In 2016, the Legislature created the Office of the Developmental Disabilities Ombuds (DD Ombuds) as a private independent office with the duty to monitor the services provided to people with developmental disabilities, investigate complaints, and issue reports and recommendations to the Legislature.
Under current law, the DD Ombuds has the authority to monitor the procedures of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) as it relates to the delivery of services for persons with developmental disabilities and periodically review state institutions that serve persons with developmental disabilities as well as state-licensed facilities and residences. The DD Ombuds must treat all matters under investigation as confidential. No discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action may be taken against a DSHS service recipient, or an employee of DSHS or Department of Commerce, or an employee of a DSHS contracted agency for communicating with the DD Ombuds. DSHS must allow the DD Ombuds to communicate privately with any individuals receiving services from DSHS, access state institutions serving persons with developmental disabilities, and access documents necessary for investigations.
In 2017, the Legislature established the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and moved responsibility for child welfare and juvenile justice programs from DSHS to DCYF. In 2018, the Legislature transferred the oversight and purchasing of behavioral health services from DSHS to the Health Care Authority (HCA) and the responsibilities for certification of behavioral health providers was transferred from DSHS to the Department of Health (DOH).
In addition to DSHS, the DD Ombuds is authorized to monitor the procedures of DCYF and HCA as it relates to delivery of services for persons with developmental disabilities. The DD Ombuds is authorized to periodically review state institutions and state-licensed facilities that serve individuals with developmental disabilities and the procedures of services people with developmental disabilities receive from the state or state-certified providers. This includes DSHS, DCYF, and HCA services.
In addition to treating all matters under investigation as confidential, the DD Ombuds must treat all records containing identifying information as confidential. No discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action may be taken against a DSHS, HCA, DCYF or DOH service recipient, or an employee of DSHS, HCA, DCYF, DOH or Department of Commerce, or an employee of an agency contracting with DSHS, HCA, DCYF, DOH, or Department of Commerce for communicating with the DD Ombuds. DSHS, DCYF, HCA, and DOH must allow the DD Ombuds to: