PARTNERSHIPS: ESFs How ALTSA’s Enhanced Services Facility team is working with local communities
Washington’s Enhanced Service Facilities, or ESFs, are the newest long-term care residential setting. ESFs benefit from strong partnerships between ALTSA (both RCS and HCS), developers and local jurisdictions, who work in conjunction to site, develop and monitor new facilities. These strong partnerships ultimately benefit the residents of these ESFs, who, due to their individual needs, may find more success in these facilities than in other types of residential settings. “When ESFs were established, they really filled a gap in the continuum of care and the array of facilities we have,” said Sandy Spiegelberg, HCS residential support program manager, who oversees the statewide operations and programmatic work of ESFs. “We don’t have as many people going into nursing homes or bouncing back to a hospital setting because they can get their needs met and be part of the community. I think that’s a really necessary service option available for our residents.” ESFs are community-based residential settings that
primarily serve clients with behavioral support needs and the need for long term services and supports. The facilities can serve up to 16 residents in singleoccupancy rooms and have a staff-to-resident ratio of 1 to 4. They are not behavioral health facilities and do not provide behavioral health services. Residents are free to come and go, and many have jobs or volunteer in their communities. “When you walk into an ESF, these clients aren’t sitting watching TV,” Sandy said. “They’re up, they’re out in the community, they’re taking a walk, they’re doing a craft.” The first ESF opened in June of 2016. Currently, there are six in Washington: three in the Spokane area, one in Everett, one in Vancouver and one in Olympia. One more is scheduled to open soon in Vancouver. About eight others are in the process of being established around the state. The developer of an ESF chooses the site for their new facility and works with the local planning office
