Navigating the System in Uncertain Waters

In Washington State, the state legislature appropriates dollars to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) each biennium - every two years. There are many agencies in DSHS... The Divisions of Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and so on. For the sake of this description, the two divisions we are most referencing are the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Once DSHS receives it's two-year appropriation from the Legislature, each agency is given a budget within which they must operate. In DSHS, there is a Secretary (Top Dog) and several Assistant Secretaries. Each division within DSHS also has a director and a number of staff who administrate the operations of that division. DVR is responsible for vocational rehabilitation and employment. DDD is responsible for the whole life of the person including employment and residential supports.

To receive funding from either one of these agencies, you must be found eligible for services. You apply for services through a local office. If you're found eligible, then you're assigned a case manager. However, being found eligible for services does not necessarily mean you will receive supports or services. It boils down to resources.

DDD contracts directly with a service provider for residential supports and with counties for employment supports. Each county must submit a plan for employment supports to the DDD Regional Manager and have it approved every two years. In turn, the counties contract with employment providers and families, etc. to provide the employment services needed within a given community.

DVR contracts with individual service providers to provide job assessment, training, placement and follow-up.  To find out more about employment services provided by Vadis, please visit our community partnering page.