Each year, the Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS) serves hundreds of thousands of people—delivering housing support, behavioral health care, child care, services for veterans and people with disabilities, and more. This work doesn’t happen in on its own, it’s powered by the contracted providers that bring these programs to life. 

Over the past five years, DCHS has intentionally expanded contracting opportunities across our region to include smaller, community-based organizations. While many of these organizations are newer to government contracting, they offer something indispensable: deep trust, connection, and the ability to address challenges at their roots, not just their symptoms. 

A recent audit into DCHS made the path forward clear: to maximize impact, DCHS must support contracted providers with the tools, resources, and stated expectations to responsibly steward public dollars. Equipping our contracted providers means strengthening outcomes for the communities we serve. That’s why today, we’re proud to launch three new provider trainings designed to build financial capability, accountability, and success.  

The three trainings cover key fiscal stewardship topics and best practices: 

  • Financial Management & Best Practices (Required for all contractors that hold a multiyear contract (18 months or longer) per King County Ordinance 19978)  
  • DCHS Contracting Overview   
  • DCHS Fiscal Contract Compliance  

“None of the work we do is possible without contracted providers. Today, we’re taking another step towards accountability and shared success by giving providers the tools they need to successfully steward public funds,” said Dr. Susan McLaughlin, Acting DCHS Director. “With new policies and procedures in place and now these new trainings, we are creating a blueprint for King County, and I couldn’t be prouder of all the progress we’ve made over the last several months.”  

To learn more about the trainings and requirements, visit our Provider Trainings Webpage.