| | AFH COUNCIL UPDATES July 10th, 2026 |
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| | | | | | New Director of Communications & Digital Technology – AFH Council |
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| Please join us in welcoming Douglas Hummer as the Adult Family Home Council’s new Director of Communication & Digital Technology! Douglas brings more than 10 years of experience in digital media, web technologies, technical operations, and digital marketing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Technology & Culture from Washington State University and has extensive experience with WordPress, SEO, website development, online engagement tools, and technology solutions that improve access to information. In his new role with AFHC, Douglas will lead the Council’s communications and digital initiatives, including website improvements, email marketing, digital tools, and online resources that support Adult Family Home providers, families, and partners. He will help strengthen AFHC’s digital systems and workflows while supporting improvements to resources such as the Adult Family Home Finder and other provider-facing tools. Douglas also brings leadership experience from his service in the Washington Army National Guard, where he developed skills in teamwork, logistics, and problem-solving. Outside of work, he enjoys gardening, woodworking, cooking, video games, and spending time with his family. We are excited to have Douglas join the AFHC team and look forward to the knowledge, experience, and new perspectives he will bring as we continue improving how we communicate and support Adult Family Home providers across Washington. |
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| | | Medical Device Use in Adult Family Homes |
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| The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) recently issued guidance clarifying the use of medical devices in Adult Family Homes (AFHs). The guidance reminds providers that residents may use medical devices to support assessed care needs, but providers must understand the difference between a medical device and a restraint and ensure devices are used safely and appropriately. DSHS provided clarification regarding bed rails and positioning devices. When a resident is requesting Medicaid coverage for a bed rail or positioning device, Home and Community Services (HCS) requires a Therapy Evaluation for Bed Transfer/Positioning Devices (DSHS Form 13-906) completed by a qualified Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist. This requirement is an HCS policy and is separate from AFH licensing requirements. AFH providers remain responsible for ensuring medical devices are used to meet an assessed resident need, are not used for staff convenience or as restraints, and are properly documented in the resident’s Negotiated Care Plan. Providers should review their medical device policies and procedures to ensure staff understand safe use requirements and the difference between medical devices and restraints. For additional details on assessment requirements, bed rail guidance, and provider responsibilities, please review the full DSHS guidance or consult with your DSHS Field Manager regarding specific resident situations. |
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| | | ProviderOne System Outage |
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| The Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced a scheduled maintenance outage for the ProviderOne system. ProviderOne will be unavailable from 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, through 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026 (approximately 26.5 hours). During this time, providers will not be able to access ProviderOne services. If possible, plan ahead and complete any time-sensitive work before the outage begins to help avoid disruptions. If you experience any issues after the system is restored, please contact the HCA MMIS Help Desk at mmishelp@hca.wa.gov. |
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| | DDA and HCS Quarterly Connection Meetings with Adult Family Homes |
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| The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and Home and Community Services (HCS), in partnership with the Adult Family Home Council (AFHC), are inviting Adult Family Home providers to participate in the next Quarterly AFH Connection Meeting. These quarterly meetings provide an opportunity for providers to receive updates from state partners, learn about programs and services impacting adult family homes, and engage in conversations that strengthen communication and collaboration between providers, DDA, HCS, and AFHC. The upcoming meeting will focus on Community Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) transitions, Intensive Behavioral Support Services (IBSS), and other program updates. Providers will have the opportunity to learn more about current initiatives, available behavioral health supports, and important information affecting AFH operations. The meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Registration is open to all Adult Family Home owners. Read the full article for meeting details and registration information. |
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| | | | Beginning July 1, 2026, Medicaid base daily rates for adult family homes have increased. The amount of the increase varies based on the resident’s classification level, your home’s specialty contract, and the county in which your adult family home is located. Providers are encouraged to review the updated rate tables and verify that the new rates have been applied correctly. Although these rate increases are intended to process automatically through ProviderOne, payment errors can occur. Providers should carefully monitor payments over the coming weeks to ensure they are receiving the correct reimbursement amounts. Homes with Exceptions to the Rule (ETRs) should pay particular attention. Because ETRs are authorized on the same service line as the base rate, some adjustments require manual processing by DSHS and may be overlooked. The amount of an approved ETR should not be reduced because of the base rate increase. If you notice an incorrect adjustment, contact your case manager or DSHS as soon as possible. These rate increases are the result of ongoing advocacy and collective bargaining efforts led by the Adult Family Home Council. If you are not yet a member, consider joining the Council to support continued advocacy for improved reimbursement rates, stronger provider protections, and a sustainable future for adult family homes across Washington. |
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| | | Save the Date! 2026 Fall Conference |
