“We’re thrilled to be back.”
DSHS returns to Forks with part-time presence at transit center starting July 1
Contact: Norah West, DSHS Media Relations, 360–489–5587
Forks, WA — After nearly three years of reduced presence, the Department of Social and Health Services is reestablishing itself on the Olympic Peninsula with a Community Services Outstation at the Forks Transit Center located at 551 S Forks Ave. Opening July 1, DSHS is sharing the space with Reflections, which operates a behavioral health program and is the primary tenant of the building. Through this partnership, the two agencies will offer a convenient one-stop location for mutual customers.
“We are pleased to return to a more visible presence in Forks and to continue providing people in the West End with much-needed services in partnership with Reflections and other community organizations,” said Ezekiel Hill, Community Services Office Administrator for the DSHS offices in Forks, Port Angeles and Port Townsend. “Being able to increase in-person service access to three days a week is great news for DSHS and for the people we serve.”
The Forks outstation will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with two staff members available to provide client services just like at any DSHS Community Services Office. Community members can visit the outstation for help with applying for services, eligibility reviews, making changes to their account and getting EBT cards. Because it is an outstation and not a formal office, not all CSO services will be available; however, clients can access full services by calling the DSHS Customer Service Contact Center at 877–501–2233 or visiting another Community Services Office of their choice.
The vast majority of DSHS services moved online and via telephone in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. In September 2021, DSHS reduced its physical footprint in Clallam County, downsizing the Forks office to provide only emergent services at its prior space at 421 Fifth Ave. While customers still had access to food, cash, medical assistance and other support services online and over the phone, DSHS quickly realized more in-person presence was needed and began searching for an existing office space in the area to accommodate its needs, including enough lobby space and parking to accommodate customers and staff.
“We really missed working with local community members, partner agencies and area tribal governments,” explained Hill, adding that DSHS created a tribal liaison position in Port Angeles during the pandemic; however, being able to work more closely with tribal partners in the West End to help meet the needs of tribal members was a crucial consideration in expanding the agency’s presence.
“It took longer than expected to secure space and work out all the logistical details, but we’re thrilled to be back,” Hill said. “We will keep looking at ways to improve our outstation operations once we are open and can identify needs as they arise in real time.”
Along with visiting the Forks outstation in person, customers can apply for services and manage their accounts at 877–501–2233 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at WashingtonConnection.org 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information regarding DSHS’ renewed presence in Forks, contact Ezekiel Hill, Community Services Office Administrator, 360–912–8022, or Eddie Rodriguez, Regional Administrator, 253–476–7044.