To the Adult Family Homes of Washington,
About two weeks ago I celebrated my 10-year anniversary as the Executive Director of the Adult Family Home Council. As I was reflecting on the last 10 years, I am filled with gratitude to be a part of your community. I am also very proud of the meaningful impact we have made to advance our mission. Our mission is to improve the lives and well-being of vulnerable adults, and we do that through the support of adult family home workers. We can see this mission being actualized when we note that Medicaid reimbursement rates have gone up an average of 138% over the last 10 years (or about $75 a day). We have new opportunities to expand to 7 or 8 bed homes. Adult family homes have access to workforce development and training scholarships through the Long-Term Care Foundation. We have improved the regulatory appeals process and added new funding such as Meaningful Day, Community Integration, Specialized Behavior Support, and more.
While I can look back with some pride and sense of accomplishment, I also know there is much more to do. We know that even with the increases in DSHS rates, costs continue to rise. We know that the workforce shortages continue in long-term care settings. We hear your challenges and are working to continue to respond with advocacy, education, and support. Recently the executive board of directors and staff of the Council met to develop a strategic plan to address the concerns we hear from membership.
September has been formally proclaimed “Adult Family Home Month” in Washington. We are celebrating by highlighting the good work and big hearts that go into developing the successful operation of an adult family home. The month will end with our fall conference and an opportunity to come together to learn and celebrate the role of AFHs in our communities. I hope you will be able to join us.
Again, I thank all the members of the Council for your ongoing support. I thank you for putting your faith in us to advance your causes and grow our sector of long-term care.
As always if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
All the best,
John Ficker
Executive Director
7 Responses
Wow, you are just what we need! I’m grateful for you and your team for being there for us!
Thank you John for all the hard work you and all of the AFH council do. I appreciate the hard fight you do for the residents and AFH provideal. !
Dear John,
As we always say “Where would we be without YOU”
We can’t thank you enough for all you have accomplished for so many.
Thank you AFHC for wearing our shoes, feeling the pinch and advocating for us tirelessly. You are very much appreciated. With you ending fights on our behalf, we look forward to a brighter future.🙏🏿
I have been in business for over 35+ years and I have seen the growth. I want to thank you so much for your dedication and hard work for the council.
Can’t thank you enough
Helen Conway-Garland
Thank you, John, for your dedication to our cause. I celebrated my 40th year of being “open” in May and remember when the daily rate was less than $20 (which went much further then than it does now, but still), there was no help for behavioral issues or anything else. No licensors either…..:-) but I digress……….You have done wonderful things to advance our industry and hope you will continue to move us forward for years to come. Really cannot thank you enough!
Thank you AFH council office!! You are amazing and so appreciated. We have come along way in the years I have been on the board. A lot of hard work and
dedication by many in our industry. A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE AFH PIONEERS WHO STARTED THE ASSOCIATION ON THEIR DIME AND TIME. Let’s all stick together and make the best of the next 10 years.
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