DSHS Partners with Room & Care for Placement Referrals

Washington State DSHS has partnered with Room & Care to serve as the official referral platform for Medicaid-funded placements in adult family homes. Providers are encouraged to create or update their profiles at roomandcare.com to ensure accurate listings, enhance visibility, and support timely referrals. Keeping information current—especially availability and photos—can help improve placement success. Click below to learn more or access available resources.

Background Check Reminders for AFH Providers

As you onboard new staff or prepare for a change of ownership, here are a few important updates and reminders from the Background Check Central Unit (BCCU):

Manual Entries Require Signed Forms

If you’re manually entering background check information, you must retain the signed Background Authorization Form (BAF) that corresponds to each entry. These may be requested in an audit.

Translations Now Available

The BAF and instructions are available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, and more. This makes the process more accessible for diverse applicants.

LiveScan Fingerprinting Tip

Encourage applicants to use Idemia’s LiveScan for fingerprinting. It’s faster, cleaner, and digitally transmitted—just remind them to save their receipt until results are received.

Opening a New Adult Family Home or Completing a Change of Ownership Resources

If you’re planning to open a new Adult Family Home (AFH) or take over an existing one through a Change of Ownership (CHOW), it’s important to understand the required steps to stay compliant with Washington State regulations. Whether you’re just beginning the process or looking to expand your operations, proper planning and adherence to state guidelines will help ensure a smooth experience.

Opening a New Adult Family Home:

Starting a new AFH involves several phases including orientation, licensing application, inspections, background checks, and training. It’s essential to follow the steps in order and allow time for reviews and approvals along the way.

Completing a Change of Ownership (CHOW):

If you’re purchasing or transferring ownership of an existing home, a CHOW process is required—even if the location and residents remain the same. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) outlines specific procedures and forms that must be submitted to avoid delays or compliance issues.

Whether opening a new home or completing a CHOW, staying informed and organized is key. For a detailed breakdown of both processes—including written instructions and helpful visual guides—click the button below.

Long-Term Care Q&A Call- September 2025

Long-term care partners in WA from all settings are invited to join us at a Q&A call about infection prevention topics. This call is for adult family homes, assisted living settings, nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. It will be focused on answering YOUR questions about all aspects of infection prevention, including personal protective equipment (PPE), antimicrobial stewardship, multi-drug resistant organisms, respiratory protection, hand hygiene, isolation, transmission-based precautions and other topics. This call will include panelists from local health jurisdictions, Department of Health and DSHS Residential Care Services.

The purpose of this call is the answer questions and talk through issues so you can provide a safer environment for staff and residents. To promote open discussion, the call will not be recorded. We are asking you to submit at least one question when you register to help us ensure we will have the panelists available on the call to address the areas you are wanting to learn more about.

Looking for Education Opportunities?

Check Out Our Events Page

Need Support?

Reach Out to Our Staff

Are You a Member Yet?

Learn About Membership Benefits