Understanding the Key Requirements to Increase Your Adult Family Home License to 8 Beds.
This comprehensive guide explains and summarizes how to increase your adult family home license capacity to 8 beds in Washington State. I will break down the key requirements of WAC 388-76-10031, including financial solvency, management experience, and resident notification to help you easily navigate the licensing process.
To apply for a license capacity increase to 7 or 8 residents in an adult family home in Washington state, according to WAC 388-76-10031, the following requirements and procedures must be met:
- Demonstrate Financial Solvency and Management Experience: The applicant must be able to demonstrate to DSHS their history of financial solvency and successful management experience as an adult family home provider.
- Maintain Initial License: The initial license for the adult family home identified on the capacity increase application must have been maintained for a period of no less than 24 months prior to application.
- Maintain Licensed Capacity: A licensed capacity for six residents must have been maintained for at least 12 months immediately prior to application.
- Inspections: You must have received at least two full inspections before the application is submitted, with no enforcement action during the period starting with the older of the two most recent inspections and ending when the capacity increase is approved.
- Emergency Evacuation Standards: You must demonstrate to DSHS the ability to comply with the emergency evacuation standards in WAC 388-76-10865.
When submitting the application, the following items must be provided to DSHS:
- Automatic Sprinkler System: Documentation verifying the installation of an automatic sprinkler system that meets the requirements of chapter 51-54A WAC.
- Outstanding Fees: Any outstanding fees associated with licensure or additional inspections.
- Traffic Impact Plan: A written plan to mitigate the potential impact of vehicular traffic related to the increased capacity. In other words, a parking plan.
- Attestation: An attestation signed by you that states an increase in the number of beds will not adversely affect your ability to meet the health, safety, rights, or quality of life needs of the current and prospective residents in the home.
At the time of application for a license capacity increase to 7 or 8 residents, you must provide a written notice to all residents and the residents’ representatives that you have applied for a license capacity increase. This notice must:
- Be provided at least 60 days prior to planning on admitting a seventh or eighth resident.
- Be written in a manner or language that is understood by the residents and the residents’ representatives.
- Inform residents and resident representatives that the department will consider their comments regarding the quality of care and quality of life offered by your adult family home and their views regarding adding 1 or 2 more residents.
- Provide contact information for the regional residential care services licensing office where the resident or their representative can share their comments.
To increase the odds of being approved, there are some specific best practices you should implement while working with families and DSHS which will increase the approval rate. For example, if family members feel that you are stretching your limits by having more residents in your AFH, they may provide feedback to DSHS which would lower your chances of being approved.
You can also read my other post with more details on how to Increase Your Adult Family Home License to 8 Beds.
I hope this summary helped you understand what is needed to increase your Adult Family Home license to 8 beds. If you need help implementing these requirements and increasing your odds of being approved the first time, please reach out to Joseph Spada.