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| Celebrating 30 Years of Resilience – Voice, Value, and Vision Mark your calendars for the Adult Family Home Council’s 2026 Fall Conference, Celebrating 30 Years of Resilience – Voice, Value, and Vision, taking place Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25, 2026 at the Tulalip Resort and Casino. Join providers and partners from across Washington for two days of education, networking, and collaboration as we celebrate three decades of advocating and supporting Adult Family Homes. Additional details, including the conference agenda and registration information, will be available soon. Tentative Registration Dates Sponsorship Registration 7/15/2026 Vendor Registration 7/15/2026 Call for Speakers 7/15/2026 Conference Attendee Registration 8/5/2026 |
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| | Funding Available For Heat Pumps In AFHs |
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| The Washington State Department of Commerce has tentatively awarded program administrators for the upcoming heat pump rebate and incentive programs that will serve adult family homes across Washington. While these awards are still tentative, this marks an important step toward making funding available to help providers purchase and install high-efficiency heat pumps. The selected organizations will be responsible for administering the programs, including determining eligibility, processing applications, and distributing rebates and incentives. Tentative program administrators include Ready 2 Serve Ministries, King County Energize, HopeSource, WOW Women of Wisdom Tri-Cities, Coastal Community Action Council, Ohop Mutual Light Company, Sustainable Living Center, the City of Richland, the City of Shoreline, the City of Tacoma, and Cowlitz County PUD, each serving designated regions throughout the state. The Adult Family Home Council will continue monitoring the rollout of these programs and will share additional information as it becomes available, including application timelines, eligibility requirements, participating service areas, and instructions on how to apply for funding. If you have questions in the meantime, you can contact the Washington State Department of Commerce at homerebates@commerce.wa.gov or visit the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) webpage for additional information. |
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| | | HR1 Federal Change: What This Means for AFHs |
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| Due to a new federal law, House Resolution 1 (HR1), the federal government is introducing new restrictions on eligibility for certain benefits that rely on federal funding, including Apple Health Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS). Beginning October 1, 2026, some adult immigrant residents in adult family homes may lose access to federally funded Apple Health LTSS based on immigration status. This change may impact residents who are currently receiving federally funded LTSS and who are in categories such as refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking, Ukrainian humanitarian parolees, or other individuals with humanitarian protections. Starting in July 2026, affected residents are expected to receive informational letters explaining these changes and encouraging them to report any updates in immigration or citizenship status to DSHS. For adult family homes, this may result in changes to how care is funded for certain residents beginning October 1, 2026. While the Legislature has allocated some state funding to help offset impacts and is developing a limited state-funded program, available resources will not cover all affected individuals. As a result, some providers may see residents whose funding changes or is no longer available. DSHS has outlined the following general timeline: informational letters begin in July 2026, followed by case manager outreach and assessments in August and September, and implementation of changes on October 1, 2026, when some residents will be disenrolled from federally funded Apple Health LTSS. Adult family home providers are encouraged to identify potentially impacted residents, monitor communication from DSHS and case managers, and document any changes in funding, placement, or care planning. AFHC will continue to track developments closely and share updates as more information becomes available about the state-funded replacement program and eligibility criteria. AFHC has also submitted a formal demand to bargain regarding the impacts of this policy change on adult family home providers. We will continue to provide updates as negotiations and implementation discussions progress and will share additional guidance as it becomes available. |
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| | | RCS AFH Pilot for Facility Reported Incidents |
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| Residential Care Services (RCS) has launched a six-month “proof of concept” pilot to test a new administrative review and offsite investigation process for select Facility Reported Incidents (FRIs). The pilot began July 1, 2026, and applies only to Adult Family Homes (AFHs) in Region 1. The pilot focuses on medium- and low-level harm incidents that do not require an onsite investigation. Through this process, RCS will evaluate whether remote reviews can provide an effective and efficient way to maintain oversight while reducing unnecessary onsite visits. Providers will continue submitting initial FRI reports through the Residential Care Services Online Incident Reporting (OIR) portal as they do today. As part of the pilot, participating providers will be asked to submit follow-up information within five working days after their initial mandatory report. RCS has created a fillable follow-up form that providers can complete and upload through the OIR portal. This form is being tested as part of the pilot, and RCS is encouraging providers to participate and provide feedback as the process is evaluated. The Adult Family Home Council (AFHC) and RCS partnered on a training session to help providers understand the pilot requirements, mandatory reporting expectations, five-day follow-up process, and how to upload supporting documents through the OIR portal. Providers in Region 1 are encouraged to review the available resources and stay informed as RCS continues implementing this pilot. |
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| | | HCS Behavioral Health and Professional Development Training Opportunities |
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| Home and Community Services (HCS) is offering a variety of virtual training opportunities throughout 2026 to support adult family home providers and caregivers in strengthening their skills in behavioral health, dementia care, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and professional resilience. These trainings are designed to provide practical tools and strategies that can be applied in residential care settings. Many sessions offer Continuing Education (CE) credits for participants who attend the full training, complete the required evaluation, and meet participation requirements. Upcoming topics include dementia-specific behavioral interventions, supporting residents experiencing mental health challenges, trauma-informed care practices, crisis response, cultural competency, and strategies for building caregiver resilience. Trainings are available throughout the year, with sessions scheduled from July through December 2026. Providers and caregivers interested in participating should review the full training schedule for dates, times, CE credit information, and registration links. To receive CE credit and a certificate, participants must have an account in CareLearn or the DSHS Learning Center, attend using a desktop or laptop computer, participate for the entire session, and complete the required evaluation. These free virtual trainings are a valuable opportunity for AFH providers and staff to continue building knowledge, improve resident support, and strengthen quality care practices. |
