FALL 2024
CATHY’S Message
Cathy Kinnaman Home and Community Services Director
As we celebrated Labor Day, it’s important to reflect on the significance of this holiday and what it means for workers everywhere. Labor Day honors the labor movement’s tireless efforts to improve working conditions, rights, and safety. Many of the protections we benefit from today, including safe workplaces, are the direct result of those who advocated for employee safety in the face of significant challenges. At ALTSA and HCS, we remain deeply committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all of our staff. Recent events have highlighted the importance of continually reviewing and improving our safety protocols. You may remember seeing DSHS all-staff messages on August 27 and 29 informing you that an individual shot into the back and front entrances of a DSHS office in Seattle outside of business hours. We are so thankful that no one was injured, and that the individual was arrested and taken into custody. However, because of this incident we are conducting a comprehensive review of our employee safety procedures. This incident, while deeply distressing, has underscored the need to reexamine how we can further safeguard our workplaces. I want to assure you that DSHS is actively working with local law enforcement, security experts, and safety professionals to evaluate every aspect of our security measures. We also encourage you to reach out to your supervisor or Human Resources with any immediate questions or concerns about workplace safety. We understand that events like this can be deeply unsettling, and we encourage you to take advantage of the support services available to you through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
In addition to these important security measures, we are closely monitoring the recent increase in COVID-19 infections. While some of our masking protocols have
been relaxed as the pandemic subsides, this rise in cases may require us to re-examine current guidelines, especially for employees working in high-risk environments. Your safety and the safety of those we serve are our top priorities, and we will update our protocols as the situation evolves. Please remain vigilant in following any new safety procedures to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Beginning January 2025, all new ALTSA staff will be automatically assigned trainings on blood-borne pathogens and respirators. This will ensure that staff have the knowledge they need to keep themselves and others safe and that the administration complies with the related WACs and DSHS policy.
Additionally, employees entering high-risk environments (such as Nursing Facility Case Managers and Acute Care Hospital staff) will be required to complete mandatory training on blood-borne pathogens on an annual basis. This training will provide critical information on how to protect yourself and others from exposure to bodily fluids or other potentially infectious materials. Ensuring that you are fully prepared with the necessary knowledge is key to maintaining your safety and the well-being of those we serve. Completing the training annually will bring HCS into closer alignment with how RCS and APS address the training requirement and further decrease risk to our employees and others.
In closing, I want to thank each of you for your ongoing dedication and resilience. We are living in challenging times, and your commitment to serving Washington’s aging population and those with disabilities has remained steadfast. Together, we will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of all staff, ensuring that ALTSA remains a safe and supportive place to work.
DSHS Region 1
Tami Rucker
Home and Community Services Administrator – Region 1
Adams • Asotin • Benton • Chelan • Columbia • Douglas • Ferry • Franklin • Garfield • Grant • Kittitas • Klickitat • Lincoln • Okanogan • Pend Oreille • Spokane • Stevens • Walla Walla • Whitman • Yakima
Challenge Accepted
During the roll out of the Presumptive Eligibility (PE) Pilot in Region 1 the Acute Hospital staff were tasked with learning this new program. They graciously accepted the challenge and embodied the new DSHS mission of partnering with people to access, support, care, and resources. Acute hospital case managers talked to every in-home client and gave them the choice of doing a PE assessment or waiting for a full functional assessment. So much collaboration went into this achievement. The Acute Hospital staff took it on themselves to reach out to agency providers, CDWA, CCG’s, AAA, and Hospitals to improve the services and lives of those we serve. Even with their
busy work schedules they took the time to learn all PE had to offer. Region 1 developed a Microsoft List tracking system to track the time spent doing a PE assessment to assist with more FTE’s to roll this from a pilot to program. Some beautiful examples of this program include a client who was on hospice and was able to receive services and medical coverage and pass away at home surrounded by loved ones. Another example was a young person injured whose wife had to go back to work and client was able to receive services during the day while his wife was supporting their family. This program would not have been successful without the amazing acute hospital staff, financial PBS staff, and leadership. Together we are transforming lives and setting an example for states across the nation.
