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Foundational Community Supports (FCS) is an initiative of Medicaid Transformation. It allows qualified providers to receive Medicaid reimbursement for delivering supportive housing and supported employment services for people with the greatest and most immediate social and health needs.
TAP Success: Compass Career Solutions
After some difficult life experiences, Richard struggled with finding a place to live and work. Thanks to Compass Career Solutions, he is now thriving in his job at Goodwill and is enjoying the community at the house where he rents a room.
Richard and Compass worked together to help write a new, better chapter for him, and he is very thankful for their help!
“At first I was wary,” Richard says. “I didn’t know what to expect. However, the staff at Compass helped me feel at ease and I was able to relax. We immediately got started looking for work, and that was successful in a very short period of time. After that, we found housing in less than a month! The staff at Compass are very friendly and very helpful. I would recommend them to anybody that needs any kind of help.”
Richard’s housing placement which happened within a month was supported by a newly added feature to our services at Compass. It’s called the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP which provides financial support services to assist individuals with move-in costs, first-month rent payments, deposits, and more.
Featured FCS Specialist: Capital Recovery Center's Kay Harris
I would like to nominate Kay Harris, FCS Specialist with Capital Recovery Center.
Kay, who serves the outreach and housing program at the 10th Avenue Olympia location, has gone above and beyond to ensure her participants receive the assistance and help they need in accessing the resources available not only through her program but any other that will benefit those she serves.
She proves pure dedication in bettering the lives of people who seek direction and guidance, utilizing any means she has knowledge of. She is constantly working towards furthering her education and training to do her job to the fullest potential. I am so proud of the work she does and the results and success stories I have witnessed myself being her coworker.
I witness daily how eager Kay's participants are to come see her; they rarely miss their scheduled appointments, and when they leave, they are smiling, even if they showed up in crisis. Kay is an empathetic human with a vast knowledge that expands far beyond her FCS work. I would like her to be recognized for the impact she has made on the community.
Nomination submitted and written by Tiff Bates, Capital Recovery Center
Nominate an FCS agency or Supportive Housing/Supported Employment specialist
Your work matters. Your stories inspire others. Think of the FCS Supportive housing and Supported employment specialists or organizations who you think deserve a little extra gratitude. We would love to highlight them in these newsletters.
Send your nominations at any time, including as much information about their impact as possible, like:
- Name of person/organization
- Their location
- Why are you highlighting them?
- Their picture (optional)
To nominate a person or agency, please email FCS by the last Monday of each month.
Share your fidelity story
Fidelity is more than a review process it’s a cornerstone of continuous quality improvement, helping programs learn, grow, and deliver the highest quality services. When we strengthen fidelity, we strengthen outcomes and that directly impacts the people we serve through more consistent support, stronger partnerships, and better paths to recovery and stability.
We would like to spotlight providers who bring fidelity to life in their work and share their stories across our network.
We’re inviting providers to submit short video clips (60-90 seconds) highlighting:
- Why you participate in fidelity, and/or
- How fidelity has supported continuous quality improvement and improved outcomes for the people you serve
Simple, authentic videos recorded on your phone or computer are perfect; no editing required. Your story helps demonstrate how fidelity drives learning, collaboration, and lasting impact in supportive housing and supported employment.
To share your story, please email FCS by the last Monday of each month.
April is the National Month of Hope, a time when the world around us begins to bloom, and we’re reminded that even small acts can bring light into someone’s life.
Hope doesn’t need to be grand to be powerful. Hope can look like showing up for a child who needs guidance, supporting your community in meaningful ways, or simply being present for a friend facing a difficult time. Hope can be giving your time, sharing your wisdom, offering kindness, or contributing to causes that turn possibility into reality.
Each of us has the ability to be a source of hope. And sometimes, the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference.
Employment is a valued social role that many individuals participating in behavioral health services indicate they are interested in pursuing. It is an expected adult role in our society and provides many benefits.
Employment offers access to financial resources, provides meaning and purpose in life, allows one to make a positive contribution to society, and it provides opportunities to increase social support systems. Research also suggests that employment promotes recovery!