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| | | HCS Special Events Training Opportunities Available for AFH Providers |
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| Home and Community Services (HCS) is offering a series of special event trainings designed to support Adult Family Home providers and caregivers with topics related to mental health, behavior support, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and person-centered services. These virtual trainings provide an opportunity for providers and staff to strengthen their skills and learn practical strategies that can be applied in residential care settings. Participants who meet attendance and completion requirements may receive Continuing Education (CE) credits. Upcoming training topics include behavior supports, therapeutic recreation, reproductive phases and mental health considerations, and trauma-informed approaches to supporting individuals impacted by migration experiences. Sessions are available throughout July, August, September, October, and November 2026. To receive CE credit and a certificate of completion, participants must attend the full training, actively participate, complete the required feedback survey, and join through Microsoft Teams using a desktop or laptop computer. Providers should also ensure they have an active CareLearn account to receive credit. HCS is also offering Behavior Support Consultation for providers serving Residential Support Waiver (RSW) clients who may need additional support with challenging behaviors, crisis planning, care plan reviews, or transitions from hospital settings. Providers and caregivers interested in these opportunities are encouraged to review the full training schedule, registration links, and available support resources. |
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| | | Get Registered! Upcoming Webinars |
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| | Cultural Competency and Diversity in Residential Care
July 15 | 10:00AM – 11:00AM |
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| This training covers cultural humility, bias awareness, and communication skills to build respectful, inclusive, person-centered care, including language-access resources and applying diversity awareness to documentation, planning, and daily interactions. 1.0 CEU available to all who attend |
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| | | AFH Provider Quarterly Connection With HCS & DDCS
July 16 | 1:30PM – 3:30PM |
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| Home and Community Services (HCS) and Development Disabilities Community Services (DDCS) are welcoming Medicaid contracted Adult Family Home providers to connect with HCS and DDCS headquarters and regional leadership through virtual quarterly meetings. HCS and DDCS plan for these quarterly 90-minute connection sessions as an opportunity for AFH providers and HCS & DDCS leadership to discuss important topics of provider interest, provide updates and education, and most importantly to come together to strengthen communication and understanding in our shared mission of quality long-term care services for our most vulnerable clients and residents. This quarter’s topics will focus on Community Behavioral Health Services Transitions and Intensive Behavioral Support Services and Updates |
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| | | Upcoming Chapter Meetings |
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| | | Lacey Chapter Meeting
July 15 | 11:30AM – 1:30PM |
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| | | | | Federal Way Chapter Meeting
July 16 | 12:30PM – 2:30PM |
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| Today’s families begin their search for care online, and this session helps Adult Family Home providers understand how to make a strong, trustworthy first impression in a competitive digital environment. Participants will learn how families research and select care, why a modern and credible online presence is essential for visibility and stable occupancy, and what key elements make an AFH website both effective and compliant. The presentation covers maintaining accurate and regularly updated content, optimizing and managing a Google Business Profile, and using thoughtful visual storytelling to clearly communicate services and values. Attendees will leave with practical, actionable steps to strengthen their digital presence in ways that support transparency, professionalism, and long-term business sustainability within regulatory standards. |
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| | | AFH Council Online Campus Registration |
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| | As a member of the Adult Family Home Council, you and two staff members can access on-demand Continuing Education Units through our Online Campus, powered by Cornerstone Healthcare Training. This training platform is free with your membership and offers self-paced, mobile-friendly courses designed specifically for Adult Family Home providers. Members benefit from exclusive course offerings, a quick and easy registration process, and expert support when needed. Use the button below to request your registration and start exploring the Online Campus today. |
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| | | Interested in Presenting or Sponsoring? |
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| | The Adult Family Home Council is planning upcoming chapter meetings, webinars, and conferences. We invite affiliate business partners and experienced AFH providers to take part as education presenters or chapter meeting lunch sponsors. We welcome provider-focused presentation topics that offer practical guidance for AFH owners. Experienced providers are encouraged to share successful practices from real AFH settings and may present independently or in collaboration with Council staff. Interested in presenting or sponsoring? Complete our brief interest form to share your topic ideas and availability. |
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| | | Stay Up-To-Date with Our Upcoming Events and Webinars! |
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| | | | | | | | | P: 1.360.754.3329 | F: 1.360.943.6653 | T: 1.888.439.8999 3309 Capitol Blvd. SW Ste 1, Tumwater, WA 98501 |
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