DSHS Region 2
Introduction of Case Aides in Region 2
Erin Klones Home and Community Services Administrator – Region 2
Snohomish
In July 2023, Home and Community Services Region 2 launched a pilot project utilizing Case Aides to provide support to In-Home Social Service Specialist 3’s and Nurse Care Consultants. At the time our In-Home workers had been reeling from unprecedentedly high caseloads and lengthy wait times for initial assessments related to the roll out of CDWA, increasing demands for our services, and the overall caregiver shortage.
Case Aide Team Overview
Our team of 4 Case Aides provide support to 63 In-Home workers across the entire region, which extends from the King/Pierce County line up to the Canadian border. These positions are funded by the region, with the hopes that if we could demonstrate positive outcomes ALTSA could ask for legislatively allocated funds for additional Case Aides to support not only R2 but the other regions as well as potentially other program areas such as RCCM, SNF, and ACH.
Case Aide Responsibilities
The Case Aides assist In-Home workers with the following:
• Searching for Adult Family Homes (AFH)
• Searching for Assisted Living (AL) facilities
• Searching for Agency Caregivers
• Assisting clients in obtaining Durable Medical Equipment, Assistive Technology, or Environmental Modifications
• Connecting caregivers/clients with Consumer Direct Employer of Washington (CDWA) and helping with caregiver hiring/onboarding
• Translating CARE documents into the client’s language
• Scheduling interpreters for home visits
Survey Insights and Impact
Over the past year, we conducted several surveys involving case managers, supervisors, and agency providers in our region. Approximately 50% of the Case Aide work involves matching clients with agency caregivers. In the last year, Case Aides conducted 1,315 agency searches to
find caregivers and successfully located caregivers within 30 days for 63% of clients. Additionally, 66% of agencies reported that they have utilized our Case Aides in finding clients for their caregivers.
There are agencies that have been notifying our Case Aides when they have a caregiver available or a new caregiver coming onboard. Have you initiated any communication with our Case Aides regarding your caregiver availability?
I believe the case Aides have been great in making it known to me that clients are available. I enjoy sending a table of available HCA to the case Aides as they have done the same for me and their list of available clients. I thoroughly enjoy the clarity that has been given by the case aides and their quick response times.
When we surveyed Case Managers, they agreed that having the Case Aide support has allowed them to complete their assessments in a more timely manner.
Case Aides enable Case Managers to complete assessments more timely
DSHS Region 2
Quotes from Agency providers:
I appreciate all their work and info they send to me; including if client smokes or has any pets in the home. I also prefer to know if client is a hoarder, home is filthy or client has behaviors to help me better select an aide who can succeed in helping client(s). Case aides definitely are a bonus in getting clients set up with care faster since their response time is rapid vs before when CM where out of office on assessments, etc and could not respond to me as quickly due to their heavy work load; understandably so. (I get it). Thank you for all you are doing!!
Irene, Aaron, Earl, and Joshua are spectacular!! They are so quick to respond and answer any questions and provide assigned SS and ADs right away. A++ Team!
Quotes from Case Managers: Our case aides are absolutely amazing- they are an instrumental part of the process of offering services to clients in a timely manner.
This project is amazing! I am so very grateful for the help they provide! Thank you!
They are doing a fantastic job!
Continue to expand the Case Aide program. They are incredibly valuable and save case managers significant amounts of time and energy.
The Case Aide Pilot is a huge benefit to us and our clients.
Hard to imagine that an entity can work better. Their efficiency is fantastical.
DSHS Region 3
Clallam • Clark • Cowlitz
Pierce
Skamania
Like
– Catherine DeVrye
Thank you to Region 3 Financial!
You are the HELPERS of our communities; you are the people everyone looks to in times of need. You are some of the hardest working people in our agency, with one of the most complex jobs! It is not a job for everyone. While it is a rewarding role, it is also an exhausting one, especially in times like these, when we continue to juggle high caseloads, multiple changes, complexity in the services and increased complexity in the people who receive these services.
