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Hello Provider Network and supporters of Foundational Community Services! We hope summer is treating you and your participants well. Find time to reflect, relax, and share in big and small wins.
Except for our monthly FCS 101 training, we have no trainings scheduled for the month of August as we are making changes in our training schedule. Trainings will be running again in September (see belowfor some already open for registration!), and we look forward to your participation. In the meantime, should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our FCS team for assistance.
Take your self-care seriously, give yourself time. We look forward to seeing you all at upcoming meetings and trainings!
Finding strength through support
J.'s story
After completing residential SUD treatment, J. was referred to the HARPS program, where they received short-term housing support through the bridge subsidy. This stable foundation allowed J. to focus on their next steps without the immediate pressure of housing insecurity.
With encouragement from their HARPS peer/housing specialist, J. was connected to FCS and enrolled in the Supported Employment program. Through this partnership, they also accessed Glidepath funds, which provided essential tools and certifications needed to pursue their dream of starting a small business.
Today, J. is actively building their own path as a self-employed contractor, utilizing the skills they’ve gained and contributing to their local community. Their story highlights the power of flexible support, person-centered planning, and the importance of bridging services that allow individuals to move from stabilization to long-term independence and follow their dreams.
C.A.'s story
C.A. had been experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness off and on for the last two years. Then she found EASE Employment Services. Within two months of being a part of EASE, C.A. found housing with the help of the TAP program.
She is now working on getting her kids into her new home with her. Because of the support and resources from both programs, C.A. has found the strength and encouragement to stay clean and sober.
L.B.'s story
L.B. had been experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness intermittently for at least two years. With the help of EASE Employment Services and TAP he was able to be housed in two months.
L.B. has struggled with medical complications; four strokes had caused him to lose one of his eyes. He was in and out of hospitals nearly every two days with health issues. But since being housed, he has not been to the hospital once. He is so thankful for programs like these that help people in their time of need.
D.S.'s story
D.S. was homeless for almost three years after being in prison. With the help of EASE Employment Service and TAP, D.S. found housing within two months.
He is now working part-time, striving for full-time work, and on track to get his kids into his new home. D.S. has stayed clean and sober because he has help and support from EASE Employment Services and TAP, for which he expresses profound gratitude.
Webinar: Wednesday, August 20, from 10 a.m. to noon
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) trainers invite you to join them in our returning monthly FCS 101 training.
This training is encouraged for those who would like to learn more about the variety of programs supported by FCS. The FCS trainers will be available to discuss the program overview and evolution of FCS, answer questions and provide information to those who have questions.
Objectives
- Be introduced to all things Foundational Community Supports
- Gain an overview of Supported Employment Services
- Delve into Supportive Housing Services
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions is hosting the September supportive housing monthly webinar
Webinar: Wednesday, September 10, at 11 a.m.
Supportive housing providers play a vital role in fostering safety and trust for individuals impacted by trauma. This webinar will introduce the core principles of trauma-informed care and explore its relevance to housing environments. Participants will learn strategies to create physical, emotional, and psychological safety, while strengthening staff-resident relationships.
Additionally, the webinar will support attendees in applying trauma-informed practices that reduce re-traumatization and promote resident stability and well-being
Objectives
- Define trauma-informed care and its relevance to supportive housing
- Identify strategies to create physical, emotional and psychological safety to residents
- Recognize trauma-informed practices that strengthen staff-resident relationships
Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) Team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professionals are presenting this September supported employment webinar
Webinar: Thursday, September 11, at 9 a.m.
At times, job seekers may be ambivalent about employment. This ambivalence may manifest in various ways, such as dropping out of services, canceling or not showing up for scheduled appointments, or frequently changing job goals.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice that has been utilized in various settings, including employment services, to help individuals make behavioral changes and achieve their goals. MI focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence and is geared toward understanding and enhancing internal motivations that facilitate change. This month’s call will introduce skills to strengthen change talk and minimize sustain talk.
Objectives
- Define motivational interviewing (MI) and its use in employment services
- Differentiate between sustain talk and change talk
- Identify MI skills to elicit change talk and minimize sustain talk
Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) Team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professionals invite you to join them for a new webinar.
Webinar: Tuesday, September 16, at 3 p.m.
This live, interactive training session will equip mental health practitioners with the tools and insights to integrate cultural humility into their practice, enhancing their ability to provide person-centered services. Participants will explore the foundational elements of cultural humility and identify the benefits of using this approach for individuals in services.
Through real-world examples and practical exercises, practitioners will learn how to apply a culturally responsive lens to service conceptualization and treatment planning, leading to more effective, meaningful care and improved outcomes for all individuals engaged in service.
Objectives
- Introduce the purpose and structure of the Washington State Cultural Responsiveness Learning Community.
- Explore the role of cultural humility in strengthening Supported Housing and Supported Employment programs.
- Support participants in reflecting on their own cultural identities, positionality, and areas for growth.
- Identify strategies for embedding culturally responsive and equity-centered practices in recovery-oriented care
Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling are presenting the Buried in Treasures Learning Community call.
Webinar: Thursday, September 25, from 1 to 2:15 p.m.
Join the Buried in Treasures Learning Community, a monthly interactive forum designed to help Washington State Foundational Community Supports (FCS) providers support individuals experiencing hoarding behavior. Grounded in the acclaimed self-help manual Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding, this learning community offers a respectful, harm-reduction-based approach that recognizes the emotional significance of belongings and the challenges of change.
Each session will explore practical tools, peer learning, and strategies rooted in cognitive-behavioral techniques, motivational enhancement, and trauma-informed care. Participants will gain real-world knowledge, skills, and resources to engage people with empathy, foster self-directed progress, and create supportive environments where individuals feel empowered—not judged—to take meaningful steps forward.
Whether you’re new to this subject or want to improve your skills in helping clients with complex needs, this community will help you build your ability to support individuals struggling with clutter, acquiring, and discarding. While access to Buried in Treasures (2nd edition) is recommended, it is not required to participate.
Objectives
- Recognize hoarding behavior's core features and complexities, including emotional, cognitive, and environmental factors
- Understand common motivations, ambivalence, and barriers individuals face when attempting to reduce or manage hoarding behaviors
- Apply trauma-informed, person-centered strategies from the Buried in Treasures approach to support individuals in their journey toward safer and more functional living environments
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