As Foundational Community Support (FCS) staff, you have a direct impact on the people participating in services. Even if you aren't an employment specialist, you play an important role in the career development process. For example, if you are a case manager, you still interact with the people participating in services and getting them excited for employment could be as simple as starting a conversation or asking a few questions.
The following are some example questions to use as prompts to start a conversation. Focus mainly on gathering information by listening.
- What are your thoughts about going to work/school?
- What kind of work would you like to do? Tell me what about that job interests you?
- What kind of help do you think you need?
- How soon would you like to start working? (Now, next month, in three months, in six months?)
Remember, everyone can participate in encouraging people to get interested about pursuing employment! For individuals living with mental health conditions, work is associated with reduction in symptoms, increased satisfaction, and improved quality of life.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team is excited to announce the Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) rental arrears funding is now live.
First, access the Core Relief portal link to create your account and start entering requests. Visit the HRSN FAQs for any questions and assistance you may need.
For any additional questions, please contact Anessa Williams.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team invites you to join us for our monthly office hours, the last Tuesday of each month.
Virtual office hours: the last Tuesday of each month, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Drop in to join the HCA trainers to learn about Medicaid documentation requirements to support FCS service activities. Our goal is to support staff in weaving in the 'Golden Thread' process to develop a seamless record that connects goals, life events, staff support, interventions and next steps that support Medicaid billing.
Let's create quality service plans and progress notes that support necessary services and activities that move program participants to achieve their goal of housing and employment.
Office hours will be held on Teams, the last Tuesday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. (Previously held on the last Friday. Please update your calendar holds.) The next scheduled office hours will occur Tuesday, April 28.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions present this April Supportive Housing topical webinar
Webinar: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Disclosing a mental health condition in a housing setting is deeply personal. Clients may struggle with whether to share, how much to say, and what the potential consequences might be. At the same time, supportive housing staff often want to guide these conversations in a thoughtful way.
This practical, skills-focused webinar explores how to support client-centered decisions about disclosure, including when disclosure may be helpful, when it may not be necessary, and how to approach landlords in a calm, solution-focused manner.
We will also discuss the potential impact of disclosing to neighbors, the benefits and drawbacks of transparency, and what a clear, intentional disclosure plan can look like in real-world practice. Participants will leave with concrete strategies, structured planning tools, and sample scripts they can use immediately to support housing stability while honoring client choice and dignity.
Objectives
- Understand the basics of housing-related protections for people with mental health conditions
- Help clients decide if, when, and how to disclose mental health information to a landlord
- Weigh the benefits and risks of disclosing to neighbors or within a housing community
- Develop a client-centered disclosure plan that prioritizes choice, safety, and housing stability
- Use practical conversation scripts to support clients and engage landlords in a respectful, solution-focused way
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions present this April Career Innovations webinar
Webinar: Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 9 to 10 a.m.
This month's learning community will focus on assisting job seekers with developing career goals and objectives. We'll review the importance of developing goals that are consistent with job seekers' interests, preferences, and career-related values as well as identifying the elements of SMART goals. Additionally, we'll practice developing SMART goals.
Please come prepared with a goal in mind, either your own or a goal of a job seeker, so we can apply SMART goal planning during the call.
Objectives
- Review group members successes and challenges this past month
- Identify the elements of SMART goals
- Practice developing SMART goals
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) and Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Individual Placement and Support (IPS) present this virtual training series
Webinar: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
These virtual trainings cover the eight practice principles of IPS Supported Employment. New staff in IPS programs, case managers, and clinicians are welcome to join.
The trainings are available at no cost. Each training covers the same material.
IPS is a multidisciplinary team of researchers and trainers who conduct research studies, disseminate findings, prepare training and educational materials, and provide training and consultation services. The center’s activities focus on employment for people with serious mental illnesses. Learn more about IPS.
Upcoming 2026 IPS webinars: May 12, May 26, June 9, June 23.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) invite you to join us for the monthly Supported Employment Coordinating Committee (SECC)
Webinar: Wednesday, April 15, from 9 to 10 a.m.
