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Commissioners approve $7.6 million DDA county program and matching professional services agreements
Summary
The board approved a county program agreement with DSHS Developmental Disabilities Administration for $7,629,171 and professional services contracts with five providers for the same combined total to deliver supported employment, transition and community-inclusion services in 2025–26.
The board approved two related agreements to fund developmental-disability services in Thurston and Mason counties for the 2025–26 year.
Jen Fryhite, Public Health Director, requested approval of County Program Agreement No. 2563-63358 with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) in the amount of $7,629,171 for the period July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Fryhite also presented a set of Thurston–Mason County developmental-disabilities professional-services agreements with Career Quest, Centerforce, Exceptional Foresters, Morningside and Vadis for a combined total of $7,629,171 to provide supported employment, high-school transition, job-foundation and community-inclusion services for the same term.
A motion to approve the DDA county program agreement and a separate motion to approve the professional services agreements were moved and seconded; the motions carried on voice votes.
Michelle Odell, coordinator of the Thurston–Mason Developmental Disabilities Coalition, and self-advocate Cole Lynam appeared earlier in the meeting for a proclamation recognizing July as Disability Pride Month and described services and community programs that support people with developmental disabilities. Odell said the coalition “works year round to build a more inclusive and supportive environment for people with developmental disabilities and their families.” Lynam said this year’s theme is “We belong here, and we are here to stay,” and listed local programs—Thurston County Specialized Recreation, Thurston County Inclusion, Hobbybird Studios, Thurston County Special Olympics, Transition Academy, Project SEARCH and employers such as Morningside—that he credited with helping people obtain meaningful employment and community inclusion.
Why it matters: The DDA agreement and contracts fund high-touch services—supported employment and transition programs—that connect people with developmental disabilities to training and work opportunities. The professional-services agreements name the local providers expected to deliver those services and authorize the Public Health director to execute the agreements and routine amendments within previously stated limits.
What’s next: Staff are authorized to sign the agreements and any amendments that do not exceed 10% of an individual contract’s amount or duration.