It is said that in tough times we find our greatest strength and what I see in our financial teams is just that…. strength, resilience and a mission driven focus. Despite the hard things, you continue to push through, just like that tiny seed, taking on mighty challenges. We
Debbie Willis
Kitsap
will continue to find our way through hard times, it is what we do, and it is who we are – in the end we are servant leaders who give our all to better our communities and support those who need it most.
There are so many ways that you make a difference that they could not possibly be contained in one article, but if you want to learn about some of the awesome work our Financial team does, click here on “Public Benefit Specialist | Success Stories”
Thank you, Region 3 Financial team, for all you do to support our Region and make the lives of others better! You truly make a difference! As you continue to do the hard work of helping others, remember to also take care of yourselves and your own well-being. You matter to us!
Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award
The Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award is an annual award that recognizes managers in state government who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through performance results in the previous year.
Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday recognized 22 state agency leaders in October at an annual awards ceremony. The Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Awards celebrated accomplishments achieved during the 2022 calendar year.
The program was created in 1985 to honor state government leaders who exemplify leadership. Inslee
expanded criteria to highlight continuous improvement, as well as pro-equity and anti-racism efforts.
“Recent years brought new challenges to our agencies, and they’ve been met with ambition, innovation, and a commitment to public service from leaders at all levels of each agency.” Inslee said, “I could not be prouder of how state employees have led by example.”
Honorees represented many state agencies, offices, and commissions.
Each year, a group of agency executives review and determine the awardees from a pool of nominees.
Those recognized included DSHS Senior Human-Centered Design and Innovation Advisor Dawn Shuford-Pavlich who was nominated after meeting the following sustained leadership criteria:
Achieving results – nominee cultivates a shared, strategic vision, drives results and makes things happen as a public servant.
Commitment to equity and inclusion – nominee embraces and embeds inclusion in their decision-making while modeling and championing our culture and values.
Caring for and developing the people they work with – nominee leads and navigates change, helps people develop, builds relationships and fosters learning. Collaboration and teamwork – nominee fosters teamwork and collaboration and communicates effectively.
Home and Community Services Director Cathy Kinnaman noted “Dawn Shuford-Pavlich has driven a culture of equity and inclusion at DSHS through cross-agency community of practice in human-centered design and AI technologies integration. Her leadership has streamlined processes, enhancing service delivery, increasing staff satisfaction, and ensuring responsive policies for vulnerable populations.”
GOLA Award Winners with Governor Inslee
Dawn Shuford-Pavlich with DSHS Secretary Jilma Meneses
Honoring Washington’s Unpaid Family Caregivers Governor Inslee Proclaimed November 2024 as a Month of Recognition
Washington State recognizes unpaid family and kinship caregivers during November for their invaluable assistance provided to loved ones, friends, and neighbors with chronic illness, disabilities, and other special needs. Over 820,000 family caregivers of adults in Washington State provide essential services, estimated to be worth over $16 billion and 770,000,000 hours.
Washington State is a national leader in providing long-term care services and supports, with programs run by the Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, thirteen Area Agencies on Aging, local partners, and federally recognized Tribes.
The need for family caregivers is increasing, with 42,000 children living with grandparents as the head of household, and many other children living with neither parent. Additionally, more kinship caregivers, such as uncles, aunts, cousins, and siblings, are stepping in to care for children whose parents cannot or will not care for them.
The Dementia Action Collaborative (DAC) is increasing awareness and availability of resources such as the Dementia Road Map: A Guide for Family and Care Partners to support over 213,000 family members caring for a person with dementia. The DAC recently updated the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias.
Innovative programs such as the Medicaid Transformation Project and WA Cares provide funding to help unpaid family caregivers take a break, learn new skills, and access self-care and wellness resources. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides eligible older adults with an electronic benefit card worth $80 to access fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at participating farmers markets, farm, and roadside stands.
