Investigates complaints concerning any of the facilities and agencies licensed and inspected by the Department of Health:   - Hospitals - Ambulatory surgical facilities - Child birth centers - Home health agencies - Behavioral health agencies - Behavioral health treatment facilities Does not have the authority to invoke or enforce criminal or civil penalties. Authority is limited to taking action against a health care facility license. Not able to deny, modify or suspend a license which can result in the facility having to close.

Offers support to people seeking to quit their use of tobacco. Telephone line features a quit coach can help create a personalized quit plan, provide recent information on topics related to smoking and quitting tobacco.   Callers also can receive a step-by-step quit smoking guide.    Promotes a phone app to help quit smoking. Users who complete a survey and who live in Washington state gain access to all the app features. Also offers a support program for teens. Phone Counseling - No health insurance: are eligible for at least five free telephone counseling calls per year from the Quitline - Apple Health (Medicaid): benefit depends on your payer. Call provider for more information. - Medicare: eligible for at least five free counseling calls per year from the Quitline - Private insurance: benefit depends on your health plan. Contact health insurance carrier for details Medication - No health insurance: eligible for at least two weeks of free nicotine patches from the Quitline, but will need to enroll in a counseling program - Apple Health (Medicaid): may be able to have Nicotine Replacement Therapy shipped, but will need your ProviderOne information to enroll in a counseling program - Medicare: should be able to get prescription medications from provider, but can also call to get at least two weeks of free nicotine patches - Private insurance: benefit depends on health plan. Contact health insurance carrier (or employer, if applicable) for details or call the Quitline with plan information.

Regular stops are made by Traveling Library Center (TLC) vans at housing projects, nursing homes, retirement homes and child care facilities throughout King County outside the city of Seattle.   Annotated lists of staff-selected large print books are available. The Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Kent and Shoreline branches have a specially adapted computer which magnifies the library system's computerized catalog and which also has a synthesizer that can "read" the computer screens to you.   The Traveling Library Center also has access to materials in many languages. Printed materials may be available by request in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Marathi, Punjabi, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

Provides paid time off for Washington state residents when a serious health condition prevents them from working or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child, or for certain military-related events. Provides up to 90% of weekly pay—up to a maximum of $1,427 Most Washington workers are eligible for up to 12 weeks of Paid Family and Medical Leave a year. Some may qualify for up to 18 weeks of paid leave. The leave does not have to be used all at once. MEDICAL LEAVE When a serious health condition prevents an employee from working, medical leave covers a wide range of serious health needs such as major surgery, after giving birth to a baby, for bed rest during pregnancy, to receive treatment for a chronic health condition, and to receive inpatient treatment for substance abuse or mental health. FAMILY LEAVE When an employee needs to take time off to care for a family member and the family member has a serious health condition that would qualify them for medical leave, or if they're welcoming a new baby or child into their family, they are eligible for family leave. MILITARY FAMILY LEAVE Allow Washington workers to spend time with a family member in the military if the family member is about to be deployed overseas or is returning from overseas deployment.

Provides financial assistance for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), an HIV prevention method for people who do not have HIV but are at very high risk. Pays for certain PrEP and other medication costs listed on the approved formulary. Pays allowed amount for medical and lab costs incurred by PrEP DAP enrollees.   -  The FDA approved Truvada as the only PrEP drug for HIV.   -  Approval was based on research showing that when adults took Truvada consistently, it was very effective at preventing HIV infection.   -  The drug works by stopping HIV from making copies of itself after it enters the body.   PrEP is most effective in combination with other HIV prevention methods, like condoms.   Users must take the medicine every day for it to be most effective.

Enforces state anti-discrimination laws in the following areas: - Employment - Housing & Real Estate Housing - Places of Public Accommodation - Credit & Insurance Those who feel discriminated against may file a complaint within six months of the occurrence of the act, or one year in cases of alleged housing discrimination.

