| | AFH COUNCIL UPDATES July 17th, 2026 |
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| | | | Fall Conference 2026Applications |
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| Sponsorships, Vendor Registration,and our Call for Speakers are now open! |
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| Join us as we celebrate 30 years of resilience at the 2026 Adult Family Home Council Fall Conference, taking place Thursday and Friday, September 24–25, at the beautiful Tulalip Resort in Marysville, Washington. Centered around 30 Years of Voice, Value, and Vision, this year’s conference honors the strength of adult family home providers, the value they bring to long-term care, and our shared vision for the future of care in Washington State. With nearly 600 providers expected to attend, there are several ways to participate, including sponsorship opportunities, vendor registration, and our Call for Speakers. To learn more and access all opportunities in one place, visit our conference news page: |
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| | Attending Registration is Scheduledfor August 5th 2026 |
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| Subscribe to our newsletter and follow our social media pages to receive the latest conference updates and be notified when registration opens. We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with you at the 2026 Fall Conference! |
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| | | Washington Supreme Court Ruling on Adult Family Homes Live-In Caregiver |
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| On July 9, 2026, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the state’s minimum wage and overtime exemption for live-in caregivers is unconstitutional as applied to adult family home workers. The ruling means live-in caregivers are entitled to minimum wage for compensable hours worked and overtime for hours exceeding 40 in a workweek. However, important questions remain, including whether the decision will apply retroactively. The Council is reviewing the ruling and preparing additional guidance on timekeeping, scheduling, compensation, and live-in arrangements. |
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| | | | Please join us for the upcoming Adult Family Home Council Board Meeting on Thursday, July 23. Dear Board Members, This is a reminder that the next Adult Family Home Council Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026. We appreciate your participation and look forward to seeing you. |
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| | | Medical Device Use in Adult Family Homes |
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| The Department of Social and Health Services has issued updated guidance on the use of medical devices—including bed rails and positioning devices—in Adult Family Homes. Before a medical device is used, providers must ensure: A qualified assessment identifies the resident’s need and ability to use the device safely. The resident or legal representative understands the benefits and potential risks. The resident’s Negotiated Care Plan documents how the device will be used. The device is properly installed and used according to the assessment and manufacturer’s instructions.
For Medicaid residents, the Department Case Manager coordinates the assessment and updates the CARE assessment. The AFH provider must then incorporate the recommendations into the resident’s Negotiated Care Plan. For private-pay residents, the assessment must be completed by a qualified social services professional, licensed nurse with appropriate experience, or Washington-licensed physician. Medical devices may only be used to address an assessed resident need. They may not be used for staff convenience or as a restraint. Providers should review their policies and staff training to ensure medical devices are properly assessed, documented, installed, and used safely. Review Dear Provider Letter AFH #2026-027 for complete guidance or contact your DSHS Field Manager regarding resident-specific situations. |
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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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| | Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-InjuryJuly 22 | 9:00AM – 11:00AM |
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| The training course will teach the audience the terminology and how to recognize contextual situations surrounding suicidal ideation. Participants will gain an increased understanding of the development and expression of suicidal ideation and related self-harming behaviors. Participants will be trained to recognize and prevent self-harming behaviors, further enabling safer long-term care environments for clients and providers.. 2.0 CEU available to all who attend |
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| | | Getting the Health Insurance You Need on Washington Healthplanfinder
July 27 | 11:00AM – 12:00PM |
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| With so many choices and considerations at stake, navigating health insurance as a small business owner can feel overwhelming. Join a session with Marie Cooper from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. She will simplify the process and highlight the options available on Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s official health and dental insurance marketplace, where Washingtonian’s can access individual plans that meet their needs and lifestyle. 1.0 CEU available to all who attend |
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| | | Upcoming Chapter Meetings |
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| | | Yakima Chapter Meeting
July 22 | 1:00PM – 2:30PM |
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| Connect and grow with your community! Meet us in Yakima for free lunch, valuable networking opportunities with local providers and affiliates, and earn CE credits while gaining insights to boost efficiency in your AFH! |
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| | | | Tri-Cities Chapter Meeting
July 23 | 3:00PM – 5:00PM |
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| Connect and grow with your community! Meet us in Yakima for free lunch, valuable networking opportunities with local providers and affiliates, and earn CE credits while gaining insights to boost efficiency in your AFH! |
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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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