2017 DSHS News Releases

Welcome to DSHS' news releases for 2018. You may sort by keyword, release number and date.

To read archived news releases, please choose the appropriate year below:

 


New Year brings new laws affecting child support

Dec 18 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360-902-7739

OLYMPIA- New child support laws that reflect the changing nature of families, technology and our work will take effect Jan. 1. The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) Division of Child Support has been working for months to make the transition to the new laws as smooth as possible for our customers.

The new laws include:


Federal Judge gives final approval to Trueblood settlement agreement

Dec 11 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360-902-7739

OLYMPIA—The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) along with Disability Rights Washington got the green light yesterday, December 11, 2018, on an agreement that will improve access to mental health treatment for people waiting in jail for competency evaluations and restoration services.

Western District Court of Washington Judge Marsha Pechman gave her final approval of a settlement agreement Disability Rights Washington and DSHS proposed to the court this past August.

...read the full news release

DSHS names Mark Kettner as permanent CEO for Eastern State Hospital

Dec 03 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360-902-7739

OLYMPIA – The Department of Social and Health Services today announced that Mark Kettner has been officially named Chief Executive Officer for Eastern state Hospital (ESH). Kettner has been in the position as interim since April 2018.

“Mark has been doing a remarkable job as interim and he came out on top of a very qualified pool of applicants,” said DSHS Behavioral Health Administration Assistant Secretary, Sean Murphy. “The patients and staff at Eastern are very lucky to have Mark ...read the full news release


DSHS makes changes to Behavioral Health Administration

Nov 14 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Norah West, (360) 902-7833

 

Secretary realigns administration to move forward on Governor’s vision for mental health

OLYMPIA – Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Secretary Cheryl Strange today announced changes to the department’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) that better align the agency with Governor Jay ...read the full news release


Fircrest Intermediate Care Facility achieves recertification

Oct 25 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Lisa Copeland, 360-902-7844

OLYMPIA – Following an agreement signed in May, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has received notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that Fircrest School will retain its certification and associated federal funding.

Fircrest School in Shoreline is one of four ...read the full news release