In this issue

• FCS celebrates one-year anniversary
• FCS fidelity learning collaboratives
• FCS success in Cowlitz County

Connections

Recorded Webinars

• Coordinated Entry and Foundational Community Supports | Slides

• Addressing Social Determinants of Health via Medicaid Managed Care Contracts and 1115 Demonstrations

• Disclosure and Employment: Managing Personal Information

Resources

• FCS Resource webpage

• Pathway to Housing website

• Pathways to Employment website

Follow the FCS calendar for all upcoming trainings and events! 

Announcing HCA Connect

A new blog from the
Health Care Authority. 
Another great way to stay in touch.

Stay connected. Sign up  to receive the monthly Healthier Washington newsletter and other announcements.

FCS celebrates one-year anniversary

Members of the FCS team (seen here at the Great Minds at Work conference last fall) who led the great work in 2018.

Happy birthday, Foundational Community Supports (FCS)! The federal government approved this program one year ago as part of the Healthier Washington Medicaid Transformation.

Because FCS is breaking new ground, there were details to work out with our federal partners, and the program didn't actually begin enrolling people until last summer. We've accomplished a lot in just a handful of months! Here are the numbers, as of late December: 

• 2,355 people enrolled 
• 93 providers under contract
• 273 service locations
• RDA reports show who we are serving:
  Supportive housing
  Supported employment

In 2019, FCS will increase the number of contracted providers and participants. FCS will also enhance service quality and launch fidelity learning collaboratives (see next article) to support providers in continuous quality improvement.

FCS fidelity learning collaboratives

The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) will offer statewide fidelity learning collaboratives in 2019.

"Fidelity" refers to the degree to which a care model or a specific treatment is delivered according to evidence-based specifications.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration established these specifications.

DBHR is offering grants of $10,000 to $100,000 to providers of Foundational Community Supports to participate in a fidelity review. They are accepting applications on a continuous basis.

For more information, contact Lisa Bennett.

Learn more about the fidelity models:

• Individual placement and support
• SAMHSA permanent supportive housing fidelity models

HCA employee receives 2018 Friend of Housing Award

Melodie Pazolt (HCA, Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery) accepts the Friend of Housing Award

FCS success in Cowlitz County

“Tina” was hospitalized because of kidney failure. The hospital could not discharge her because she had nowhere to live, which would put her further at risk. As a result, Tina lived in the hospital for several weeks while receiving daily dialysis treatment. In addition, she spent another month in the hospital while recuperating from a kidney transplant.

Lower Columbia Community Action Program, a FCS provider, helped Tina move into her own home by combining FCS pre-tenancy services with state-funded rental resources. These services are continuing to help Tina stay in her home and avoid costly hospitalization. 

Lower Columbia Community Action Program is located in Longview, WA