The SECC is intended to improve the employment rate for people with behavioral health and other challenges. The current SECC was originally the Olmstead Policy Academy, started in 2013, to create a strategic plan to improve the employment rate for people experiencing mental health and/or substance use issues. The SECC carries on with the same intent and a wider audience.
We still have much to do to improve employment rates and support Medicaid recipients' return to work. In each meeting we will discuss new ideas and strategies as well as receive training on various programs and projects.
Our TA partners at Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) will be introducing the HCA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Tool Kit.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team is kicking off 2026 with another round of our FCS 101 monthly trainings
Webinar: Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to noon
This training is intended to provide you with an introduction to the FCS program. The FCS Team will be offering the FCS 101 training on the third Wednesday of every month from 10am-12 noon. It is an open and supportive space to get a basic introduction to all things FCS Supportive Housing and Supported Employment. We enthusiastically encourage providers to learn more about the variety of programs and services supported by FCS, as well as an introduction to the Washington FCS team and answer questions you may have.
Objectives
- Learn about Foundational Community Supports
- Get an overview of supported employment services
- Get an overview of supportive housing services
- Connect with HCA’s FCS Team
Upcoming 2026 FCS 101 trainings: May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18, December 17
Already taken FCS 101? Check out FCS 102, focused on supervision.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions eagerly invite you to join our upcoming 4-part Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) guided employment series
Webinar: Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
This four-part series launches with Part one: Introduction to DBT and Mindfulness Strategies for Career Readiness. In this webinar, we will explore core Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) mindfulness skills and how they help individuals stay focused, reduce job-related anxiety, and make intentional choices throughout the job search and employment process.
In part two, the focus is on how to teach DBT distress tolerance skills to manage crises, handle job-related stress, and build emotional resilience during the job search and early stages of employment.
Objectives
- Review the core concepts of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and understand its application in career contexts
- Understand how distress tolerance supports persistence during job search and early employment
- Teach crisis survival skills to help individuals manage intense emotions (e.g., interview anxiety, rejection, workplace conflict, sudden schedule changes)
- Identify practical ways to apply distress tolerance skills in real-world employment situations to maintain focus, problem-solve, and navigate challenges effectively
Upcoming webinars in this series:
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Thursday, May 21: Part three: Emotion Regulation Strategies for Sustainable Employment
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Thursday, June 18: Part four: Distress Tolerance Strategies for Employment Stressors
All webinars will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. You may use the same link to register for each; this will be shared monthly as well with updated webinar descriptions as the series progresses.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric and Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions invites you to this new webinar series
Webinars:
Part I: Thursday, April 16, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Part II: Thursday, May 21, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Part III: Thursday, June 18, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Organizations that actively incorporate participant feedback are consistently linked to higher service quality, stronger engagement, and improved outcomes. Effective program evaluation starts with asking the right questions and using the responses to drive meaningful program change. This three-part interactive series introduces foundational survey design alongside principles from implementation science to ensure feedback is meaningfully integrated into practice.
Part one focuses on designing surveys aligned with best practices to assess the satisfaction and experiences of people engaged in SE/SH services.
Part two explores how to interpret results, engage teams, and embed data use into ongoing quality improvement. Walk away with practical tools to build a feedback system that strengthens your work and the experience of people engaged in FCS programs.
Part three will allow attendees to engage in a roundtable discussion on satisfaction survey development, data utilization plans, and problem solving with the session facilitator and peers, with the outcome of the beginning draft of an evaluation plan
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions invite you to join this April Cultural Responsiveness discussion
Webinar: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Supported Employment and Supportive Housing programs help people with severe mental health conditions (SMHCs) build stability, purpose, and connection in their communities. According to SAMHSA, nearly 98 percent of those with SMHCs experience one or more traumatic events during their lifetime. Providing trauma-informed services requires more than recognizing trauma responses; it requires culturally attuned practices and service environments that promote dignity, safety, and belonging.
This 90-minute interactive learning community session looks at trauma-informed care in everyday practice and why cultural responsiveness is a necessary component of preventing re-traumatization. Using ideas from SAMHSA Trauma Informed Care TIP 57 manual, healing-centered engagement, and the Sanctuary model, we will explore how programs and interactions can either increase safety or unintentionally recall stress.
