DSHS Stories
Welcome to DSHS Stories!
Here you can read about the how DSHS and you are making a difference in our community. In addition to some truly compelling stories, you will also find periodic Messages from the Secretary at the bottom of this page. Thank you for stopping by!
DDA case resource manager gets creative with food
Apr 21 2020
Amy Ballard, case resource manager, received a worrisome call in late March from a client stating her caregiver left a voicemail that she would not be returning to work. The caregiver was going to be staying at home self-quarantining because she has a cough.
The client depends on her caregiver to take her to the local food bank every week to keep food in the house. Amy called the caregiver, who verified she would not be returning, and would likely be applying for unemployment after ...read more
The woman behind the curtain at CSTC
Apr 21 2020
Denise Martinez never imagined that she would relate so much to a scene in a decades-old film. But that was before COVID-19 changed the roles and work of so many people.
“I’m basically like the Wizard of Oz,” she said. “I’m behind the screen.”
Martinez, the training manager for the Child Study and Treatment Center in Lakewood, had ...read more
Long days, every day. For the patients.
Apr 20 2020
Everything is for the patients. That is the mantra Jerry (Jay) Lucas has lived by while working at Western State Hospital amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Nothing can stop me from fulfilling my oath in taking care of the patients,” the forms and records analyst said.
Lucas, who has been with BHA for nine years ...read more
Mark MacFarlane works to keep SCC operations center running smoothly
Apr 20 2020
Mark MacFarlane used to spend much of his day helping to resolve resident concerns at the Special Commitment Center, addressing how to make services and events more inclusive for disabled residents.
That all changed when the COVID-19 pandemic put Washington into a state of isolation. For many places, social distancing and ...read more
Deliver PPE? Yes, we can!
Apr 17 2020
When a request came in for rapid delivery of personal protective equipment for caregivers and patients in long-term care facilities and home-health care, the DSHS Leased Facilities Maintenance Operations team answered the call.
Using statewide resources (three warehouses, 20 staff, plus trucks), the team set up to deliver PPE to facilities near and far.
Every afternoon they fill orders from inventory in Tumwater and roll out to regional transfer points the next ...read more