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To people receiving services, family members, caregivers, and community partners,
We are reaching out to share a brief update on Reimagine DSHS, a department effort to improve how people experience and interact with services at the Department of Social and Health Services. While the first phase is focused on the Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) and the Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration (BHHA), our long-term goal is to create improvements that benefit all clients and communities we serve.
This effort is centered on creating a more responsive and person-centered system of care — reducing barriers, strengthening connections, and better supporting the people and communities we serve, as well as the staff who serve them.
What’s Happening Now
We’re starting with foundational work to better understand how essential functions are currently operating and where meaningful improvements can be made. Current focus areas include:
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Organizational Alignment – Finalizing structures, roles, and responsibilities within HCLA and BHHA.
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Transitions of Care Mapping – Documenting how people move between care settings to identify opportunities for improved coordination and client experience. This work initially focuses on transitions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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DD Policy and Compliance Planning – Strengthening guidance, tools, and documentation to support consistent, high-quality service delivery to the intellectual and developmental disabilities community.
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Person-Centered Planning – Reviewing how service plans are developed and updated to ensure they reflect each person’s goals, rights, and choices — and to better support individuals as active participants in shaping their care. This may include changes to our assessment and care planning systems to make them more user-friendly.
This foundational work will help identify where to focus next and lay the groundwork for lasting improvements.
Looking Ahead
While this early work is being led internally, it is intended to prepare us for meaningful collaboration with the broader community. We want to engage in purposeful, thoughtful conversations—ones that respect your time and build on shared knowledge.
As this work progresses, there will be opportunities for clients, families, service partners, advocacy groups, and others to offer input and insight. Your lived experience and expertise are essential to shaping a system that truly meets the needs of the people it serves.
This is just the beginning of a journey we’ll take together.
Stay tuned for future emails and updates on the DSHS website. If you have questions or input, please email [email protected].
With appreciation,
Kevin Bovenkamp, Assistant Secretary
Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration
Mike Anbesse, Acting Assistant Secretary
Home and Community Living Administration
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