Given the expected increases in the state’s older population, workforce challenges, and population shifts that will decrease the number of available family caregivers,
comprehensive supports for family caregivers are essential.
Therefore, Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed November 2024 as a month to honor and recognize the invaluable contribution of unpaid family and kinship caregivers who provide essential services to friends, neighbors, and loved ones with chronic illness, disabilities, and other special needs.
As a community, we should support and recognize the incredible contributions of family caregivers who provide essential services to our loved ones. Let’s ensure that these caregivers have access to the resources they need to continue their vital work.
Caregivers are Community Heroes!
This fall, the Home and Community Services Workforce Development team launched a statewide recruitment and retention marketing campaign.
This fall’s theme is “Caregivers are Community Heroes” and is focused on highlighting the valuable work caregivers deliver every day in serving those in their community. The campaign includes transit advertising inside busses, a new 30-second video to be played on streaming platforms and the DSHS YouTube Channel, animated social media ads, email marketing messages and a general campaign poster.
Messaging on these advertising channels will shift from the career growth potential and different roles caregivers
Each advertisement promotes the website, located at caregivercareerswa.com and guides people to hear stories from actual caregivers, check out the Frequently Asked Questions, and subscribe to emails about upcoming events and career-related news.
provide, to fulfilling a passion to serve others and enjoying a flexible schedule that fits your busy lifestyle. Additional messages will share how Workforce Navigators provide one-one-one guidance and support for those going through the process to become trained, certified and employed.
Amy Besel ALTSA Senior Organizational Development Administrator
Living With Intention: Joy, Giving, and Wellbeing
I just read a great book by Adrienne Enns, Intentional Days: Creating Your Life on Purpose, which shares how living intentionally supports our wellbeing and resilience by helping us focus on finding joy and purpose in our daily routines. By doing so, we can improve our physical and mental health, quality of life and resiliency, and have a greater impact on the world around us.
Living with intention means making conscious choices that align with our values and goals. It involves being
present in the moment and making deliberate decisions about how we spend our time, energy, and resources. This practice can lead to a profound sense of fulfillment and joy, as it encourages us to focus on what truly matters. It starts with self-reflection in knowing our personal values and connecting them to our world around us. Joy is one of my core values and here are some ways I intentionally choose it, every day, that you can do too.
• Practice gratitude: Every morning, write down 3 things for which you are grateful. By shifting our focus to positive aspects of our life, we can deliberately help ourselves rewire our brains and build our resilience.
• Connect with others: Make a point to deliberately connect with others. Reach out to the people important to you. Prioritize connection to your teammates across ALTSA by scheduling time to connect. Send a Teams GIF just to let them know you are thinking of them. (I think the kids these days call that “pebbling”- lol Google it). Schedule time on your calendar weekly to send 3 people a RAVE review. Peer appreciation spreads joy and builds trust and collaboration and creates greater connection, which is good for your health and is an easy way to add joy to your own day and others’. Consider coming to an ALTSA Connection Café (come on, it has the word “connection” in the title!)
• Give: We have many gifts to share with others. Whether giving of our time, talents, or money, giving is proven to strengthen our physical and mental health. We have an amazing benefit available to us as state employees to facilitate giving, called the Combined Fund Drive (CFD). How does it build joy on a daily basis? When I see pain and hardship in the world, it can feel overwhelming. In those moments I take comfort in knowing that while I can’t solve all the world’s problems, I know I am helping solve many and being a part of something bigger than myself by intentionally giving a dollar a paycheck to 20 different charities I care about through this secure payroll donation program. I am grateful that $20 a month isn’t a hardship for me and my family. But even giving a dollar a paycheck can have the same joy benefit and community impact. When many of us do it, our impact grows. Last year alone, ALTSA teammates donated $92,343 to charities of their choosing through the CFD. That’s a lot of joy and impact people! Join us in giving today.
I hope these strategies I use help you intentionally choose joy for your wellbeing. As Adrienne Enns beautifully puts it, “Joy is always a choice, one that we make for ourselves because we are worth it”. You are worth it.