Operates the primary telephone access point for all those in King County experiencing an emotional crisis.   Trained volunteer phone workers assist callers in personal crises by offering emotional support as well as community resource information and referral. A crisis may involve threats of violence, thoughts of despair or suicide, relationship troubles or any other situation which causes emotional distress.   Those not in emotional crises may also call to learn about counseling and other mental health care resources.   Connection to professional responders when needed, including: - Mobile Crisis Teams (MCT) - Designated Crisis Responders (DCR) (i.e. outreach and involuntary commitment) - Children's Crisis Outreach Response System (CCORS), a service of YMCA - Next Day Mental Health Appointments (NDA)

Operates a statewide 24-hour behavioral health help line for those dealing with issues related to substance use, problem gambling or mental health.   Assists callers in connecting to state funded mental health, problem gambling and substance use disorder treatment providers with a particular focus on providers that offer medication assisted treatment. Also assists callers in connecting with privately funded substance use disorder treatment providers.   Provides support, information, and service referrals for: - Treatment options - Substance use disorder services - Gambling treatment - Medication for Opioid Use Disorder - Harm reduction services - Recovery support groups - Immediate mental and emotional support for people while seeking treatment or in recovery - Support for family members Connects to professional services when needed, including: - Next Day Substance Use Disorder Appointments (NDAs) - Bridger Appointments to MOUD providers statewide

Provides information and referrals to appropriate social and health services. Reasons to call, text, chat, or email: - Care Coordination - Civil Legal Assistance - Caregivers (unpaid) - Adults with disabilities - Domestic Violence - Education - Emergency Shelter - Emergency Personal Care - Employment - Food & Food Benefits - Financial Assistance - Healthcare & Hygiene - Housing & Shelter Assistance - Personal & Household Items - Reentry Assistance - Senior residents - Transportation - Traumatic Brain Injury - Resources for refugees - Rent assistance - Utility payment assistance - Resources for veterans, servicemembers, and their families Season specific referrals include: -  Free tax preparation sites -  Summer/fall drives for school supplies -  Summer meal programs for kids -  Holiday food and toy programs

Operates a statewide, toll-free telephone line providing screening for the Basic Food program (i.e. food stamps) and the supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as well as referrals to food pantries and summer meal sites. Helps clients who are enrolled in the Basic Food program submit paperwork for their six-month and annual reviews. Provides guidance on when and where clients can go to complete annual interview with DSHS, what documents may be needed for verification, and explains options for in-person versus over-the-phone services. Can also provide guidance on how to cancel their out-of-state food benefits. Provides referrals to locations of the Summer Meals Program. Also provides similar information via the website. Website includes a "Benefit Finder" for determining eligibility and applying for food programs.

Provides medical benefits for individuals and families with limited incomes. The following health care services are covered by WA Apple Health (Medicaid): -  Appointments with a doctor or health care professional for necessary care -  Medical care in an emergency -  Maternity and newborn care -  Mental health services -  Treatment for chemical or alcohol dependence -  Pediatric services, including dental and vision care -  Limited dental and vision care for adults -  Prescription medications -  Laboratory services -  Hospitalization -  Transportation to and from medical appointments, when necessary -  An interpreter for your appointment, if you do not speak English (arranged through your provider)

Answers questions about Apple Health medical assistance programs through Health Care Authority, such as   - How to apply for coverage - How to report a change. - Benefits and services. - How to replace the Apple Health ProviderOne Services card. - Billing issues. - Apple Health Managed Care enrollment. - How to change a managed care plan. - Apple Health eligibility for families, children, pregnant individuals, and single adults. - Classic Medicaid eligibility for individuals who are aged, have blindness or a disability, or in need of long-term services and supports. - Post-eligibility case review. - Apple Health for Kids with premiums ( also known as CHIP) - Apple Health Expansion - After-Pregnancy Coverage - Requesting an appeal for Apple Health programs.

Offers location as a cooling center during extreme heat.

Connects those experiencing traumatic brain injuries (and their support networks and communities) to the services and resources they need. Includes information about government benefits, medical needs, support groups, as well as employment and education supports.

Provides a nationwide drug discount savings card for most FDA approved brand and generic prescription medications. Card also available as a phone app. Provides a Drug Price Lookup Tool to see exactly how much the medicine will cost at different participating pharmacies. Participating pharmacies: - Albertsons - Safeway - CVS Pharmacy/Target - HyVee - Kmart - Kroger - Rite Aid - Walgreens Family members, friends and co-workers can also use the card for discounts.

