In 1993, in response to growing concerns about the use of the state psychiatric hospitals for persons who do not need long term psychiatric hospital care, the Legislature directed the Secretary of DSHS to "develop a system of more integrated service delivery, including incentives to discourage the inappropriate placement of persons with developmental disabilities, head injury, and substance abuse, at state mental hospitals and encourage their care in community settings." (Chapter 230, Section 2, Laws of 1992).
