Pierce County Human Services Home

The Pierce County Human Services Department is responsible for the administration of the County's Aging and Long Term Care , Mental Health , Developmental Disabilities , and Chemical Dependency services. The department has responsibility for development of comprehensive plans, service provision, program administration, program monitoring, and provision of technical assistance to community agencies, as well as some direct services for clients and training of providers.

Direct services are provided by Designated Mental Health Professionals(DMHPs) in accordance with the Mental Health Involuntary Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Unit at the Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center, as well as by staff in Aging and Long Term Care and Developmental Disabilities. The Mental Health Unit also manages the Pierce County RTF (Residential Treatment Facility), comprised of the Crisis Triage Center, Secure Detox, and the E&T (Evaluation and Treatment) an inpatient psychiatric unit for voluntary and involuntary acute care.

Other client services are provided by contractors. Often, consumers are served by at least two programs or have needs that cross these categorical lines, e.g., mentally ill chemical abuser and developmentally disabled senior; etc.

Funding for the department is comprised of federal, state, county, and city monies. County funds include maintenance of effort for involuntary mental health; Liquor Profit and Taxes (LP&T), dedicated by statute to alcohol programs; county millage, dedicated by statute to mental health and developmental disabilities programs; and Pierce County and City of Tacoma match funds for the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Task Force . The federal and state dollars are negotiated on a biennial basis through contracts with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and a grant from the Traffic Safety Commission . Additional funds are awarded by the state throughout the biennium as they become available, and by grant.

All four units have advisory boards, which meet monthly. These boards provide advice and recommendations, assist in assessing the needs and concerns of county residents relative to the services, represent and advocate for client constituencies, participate in unit planning, assist staff on issues and/or problem areas, and hold public hearings.

Per RCW 42.56, if you would like to request public records, please contact:

Becki Foutz
Pierce County Human Services
3580 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98418
253.798.6125

Pierce County Human Services Public Records Act Requests Policy

Call us at 253-798-7202 or 1-800-642-5769, or e-mail Pierce County Human Services .

Write to us at 3580 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98418

Office hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday