OLYMPIA – The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) announced today that it will appeal the decertification of a portion of Rainier School in Buckley, a residential habilitation center for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
“We will continue to receive federal funds during the appeals process and residents currently living in the facilities will not be affected,” said Evelyn Perez, DSHS assistant secretary for the agency’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), which administers the facility. “We have made major improvements already and will continue to work hard to achieve successful certification, while also improving community living options for people.”
“Our first priority continues to be the health and well-being of the residents at Rainier School,” Perez said.
Rainier School consists of three program area teams (PATs) – each a separate intermediate care facility that provides comprehensive and individualized health care and rehabilitation services to approximately 100 residents. In May, DSHS entered into agreements on how improvements will be made at PAT E and PAT C.
PAT A was cited for failing to meet requirements for active treatment, which involves a variety of services to help people become more independent, along with staffing levels and program oversight. DSHS will continue to work with the Legislature to ensure the necessary staff are available at Rainier to achieve the federal active treatment standard requirement.
The decertification letter is available here.