Participants will learn practical ways to build collaboration, attend to trauma responses, and support progress within a culturally responsive framework.
Objectives
- Define trauma and recognize trauma responses within Supported Employment and Supportive Housing services
- Explain how culture, identity, and systemic oppression influence safety, trust, and service engagement
- Apply trauma-informed and culturally attuned strategies that increase collaboration, autonomy, and participation in FCS services
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team in partnership with Rutgers School of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions present the Buried in Treasures learning community one Thursday a month, January through June, and invite you to join
Webinar: Thursday, April 23, 2026, 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.
Upcoming Buried in Treasure 2026 webinars: May 22, June 25.
Webinars:
Part I: Wednesday, April 29, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Part II: Wednesday, May 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Note: Details on the availability of this webinar will be updated via this newsletter should it be offered again. Thank you for your understanding
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team are excited to invite you to an eight-part learning community hosted by Advocates for Human Potential (AHP)
Webinar: Friday, May 1, from 10 to 11 a.m.
FCS is convening a Learning Collaborative on Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) to strengthen the capacity of providers, community partners, and stakeholders in delivering high-quality housing and supportive services.
This collaborative will offer a structured forum for sharing best practices, addressing implementation challenges, and fostering innovation in PSH models. Through facilitated discussions, peer learning, and expert-led sessions, participants will gain practical tools to improve housing stability, health outcomes, and service coordination for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and behavioral health challenges across Washington State.
Topics
- Long-term solutions, not quick fixes: Supportive housing focuses on permanent stability, moving beyond temporary shelter to lasting change for individuals and communities
- Partnerships are essential: Successful supportive housing depends on collaboration between housing providers, health care systems, behavioral health services, and community organizations
- Community strengthening: Beyond ending individual homelessness, supportive housing builds healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities
- Housing is healthcare: Stable housing is foundational to improving health, recovery, and overall well-being
This is an eight-part series, occurring from 10 to 11 a.m. the first Friday of each month. Upcoming sessions: May 1, June 5.
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) trainers are inviting you to join them in a six-part training series for The Golden Thread documentation training
Next training: Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Join us for a six-session training series that provides a comprehensive overview, with practical applications FCS documentation. Each webinar covers a specific type of documentation and addresses Medicaid requirements and the importance of the connection between assessments, service plans, and progress notes, known as the Golden Thread. The series will be presented with the newly developed Golden Thread Toolkit, a valuable new resource for FCS staff. It is recommended that participants attend all sessions in the series, as the information presented is cumulative.
This training is recommended for those who:
- Are new to providing supportive housing and supported employment services
- Are interested in improving the standards of personnel or agency documentation standards
- Are considering participating in a fidelity review and would like more information on how to prepare for it
Objectives
- Become comfortable with using Medicaid-compliant documentation of Foundational Community Support services, specifically the assessments, service plan, and progress notes.
- Learn what the Golden Thread is and its importance in providing quality services to participants.
- Receive guidance on writing documentation in a way that accurately and completely reflects a participant’s story in a person-centered way
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS) team and Rutgers School of Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Counseling Professions invite you to join the May training topical
Webinar: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Engagement is the foundation of effective Foundational Community Supports (FCS) services. This 90-minute training equips Supportive Housing and Supported Employment staff with practical, recovery-oriented strategies to build trust, enhance motivation, and support meaningful outcomes for individuals experiencing serious mental illness and complex life challenges.
Grounded in psychiatric rehabilitation, low-barrier housing principles, and Supported Employment (IPS), this session focuses on real-world strategies to engage individuals who may be socially isolated, ambivalent, or distrustful of systems. Participants will learn how to use assertive, trauma-informed, and person-centered approaches to strengthen relationships, support housing and employment stability, and promote recovery.
Objectives
- Describe how engagement supports recovery and outcomes within FCS services
- Apply assertive, motivational and trauma-informed strategies to build trust and sustain engagement
- Analyze common barriers to engagement (isolation, substance use, hoarding, system distrust) and identify effective responses
- Apply practical strategies - including hard reduction and community0based approaches to support stability, participation and recovery
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