OLYMPIA -- Services for the elderly and people with disabilities in southwestern Washington will continue following the decision today by Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams to withdraw the designation of the Human Services Council (HSC) as the area agency on aging.

"I do not take this decision lightly," says Arnold-Williams. "The information from all sources led me to conclude that HSC/Southwest Washington Area Agency on Aging has been unable to comply with its legal and contractual obligations as an area agency on aging for at least the last 18 months."

Grave concerns about the management and financial practices of HSC prompted Arnold-Williams to continue the process to revoke HSC's designation as the sponsor of the Southwest Washington Area Agency on Aging. The agency serves about 4,000 people a year in the counties of Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, Klickitat, and Wahkiakum.

As the DSHS designated area agency on aging, HSC receives nearly $6 million a year in federal and state funding to assist the elderly and people with disabilities live in their own home. Services can include in-home personal care, meals, legal assistance, case management plus respite care, and training for caregivers.

In a letter sent to HSC's Board of Directors today, Arnold-Williams states, "The department looks forward to HSC's cooperation in fulfilling its duties and obligations as an area agency on aging during a transition to a new entity. Full cooperation between the department and HSC and the Southwest Area Agency on Aging will go a long way toward achieving our shared goal of ensuring the continuation of services to vulnerable individuals in the southwest Washington region."

Issues with HSC surfaced about two years ago. Since early 2005, the DSHS Aging and Disability Services Administration (ADSA) has worked with HSC to correct a series of problems related to billings, payments, administrative and management costs, and organizational structure. Concerned that HSC did not have the ability to fulfill the requirements of an Area Agency on Agency, ADSA early this year recommended that Arnold-Williams begin to consider de-designation of HSC.

HSC has the right to appeal to the federal Administration on Aging within 30 days of receiving Secretary Arnold-William's notice to de-designate the organization. The Administration on Aging has up to 60 days to respond to the appeal.

If sponsorship of an Area Agency on Aging is withdrawn, the law gives local government the right to be the first ones considered by DSHS as a new sponsor. During the transition, Secretary Arnold-Williams says DSHS will work with the employees and the community to minimize disruptions to day-to-day operations and services.

There are 13 Area Agencies on Aging in Washington and this is the first time DSHS has taken action to withdraw a sponsorship.

A list of documents can be found at HSC Documentation