Recent Research Reports
First Episode Psychosis: Estimating Annual Incidence Using Administrative Data in SFY 2024
This report presents estimated incidence rates of first episode psychosis (FEP) among the Washington Medicaid population in state fiscal year (SFY) 2024. Using administrative data from 1997 forward, we identified 4,583 Medicaid enrollees in Washington State who received their first psychotic disorder diagnoses in SFY 2024. The overall incidence rate of FEP was estimated at 284 per 100,000 Medicaid enrollees. The demographic characteristics, type of psychotic disorder diagnosis, and geographic distribution of Medicaid enrollees experiencing FEP are presented in the report.
Housing Stability Supports for Youth and Young Adults Exiting Systems of Care: Washington Systems of Care Grant-Funded Programs
Since 2019, the Office of Homeless Youth has partnered with private philanthropic donors to fund interventions that serve youth and young adults ages 12 to 25 at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness after exiting Washington’s child welfare, behavioral health, or juvenile rehabilitation systems. In this report we describe the demographic characteristics, prior housing status, and behavioral health needs of youth and young adults (YYA) served by these “System of Care” (SOC) grant-funded programs from July 2019 to December 2024. Findings indicate that participants received housing supports and food assistance at higher rates following their enrollment in SOC programs. Their measured rates of homelessness and housing instability also declined substantially, though findings should be interpreted with caution and may be partially an artifact of how homelessness is measured in the administrative data used in this study. Refining SOC program data collection in future studies could yield more specific and actionable insights.
Washington State Jail-based Opioid Treatment Networks: Descriptive Findings from 2019 to 2022
Since September 2018, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) has received State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to improve access to FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and reduce overdose deaths. This evaluation focuses on five Washington State jails that receive SOR funding to implement Opioid Treatment Networks (OTNs). These programs begin MOUD treatment for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) before they are released from jail. The analysis looks at people's characteristics before they entered jail and compares people served by OTN and non-OTN jails. Evaluators found that many people entering the jails included in this study had both OUD and stimulant use disorder; having both diagnoses was more common than having either alone. People using opioids and stimulants may benefit from treatment approaches that address both conditions, but relatively little is known about how best to provide this care. It is also unclear whether people in jails with both conditions receive treatment. These findings point to opportunities for jails to better identify people who use both opioids and stimulants, offer them appropriate treatment, and connect them with treatment and other supports after they leave jail.
Long-Term Services and Supports: 2026 Annual Report
Long-term services and supports (LTSS) provide persons in need of assistance with daily living activities, help in their home, community, or facility settings depending on preferences, care needs, and service availability. This second annual report, directed by House Bill 1694 (2023), describes supply and demand projections for the LTSS workforce and LTSS needs in Washington State.
Preliminary Outcomes for Washington’s Housing Stability for Youth in Courts (H-SYNC) Program
Since 2019, the Housing Stability for Youth in Courts (H-SYNC) program has referred court-involved youth ages 12 to 18 who are at risk of homelessness to support services in their communities. This report describes the demographic characteristics, housing status, and criminal legal involvement of 112 program participants who enrolled in H-SYNC from July 2022 to March 2025, as well as 6-month pre-post outcomes for a smaller number (n = 45) of participants with sufficient follow-up data. Preliminary outcome analyses suggest that H-SYNC services were effective in connecting participants to housing services but provided insufficient evidence to identify impacts on other outcomes of interest. Several factors limited this study’s ability to evaluate the H-SYNC program including the small number of participants, the limited period for follow-up data, the absence of a statistically matched comparison group, and the lack of access to health-related outcome measures.
Children and Youth in Crisis Served by the Multiagency Rapid Care Team from January 2024 to June 2025
Washington State House Bill 1580 (2023-2024) created a multi-agency Rapid Care Team managed by the Office of the Governor to identify supportive services and living arrangements for children and youth in crisis. This report describes characteristics of children and youth referred to the Governor-led Rapid Care Team from January 2024 through June 2025 as part of a 2025 report to the legislature required by RCW 43.06.535. Measures examined include referral counts and case status, referral sources, setting at time of referral, demographic characteristics, state system engagement, health conditions, case duration, parent peer support, flexible funding, and living arrangements.
2025 DSHS Employee Engagement Survey
DSHS employees are committed to serving the people of Washington: 81% find their work meaningful, 69% are satisfied with their jobs, and 55% would recommend the agency as a great place to work. They also value their supervisors and co-workers, and they appreciate telework and the work-life balance it supports. Employees are least positive about change management, opportunities for advancement, being involved in decision-making, and being encouraged to identify barriers to access for clients. They would also like to see improvements in communication. The 2025 Employee Engagement Survey was completed by 10,243 DSHS employees, a 57% response rate. It is administered as part of the statewide employee survey, administered by the Office of Financial Management (OFM). Results are used by DSHS to inform strategic planning and to improve employee engagement at every level of the organization. The photos in this report were all submissions to the DSHS Photography Contest, which is held in conjunction with the Employee Engagement Survey every two years.
Washington State Peer Pathfinder Program: Descriptive Findings from 2017 to 2023
Washington State started the Peer Pathfinder program in 2017 using State Opioid Response funding to support outreach for adults experiencing homelessness who report opioid or stimulant use and are at risk of overdose. The program hires peer support professionals, people with lived and living behavioral health experience, who help individuals navigate care and recovery. From 2017 to 2023, 14 programs served 4,476 people across the state, many of whom had diagnosed opioid or stimulant use disorders. Most participants entered the program with prior involvement in the criminal legal system, frequent emergency department visits or hospitalizations, or recent admissions to medically managed withdrawal services. Additional evaluations could help demonstrate the program’s effectiveness and identify opportunities to strengthen it, including improving access to treatment medications and supporting ongoing engagement in care.
Evaluation of the Advanced Medication Management Program: Baseline Characteristics and Pre-Engagement Trends
This report presents a comprehensive baseline profile of participants enrolled in the Advanced Medication Management Program (AMMP), an innovative intervention designed to enhance medication adherence and safety, care coordination, and health outcomes for Medicaid clients with complex needs. The AMMP pilot served individuals who often take multiple medications prescribed by different providers, face barriers to access and adherence, and experience elevated risks of adverse drug events. This report describes the demographic, behavioral health, and clinical characteristics of program participants prior to engagement in the AMMP program, along with their patterns of service use, as a foundation for a future evaluation of the program. Findings provide context for understanding both the population served and the potential mechanisms through which AMMP may improve outcomes and reduce avoidable health care utilization.