Aging and Disability Services (ADS) is a division within the Seattle Human Services Department. ADS is an Area Agency on Aging (AAA), established through the 1965 Older Americans Act. ADS is one of 13 AAAs in Washington State and over 600 throughout the country. Aging and Disability Services plans, coordinates, and advocates for a comprehensive service delivery system for older people, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers in Seattle and King County.

Aging and Disability Services provides a key link between federal and state funding for services for older residents and family caregivers in the Seattle-King County area and the community-based organizations that deliver the services. We administer federal Older Americans Act funding, partnering with community-based organizations to provide adult day services, caregiver support, case management, elder abuse prevention, health maintenance, health promotion, information and assistance, legal support, nutrition, senior center, and transportation services. The majority of these services are accessed by contacting Community Living Connections. Most services are provided by a network of community-based organizations located throughout King County who subcontract with ADS to serve over 48,000 seniors, adults with disabilities and family caregivers.

Student interns will receive an overview of the Seattle Human Services Department and the Aging and Disability Services Division. Students will have the option to work with the Care Coordination Program, the Planning Unit, the Contracts Unit, or the Age Friendly Seattle team.

Aging and Disability Services helps people live independently. Care coordination services help people live at home. The Care Coordination Program connects in-home care services to adults age 18 and up, most of whom are Medicaid-eligible and challenged by two or more “activities of daily living” (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring/walking, and continence).

ADS care coordinators authorize and arrange for in-home services for adults who need personal care services to remain safe and healthy in their home. Care coordinators conduct in-home assessments and consult with clients and caregivers to develop and implement a service plan that addresses the individual’s personal care needs. Care coordinators monitor service plans during the year, following up regularly with clients and service providers to ensure that their situations have stabilized.

NA

Contracts - ADS sub-contracts with local service providers to deliver services to older adults, family caregivers and adults with disabilities.

Planning - ADS planners develop the 4yr Area Plan, leads investment processes, program development/evaluation, coordinates legislative advocacy activities/partnerships, plans/coordinates community events/forums, provides staff support for two City of Seattle commissions - the Advisory Council and the Mayor's Council on African American Elders, and other duties as assigned.

Age Friendly Seattle - ADS is committed to helping communities become more age-friendly under criteria established by AARP and the World Health Organization, called “The 8 Domains of Livability.” ADS can provide information and guidance to any community in King County that is interested in becoming more age-friendly. The City of Seattle joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in July 2016 and strengthened their commitment in March 2017 with a Mayor/Council resolution and set of early actions. On July 27, 2018, Age Friendly Seattle completed their Age Friendly Action Plan, which included 29 initiatives spanning "The 8 Domains of Livability." Follow their progress at www.seattle.gov/agefriendly. The Action Plan was updated in 2023.

MSW (1st or 2nd year)

English

Email Karen Winston, Sr Planner - karen.winston@seattle.gov to schedule an interview.