Coordinates emergency shelter for families with children as well as people who are pregnant, at multiple locations across King County. Once accepted into a shelter, families will be guaranteed an ongoing nightly spot in that shelter program.  Shelters accessed through the emergency family shelter intake line include (but are not limited to): -  Catholic Community Services' New Bethlehem Shelter -  Catholic Community Services' Sacred Heart Shelter - FUSION Family Center - Mamma's Hands' Shelter -  Mary's Place's Bellevue Family Shelter -  Mary's Place's Burien Family Shelter - Mary's Place's Regrade Family Shelter -  Multi-Service Center's MSC Emergency Shelter -  REACH's Center of Hope -  Solid Ground's Family Shelter -  YWCA's East Cherry Shelter -  YWCA's Willows Emergency Shelter

Provides youth with professionally supported one-to-one relationships with a caring adult mentor. Mentoring organization holds themselves accountable for each child in their program to achieve higher aspirations, avoidance of risky behaviors, and educational success.

Provides vouchers to a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. Provides beds through select neighborhood chapters in King County. Some restrictions and/or limits may apply. Not all areas of King County are served by a chapter not all existing neighborhood chapters provide help with furniture or beds.

Provides searchable, real time, detailed listings of available low and market-rate housing, including senior housing options in King County. The site also provides helpful tools such as a rent checklist, affordability calculator and links to other helpful resources. Website includes different language options.

Operates a self-managed overnight shelter program at up to 10-15 sites throughout Seattle, providing shelter for over 200 clients per night in the indoor shelter. Some facilities serve only men or women; others serve both men and women, with separate sleeping areas. Trans* clients are served as they self-identify. Locations of shelters include North End: - Lakeview (women only) 10 person shelter - Maple Leaf (co-ed, separate areas) 20 person shelter - Woodland Park UMC (men only) 20 person shelter - St. John (co-ed, separate areas) 20 person shelter Greenlake: -Bethany Lutheran Shelter (men only) 20 person shelter Ballard: - St. Luke Shelter (co-ed, separate areas) 15 person shelter - OFB (men only) 20 person shelter - Vets Hall Shelter (co-ed, separate areas) 20 person shelter - provides late access for workers. Wallingford: - Gift of Grace (co-ed, separate areas) 20 person shelter U District: - Christ Episcopal Church Shelter (co-ed, separate areas) 30 person shelter - provides late access for workers - University Friends (co-ed, separate areas) 20 person shelter - University Lutheran Shelter (women only)15 bed shelter- provides late access for workers Int'l District: - Safe Haven ( co-ed, separate areas) 30 person shelter - provides late access for workers South End: - Bunkhouse Nights Shelter ( co-ed, separate areas) 25 person shelter - provides late access for workers. Intake is usually available in Spanish as well as English; other available languages at intake vary, though clients are able to access shelter regardless of language or ability to speak. All facilities provide mats and blankets. Many sites are wheelchair accessible and some provide shower facilities.   Clients must leave the shelters early each morning.   Individual shelters may potentially refrain from screening on days that they are full. Shelter screenings for night-of only; no day(s)-in-advance screenings.

Investigates complaints about health professionals. Responds to reports involving fees or insurance claims if there appears to be fraud involved. Authority is limited to taking corrective action against a credential. For a health professional, violations of law fall into the following three categories: -  Mental or Physical Condition: This condition involves the mental or physical inability of a health care provider to practice with reasonable skill and safety. -  Unprofessional Conduct: This is a term used to describe conduct, acts or conditions that are considered by law to be unprofessional in this state. -  Unlicensed Practice: This category applies to any circumstance involving a person or facility that practices health care but doesn't have a valid Washington credential.

Provides professional information about physicians and physician assistants in Washington state including licensure.   By calling, people can get the license status, disciplinary history and the number of complaints against any credentialed physician or physician assistants in the state. Also provides information about -  Health Facilities -  Hotels/motels -  Migrant Farmworker Housing -  Construction Review Projects -  Professional caregivers

Operates a site where U. S. residents can file their taxes online.   Also provides information about common deductions.   Software has error checkers and calculators built in to help reduce error.   Personal information is kept confidential.

Provides nightly shelter during the coldest months of the year, with evening meals, to-go breakfasts, as well as relationship-based case management and supportive services. Integrated with the Day Center for showers/laundry and services. Expands the number of beds and locations during severe weather.

Provides a fair and courteous process for resolving complaints relating to child protection and child welfare cases, foster home and child care licensing, child care programs, and juvenile rehabilitation services. Staff provide information and education relating to the various DCYF programs – policies, dependency process, relative placement, ICPC, adoption, foster care and child care licensing, ICW, extended foster care and independent living as well as contracts. Constituent Relations does not have any legal jurisdiction in parenting plans/custody issues or family court matters, or ability to assist in child support concerns, or matters involving DSHS benefits.