Reimagine DSHS FAQ Responses
New information will be shared in date order from top to bottom.
Background: Effective May 1, 2025, the Department of Social and Health Services unveiled Reimagine DSHS, an organizational change to streamline access to support, care, and resources. As part of this effort, key functions previously managed by the Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Aging and Long-Term Support Administrations consolidated into two core entities: Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration and Home and Community Living Administration.
Updated 2026-05-08
What has been happening since the last update?
- Meetings with community partners are underway, including representatives of the Arc of Washington, the DD Council, and the DD Ombuds. Over the next several months, additional meetings with self-advocates, individuals and community groups will be scheduled.
- Interim Assistant Secretary Dana Phelps held a meet and greet session with the DDA leadership team on May 4 where she answered questions from the team and reviewed a high-level draft org chart.
- Beginning May 8th, information sessions with impacted staff are being scheduled. These sessions will be scheduled for each regional team as well as headquarters staff.
- Visits to DDA 24/7 locations will be scheduled for the near future.
- Collaborative work to develop organizational charts remains on track to be done in mid-May. Once complete, they will be shared.
- We continue to work to apply lessons learned, including incorporating feedback in regularly updated FAQs.
How does Reimagine DSHS support the DSHS Secretary Priorities?
After spending time listening to and learning from DSHS staff and communities across the state, Secretary Ramirez released the DSHS Secretary Priorities. These priorities--People Power, Community Engagement and Results-Driven Services--were crafted to reflect both Governor Ferguson’s executive order on improving the customer experience and the core of Reimagine.
The Governor’s executive order is about making services more affordable, accessible and person-focused. The core of Reimagine is about making it easier for Washingtonians to access the support they need, when and where they need it, and improving the client or customer experience. Taken together they not only support the DSHS Secretary priorities, they help drive them.
Click here for a short video from Secretary Ramirez on her Top 3 DSHS Priorities.
Updated 2026-04-24
Is this return temporary or permanent?
There are some realities that will be permanently centered. Thoughtful planning to preserve federal funding is always critical. Working closely with internal and external partners to determine how to best implement any changes is always critical. Striving to genuinely listen and gather feedback is always critical. Our appreciation of the challenges that come with any change—balanced with the need to make our work ever better—is always critical.
Our focus now is on pulling together DDA and supporting those impacted internally and externally. That said, we will always work towards better. At this point, and always, we will aim to keep what is working and change what needs to change.
What should I expect as we implement these changes?
At this time, your work responsibilities, where you report to work, and your supervisor remain the same. As we plan next steps, we will keep 3 process goals in mind: 1. listening to you and your ideas, 2. communicating with you as we can and 3. striving for a respectful, effective and collaborative process. As such, in the coming weeks, we will be scheduling opportunities to share information broadly during Office Hours events. We are also planning listening sessions for impacted staff to have space to ask questions and share feedback.
Updated 2024-04-14
What is the status of Reimagine DSHS?
The goals of Reimagine DSHS remain unchanged: to make it easier for Washingtonians to access the support they need, when and where they need it, and improve the client or customer experience. The progress made to strengthen collaboration and coordination in agency areas that share similar functions is a testament to its purpose.
The 2026 legislative Session ended without passing DSHS Agency Request Legislation (SB 6063 and HB 2468) related to Reimagine DSHS. Additionally, the recently approved operating budget maintains the historic structure of DSHS administrations. This means that we cannot submit an updated cost allocation plan that reflects our current structure to comply with the Code of Federal Regulations without putting essential funding at risk.
Because of these realities, DSHS is adjusting some of the organizational changes made last year to ensure we remain aligned with our funding requirements.
What are the organizational changes being made?
DSHS is returning Developmental Disabilities to its own administration. This includes Residential Habilitation Centers, State Operated Community Residential, and Developmental Disabilities Community Services. Dana Phelps will serve as the Interim Assistant Secretary of the Developmental Disabilities Administration. During this transition, Pablo Villarreal will step in as Interim Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
This approach enables us to preserve our funding, ensure compliance, and maintain continuity of services for the people and communities that depend on us. We expect to complete adjustments by June 30, the end of the fiscal year. The short timeline to implement these changes will keep us aligned with Code of Federal Regulations funding requirements.
What will not be changing?
The heart of Reimagine DSHS and the work behind it remains a focus of what we do. We will continue to encourage the efforts underway and look for opportunities to do more. Sjan Talbot will continue to serve as Interim Assistant Secretary for the Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration (BHHA) and Bea Rector will remain Assistant Secretary of the Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA). At this stage, we are choosing to maintain the HCLA and BHHA names, so we can focus our human resources efforts on the changes needed to maintain compliance with our authorizing environments.
While changes are being made so we’re in compliance with our state budget structure and approved cost allocation plan with the federal government--we remain committed to improving access, service delivery and supporting those needing assistance.
Will there be opportunities to share my ideas?
We are interested in hearing from you! Please send your questions and ideas to reimagine@dshs.wa.gov . In the coming weeks, we will work closely with internal and external partners to identify next steps and prepare for the conversations and decisions ahead.
Where can I find more information about the new changes?
Regular updates to this FAQ will be made available to DSHS Staff and external partners. We will share updates with staff on Inside DSHS and Reimagine DSHS SharePoint. Updates for external partners will be available on the DSHS website here: Organizational Changes at DSHS .