DSHS issued the following statement regarding the July 28 decision in Blackburn, et al vs. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and Western State Hospital:
“We remain committed to creating and maintaining a safe and inclusive work environment in all our facilities and offices throughout the state. The Court affirmed that this staffing decision, which took place over the course of a single weekend in 2011, did not constitute a hostile work environment,” said Carla Reyes, assistant secretary for DSHS’ Behavioral Health Administration. “However, as the Court’s decision was not entirely in our favor, we are reviewing the decision and evaluating our options moving forward to meet our legal obligations under this decision while doing our best to keep our staff and patients safe.”
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The Behavioral Health Administration provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment, recovery support along with prevention and intervention programs for people with mental health needs and substance abuse concerns. It operates three state psychiatric hospitals that deliver high-quality services to adults and children with complex needs. BHA’s team of 2,804 staff ensures that nearly 150,000 people receive needed services each year on a $910 million annual budget.