What is the Client Survey?
Since 2000, the Research and Data Analysis Division has worked with social and health services programs across Washington state to collect feedback from clients about their experience with the state. We conduct the survey every two years in partnership with programs from the Department of Social and Health Services, Health Care Authority, and Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
How do I know if I am selected to participate?
For the current survey, we will reach out to clients between September 2026 and April 2027. Participants are randomly selected from all clients who have recently had contact with or received services from the participating programs.
If you are selected to be a part of the Client Survey, you will receive an email or a postal letter that briefly describes the survey and provides instructions on how to complete it over the phone or online. If we don’t hear from you, we will call you to get your feedback over the phone.
Why should I participate?
The Client Survey plays an important role in improving government services for Washington residents. The survey collects feedback directly from you and shares that feedback with leaders so that program improvements can be made. To thank clients for taking the time to share their experiences, those who complete the survey are entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $125 gift card.
How is my data protected?
RDA has several safeguards in place to make sure client data and feedback are protected:
- Data is collected, analyzed, and summarized by professional researchers in RDA.
- Service program staff do not know who participates in the survey or how individual clients responded to the questions.
- RDA staff summarizes question responses before sending reports to programs. Your individual responses will not be shared.
- Comments are reviewed and redacted before they are shared with programs.
- Our survey software meets a rigorous set of security standards, ensuring your responses are protected.
- Though survey responses are protected in most cases, RDA staff are required to report any suspected abuse or neglect of a minor or vulnerable adult to the appropriate authorities.
Survey Participant FAQs
Do I have to participate in the survey?
You are not required to participate, but your feedback is important and can help improve services. You have the option to skip any questions you do not want to answer. You can also decline to participate in the survey. This does not affect any of your benefits.
How long does the survey take?
We estimate the survey will take 10 to 15 minutes. If you have received services from more than one program, we will ask about each of them. This may increase the survey time.
When will I know if I won the gift card?
Participants who completed the survey in the previous month are included in the monthly drawing. We will draw three winners each month that the survey is active, between September 2026 and April 2027. If your name is drawn, we will contact you to verify the address the gift card should be sent to.
What types of questions will I be asked?
We will ask you about service access, interactions with staff, and satisfaction with services. If you have interacted with more than one program, we will ask these questions for each program. You can also share additional experiences in the open-ended comment part of the survey.
What happens with my survey responses?
Once we have heard from all participants, each program will get a summary of the feedback from their clients. Redacted comments are also shared with program leadership.
We also publish a public report that summarizes client feedback for all the programs combined. You can read results from our most recent survey, as well as a detailed description of research methodology, at the following link: 2025 Client Survey Report.