What is ECS?
Expanded Community Services (ECS) provides behavioral support services to adults residing in Adult Family Homes in Snohomish County exhibiting serious, persistent behaviors that put them at risk of being hospitalized rather than living safely in the community. The program provides clients behavioral support, psychoeducation, and skill training to the Adult Family Home (AFH) homeowners and caregivers.
Who does ECS serve?
All clients are referred by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Home and Community Services (DSHS HCS) team who Compass Health is contracted with to deliver this service. Clients must reside in ECS-contracted adult family homes and have a history of behaviors that impact housing stability in the community. Typically, clients have a history of behavioral health hospitalization, unstable housing, or homelessness. The population served includes adults of various ages with diverse diagnoses.
Approach to care
The ECS team provides outreach to adult family homes where their clients reside. They collaborate directly with clients, Adult Family Home (AFH) staff, and DSHS social workers to develop a Behavioral Support Plan (BSP) that will provide the best chance for client success. ESC staff educate and coordinate with AFH staff regarding the best strategies for responding to challenging behaviors. Client engagement is a significant part of the work, as is continued collaboration with social workers, AFH staff, client guardians, and Designated Powers of Attorney (DPOAs). Master’s and bachelor’s level clinicians, a peer counselor, a medical assistant, and psychiatric providers who provide psychiatric evaluation and prescribe medications comprise the care team for this service.
Goals of ECS
The primary goals of ECS are to provide the behavioral support necessary for individuals to maintain community housing, to facilitate their successful residence at the AFH, and to enhance their quality of life. Additionally, services are focused on decreasing behavioral health hospitalizations, decreasing law enforcement involvement, and preventing homelessness. The specific goals for each individual vary based on their diagnoses and specific behavioral challenges. Particular goals and strategies for each client are addressed in their detailed individual Behavioral Support Plans.