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AFH COUNCIL UPDATES

October 24th, 2025

Executive Director Message

Friends –

Each autumn along with changing colors of leaves, we see a changing of the political guard with elections locally and at our AFHC Board! We have several Board openings up for nomination and election this year, and you can get all the information needed at the link below. A few helpful notes to share:

A candidate must be nominated to be on the election ballot in December.
Elections will be electronic in December after nominations close.
Officer positions are chosen by the newly elected (and continuing) board members in the Spring after elections.

And…while we’re talking politics, we have not one but two Lobby Days coming your way in 2026 – a virtual one and our in-person “live from Olympia” annual show on March 2 at the Capital! We’ll be sharing more information soon to let you plan! One final note – we’re sharing below our 2026 Legislative Issue Survey. Don’t forget to share your views on what issues are most important to YOU – survey closes on October 30!

To quote Mother Teresa, “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing.” My eternal thanks to each and all of you dedicated providers and caregivers for putting so much love into doing for vulnerable adults across our State in service for our State daily.

-Bob

Strengthening Our Team to Better Support You — Meet Our New Regulatory Support Director, Maleia Press

Friends –

We are very excited and humbled to share the news that we are adding our new AFHC Regulatory Support Director role to assist our members in their compliance issues with DSHS. Maleia Press, Continuous Quality Improvement Unit Manager with DSHS’s Residential Care Services (RCS) division, has accepted our offer, and will begin her work with the AFHC on November 17!

Maleia has worked in a variety of roles within the medical industryfor over 30 years, with the last 15 years dedicated to supporting and advocating for children and vulnerable adults across Washington. She has worked to support individuals with a variety of needs, including stroke, memory care, and brain injury patients (which remains an intense area of interest for her).

Most recently, Maleia has been working with Residential Care Services (RCS) as their Quality Improvement Unit Manager, with the focus on streamlining their regulatory processes and improving compliance with state and federal statutes. While she has worked with all care settings regulated by RCS, most of that work has been focused on Adult Family Homes, specifically the inspection and complaint investigation processes.

Maleia’s education includes an MBA in Healthcare Management, as well as a BA in Social Sciences with a minor in Psychology. She believes in evidence-based approaches strongly driven by data yet also strives to truly understand the full situation beyond the story told by numbers and checked boxes. We see great alignment with Maleia’s values and our AFHC mission and work.

Maleia and her spouse are proud parents of five adult children, all of whom live in the Puget Sound area. They have three goofy and lovable dogs, who keep them entertained and on their toes. They enjoy traveling, especially when it includes music, history, or food! Please join us in welcoming Maleia Press to the AFHC!

ProviderOne outage planned for Saturday, October 25, 2025

The ProviderOne system will be unavailable from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025 (5 hours) due to scheduled maintenance.

This outage does not affect the Pharmacy POS. Pharmacies will still be able to submit claims for processing and faxes can be sent during the outage. Faxes will be processed after the outage is complete. Please report any issues to: mmishelp@hca.wa.gov.

Behavioral Health Support Services for Apple Health Clients

As of July 1, 2024, select Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) clients now have access to Community Behavioral Health Support (CBHS) — a program designed to help individuals with significant mental health needs live safely in community settings like adult family homes, assisted living, and other residential care.

What CBHS Offers

CBHS provides supportive supervision, which includes:

Voluntary, one-on-one monitoring to prevent at-risk behaviors

Skill-building and resiliency support for stable community living

Coordination with services like behavior or crisis plans.

(Note: This does not include personal care. Available in AFH, ALF, ESF, EARC, and ARC facilities.)

Transition from BHPC

CBHS supportive supervision is replacing Behavioral Health Personal Care (BHPC). Providers should plan to continue support and payment during this transition.

Becoming a Provider

To offer supportive supervision, providers should:

Complete a ProviderOne application

Contract with managed care organizations (MCOs)

Review training videos and billing resources

Get Live Help Every Week!!

Join the CBHS support sessions to get your questions answered:

Rapid Response Calls: Mondays, 8–8:30 a.m. (Don’t miss these!)

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Billing Trainings: Wednesdays, 10–11 a.m.

CBHS empowers providers with the training and tools they need to deliver safe, stable, and supportive care.

About CBHS

CBHS Billing Fact Sheet

DOH Listening Sessions and Rules Workshops – SHB 1142 & SB 5672

The Department of Health’s Home Care Aide Program has announced public workshops to discuss implementation of SHB 1142 and SB 5672, passed during the 2025 legislative session.

SHB 1142 clarifies training requirements for in-home caregivers who are exempt from certification.

SB 5672 extends certification timelines for long-term care workers from 200 days to 365 days (or 425 with provisional certification) through December 2027.

The department will host three online sessions to gather feedback and guide rule development for chapter 246-980 WAC:

Oct. 28. 11:00 AM–12:30 PM – Overview of the bills

Oct. 30. 1:30 – 3:00PM – Incorporating language into existing rules

Nov. 3. 2:30–4:00 PM– Finalizing rule details

Please register using the links on our event page for the workshop dates that work best for you.

We’re excited to welcome our newest regional chapter — East King coordinated by Annie Puchar! This chapter brings together Adult Family Home providers and affiliate business partners from Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mercer Island, and Newcastle.

The East King Chapter is all about connection, collaboration, and community. Providers, partners, and guests will come together to share ideas, learn from local experts, and support one another in delivering quality care.

The chapter’s first meeting will feature Mary Pope, RN, Clinical Liaison with Gentiva, presenting “Caring for the Caregiver: Managing Complex Emotions.” Mary will share valuable insights on maintaining balance and emotional well-being while caring for others.

We’re thrilled to see this chapter take off under Annie’s leadership and can’t wait to watch it grow!

Learn More Here

2025 Board Nominations Are Now Open!

Each year, one-third of the AFH Council’s 11-member Executive Board—representing regions across Washington—is up for re-election. The Board plays a crucial role in guiding the Council’s mission, supporting and overseeing the executive director, ensuring effective planning and resource management, monitoring programs and services, and maintaining the Council’s public image and ethical standards.

This year, four positions are open for re-election:

Region Three Delegate (Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom)

Region Six Delegate (Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum)

Region Seven Delegate (King)

At-Large Delegate (Statewide)

Nominations are required and must be submitted by November 13, 2025. Only AFH Council members in good standing may nominate or be nominated. Once nominations close, submissions will be reviewed, and official voting will take place from December 8–31, 2025. Each member home will receive one ballot. New Board members will be announced in January 2026.

For details on Board member responsibilities and qualifications, see below or contact the Adult Family Home Council at 360-754-3329 or info@adultfamilyhomecouncil.org

Submit Your Nomination Here

HCLA-RCS 2025 Fall AFH Forum

Home and Community Living Administration–Division of Residential Care Services is hosting their Fall 2025 AFH Forum on Tuesday, November 19, 2025 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Join us for a conversation with your local RCS staff! These forums are designed to improve communication and give you the opportunity to meet your Field Manager, ask questions, and stay informed about important topics affecting Adult Family Homes.

Agenda:

Provider Resource Reminders – Key tips and updates to support your work.

RCS Staff Updates – Hear the latest from your local team.

Deficiency Trends – In-depth discussion of common trends and strategies.

Microlearning Session – Short, focused learning to sharpen your skills.

Q&A Session – Ask questions and get answers directly from RCS staff.

Register Today to stay connected, informed, and engaged with your local RCS staff – your trusted advocates for Adult Family Homes.

More Information

Have Your Say: What Matters Most for Lobby Day

We want to make sure Lobby Day addresses the issues that matter most to you. Take a moment to share your priorities in our quick survey and help shape our advocacy efforts. Your input makes a difference!

Start The Survey

Marketing Tip: Encourage Reviews from Families

Positive reviews are one of the easiest ways to build trust and attract new families to your adult family home. Families often rely on online feedback when choosing a home for their loved one, so a few kind words can go a long way. Here’s how to make it simple:

Ask at the Right Time – After a positive interaction, discharge, or special milestone, politely ask families if they’d share their experience online. Timing matters—people are more likely to leave a review when the experience is fresh.

Make It Easy – Provide direct links to your Google listing, Facebook page, or website review section. The fewer steps, the higher the chance they’ll follow through.

Be Grateful and Respectful – Thank families for their time and feedback, whether online or in person. Expressing genuine appreciation encourages future engagement.

Share the Love – Feature reviews in your newsletter, on social media, or your website. Highlighting real experiences not only promotes your home but also shows families that you value their voices.

Pro Tip: Even short, simple reviews are effective. A few sentences about care, friendliness, or a memorable moment can make a huge impact. By encouraging and sharing authentic reviews, you build credibility and help families feel confident that your home is the right choice.

AFHC Trainings and Events

HCA Rapid Response Call–10/27/25 8:00 AM- 8:30AM

HCA Listening Session #1 – Overview of the bills and objectives of the rules project-10/28/25 11:00 AM-12:30PM

East King County Chapter Meeting-10/28/25 12:30 PM-3:30PM

Spokane Chapter Meeting–10/29/25 11:30 AM-2:00PM

Tri-Cities Chapter Meeting-10/29/25 1:30 PM-3:30PM (UPDATED TIME AND LOCATION!!)

Behaviorism Training: A Providers Guide to Behavior Support –10/29/25 10:00 AM-11:30 AM

HCA Rules workshop #2 – Format and Incorporate Supportive Bill Language Into Existing Rules- 10/30/2025 1:30 PM-3:00PM

Vancouver Chapter Meeting-10/31/25 1:30 PM-3:30PM (Costume Contest)

Stay Up-To-Date with Our Upcoming Events and Webinars!

Events Page

Looking for Education Opportunities?

Check Out Our Events Page

Need Support?

Reach Out to Our Staff

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P: 1.360.754.3329 | F: 1.360.943.6653 | T: 1.888.439.8999

3309 Capitol Blvd. SW, Tumwater, WA 98501

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Membership fees enable the Council to cover legal expenses and fund staff to advocate with the state and regulatory agencies. The participation of every adult family home is vital to ensuring fair regulations and rates that accurately reflect the costs of caring for our vulnerable adults. Consider becoming a member of the Council to help us continue improving conditions for all adult family homes in Washington State.

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