, including persons with TBI and their families, independent living centers, government, protection and advocacy, Model Systems, and private practitioners.
The Aging and Disability Services Administration, Home and Community Services Division as Lead Agency, was awarded a three-year Implementation Grant in April 2003. The major goal of the grant is to improve access to health and other services for individuals with TBI and their families by:
- Creating a strong, accessible and appropriate statewide information and referral system.
- Increasing the capacity for appropriately identifying and serving individuals with TBI within State and other systems building upon the needs and resources assessment process.
- Collaborating with State and other agencies that administer services for individuals with TBI and their families to decrease unmet housing and service needs.
- Strengthening the statewide TBI Advisory Board.
Find more information on this State's project in its current grant profile.
Promising Practices
Aging and Disability Services Administration has a strong community-based program that serves 25,000 persons in their own homes and an additional 9,800 persons in home and community-based residential settings. Medical Assistance Administration has a grant which enables persons with disabilities who are receiving SSI to work, continue Medicaid eligibility, maintain income, and receive Medicaid Personal Care services. Home and Community Services Division is initiating a grant that provides for assistance and support for clients served under the waiver to move into their own homes.
Health initiatives within DSHS and DOH target increasing awareness of healthy aging-that has a general application across diagnosis. There is currently not a clinically based component related to TBI effects' on aging. The State DOH received a grant to study incidence of falls/TBI among older adults-there is also a prevention of falls publication targeting older adults.
Click here for a summary of the State's Brain Injury Training Portfolio
