Human and social services

Get help with your Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy application

A countywide network of crisis care centers, the stabilization of mental health residential treatment, and a well-supported behavioral health workforce. The Crisis Care Centers Initiative, approved by King County voters in April 2023, began implementation in 2024 to create a countywide network of five crisis care centers, restore and expand mental health residential treatment beds, and strengthen the community behavioral health workforce. ​ The first Crisis Care Center, Connections Kirkland, is now open. A Crisis Care Center is a place anyone can walk in 24/7 to get urgent care for a wide range of mental health or substance use challenges, regardless of insurance. In the coming years, the county plans to open four more centers in Central (Seattle/Vashon), South and East King County, plus one for youth.The nine-year levy is helping make crisis care easier than ever to get by linking the 988 crisis line, mobile rapid response crisis teams, and other behavioral health resources to support people’s recovery.  View a community presentation-->

Promoting housing stability, healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, and service system access for veterans, seniors and resilient communities

Search for King County contracted mental health and substance use disorder providers.

Shattering Stigma and Sharing a Message of Hope for Recovery

Behavioral Health and Recovery Division

Providing King County kids with the best start in life

The Board for Developmental Disabilities is a 9 to 15-member citizen advisory board who provides input on services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and delays, and their families. The role of the Board is defined in Revised Code of Washington 71A.14.020, County Developmental Disabilities Boards - Composition-Expenses. Board members include self-advocates, family members, professionals and interested citizens. Members share an interest in improving services and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Community Information, Outreach, and Referral programs connect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to the information, skills, and supports they need to live and participate in the community. 

The King County Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) administers federal funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on behalf of King County and most of the cities in King County. The City of Seattle receives its own federal funds separately. King County and the cities in King County cooperate in an urban county consortium to further the broad goals of the federal programs. In order to carry out these activities, King County HCD and the Consortium have agreed to a decision-making structure.

Definitions, forms, payment tables and resources If you're having trouble viewing a document right-click and "Save link as" on a desktop computer (Different browsers may use slightly different language), or tap and hold to download the document on a mobile device.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or drug- and/or alcohol-use related crisis, help is available for everyone in King County, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Division (DDECSD) supports a variety of programs including early childhood supports, community information and outreach services, adult services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and technical assistance for community-based organizations. This page includes data and evaluation reports and summaries that help tell the story of the programs and strategies supported by DDECSD and our community partners.    Featured Reports

We offer access to a range of services to help our county's most vulnerable residents and strengthen our communities. For most work, we contract with our trusted network of community-based agencies to provide direct services. The services and programs include behavioral health treatment, affordable housing, childcare, education and employment for youth and young adults, veterans services, support for seniors, and inclusive resources for people with developmental disabilities.  Visit our service pages to learn about the community and human services available to King County residents.

We offer a range of programs and services to support children prenatal to 5, their families and caregivers; transition-age young adults and adults with developmental disabilities and delays and their families, and community-based organizations.

What is ESIT? About 1 of every 8 children has a challenge with development that makes them eligible for Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT). With early support, most children catch up with their peers! ESIT supports children ages 0-3 and their families with milestones like walking, talking, eating, playing, and learning. Families gain skills and knowledge to support their child's needs.

How to Choose a Service Provider Choosing your own provider is one of the first steps toward putting you in the driver’s seat. Your trusted support provider should be someone who helps you meet your goals and builds supportive relationships with employers, coworkers, neighbors, and other community members. It is very important that you choose someone you can work with. To make your interview time valuable, think about what is most important to you and be prepared to state your expectations, goals and what you are willing to do to help. This is a partnership and the provider will be checking to see if you can work together.

Behavioral Health Supported Employment Network

Find resources for agencies and individuals interested in contracting with DCHS.

The Health Home Program provides care coordination of medical, behavioral health and long-term services and supports for eligible individuals of all ages, at no cost to your client. The program uses a network of local agencies that work together to help clients understand and manage their health concerns. This helps reduce dependence on emergency departments and prevents avoidable hospitalizations.

The Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) works in partnership with organizations and communities to provide services and programs that support housing stability and affordable housing opportunities in King County. We accomplish this by awarding funds to community groups and cities through contracts – making them the primary vehicle for our services. HCD also manages King County’s Housing Repair Program, a direct service that accepts individual applications from residents. HCD does not manage properties or place individuals in affordable housing – see links below for these services.

Use the links below to explore policies, reports, and data on King County’s affordable housing work.

Individual Employment and Community Inclusion are a comprehensive set of services available to DDA-eligible individuals to gain and maintain integrated competitive employment at minimum wage or better, and/or to participate in the community-based activities that align with an individual’s interests, strengths, and skills. Services include Individual Employment, Community Inclusion, and School to Work programs.DDA-eligible individuals may request to receive employment and community inclusion services simultaneously.

Resources, information, and reminders for VSHSL-funded providers

Behavioral Health and Recovery Division

Representing the Regional Family, Youth, System Partner Round Table (FYSPRT)

The King County Senior Center Network is a connected network of all VSHSL-funded senior centers. The King County Senior Center Network continues to build on the Senior Hub model by prioritizing partnerships and allowing flexibility for individual senior centers to best meet the needs of their communities. Some centers collaborate to form multi-site Senior Hubs, while other senior centers are funded as individual centers supported as resource hubs that address evolving community need. The King County Senior Center Network ensures access to vital services for older adults, addresses barriers like language, transportation, and discrimination, and strengthens King County’s ability to provide the diversity of seniors in King County opportunities to be socially engaged. 

The King County Veterans Program (KCVP) works with partners across the region to provide financial, housing, wellness, employment and other supportive services to veterans, servicemembers, and their families throughout King County.

Behavioral Health and Recovery Division

Updates About King County’s Behavioral Health Sales Tax Renewal

Meet our partners and see where MIDD funds are being invested.

Connect with critical resources and supports for adults age 55+ and their caregivers

The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) was approved by King County voters in 2005, 2011, 2017, and 2023. Below is a series of plans and reports demonstrating the services, performance, and budget of these investments. Each of the items below show the goals and focus of funding, desired outcomes and methodology, and highlight progress throughout each year of the levy.

Please contact your Provider Relations/Contract Specialist for 2023 invoice and report templates.

We support people who work with young children in King County by investing in promotion, prevention, and early intervention. This page contains information, opportunities, and resources for individuals and organizations who work with young children and families in King County.

We support people who work with young children in King County by investing in promotion, prevention, and early intervention. This page contains information, opportunities, and resources for individuals and organizations who work with young children and families in King County.

The Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) prepares plans and reports for the general public and for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). You may view and download these plans and reports below.

Are you interested in learning more about the resources and services available in your community?   The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Resource Access Team is hosting a series of Resource Access Fairs across King County. Join us to connect with local organizations and services funded through the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy.

The resource fair is for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and delays, their families, caregivers, and service providers.

Meet our partners and see where we're investing.

Services for people with disabilities in King County are run through community-based provider organizations and include programs supporting employment and community inclusion, the School-to-Work transition program, and community information, referral, and outreach programs.

Learn more about tenant protections available for residents of unincorporated King County, as covered in the King County Code. Human-translated versions of this page Amharic Arabic Chinese-simplified Chinese-traditional Korean Russian Somali Spanish Ukrainian Vietnamese

Live workshops and recorded trainings are available at no-cost for VSHSL-funded providers. The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) supports VSHSL-funded providers and programs by offering core competency trainings. These trainings are meant to help providers attain and maintain key skills and concepts. Training topics are informed by responses to the annual narrative report. This resource is available to eligible providers at no cost. Some trainings have been recorded and are available to view here.

Behavioral Health and Recovery Division

Free translation and interpretation services for VSHSL-funded providers

Honoring our commitment to veterans, seniors, and resilient communities

Learn more about Community and Human service programs that help young people get beyond barriers and achieve their education and employment goals.

Find featured services and learn how to search for providers.

Learn more about support for youth in the legal system available from Community and Human Services.

King County offers a continuum of programs and services for youth, starting with connecting youth to community and promoting their mental health and wellbeing, responding to youth in crisis, preventing substance use, intervening early, and offering options for treatment and support in recovery.