DSHS believes in the importance of the public’s right to know about its operations and activities. Many public documents are available on the DSHS website and may be located by using the search function on the site.
If the information you are looking for is not available on the website, or if you are in search of client records, you have the option to submit a public records request. You can use the Request for Records form or directly send your inquiry to:
DSHS Public Records Officer
Office of Information Governance
PO Box 45135
Olympia WA 98504-5135
Phone: (360) 902-8484
Fax: (360) 902-7855
Email: DSHSPublicDisclosure@dshs.wa.gov
DSHS rules about processing public records requests are located in Chapter 388-01 WAC.
You may make a public disclosure request to any DSHS office. You should ask to contact the Public Records Coordinator appointed for that office. If you don’t know which office has the records you seek or are seeking records from different parts of DSHS, you can send your request to the Public Records Officer, as shown above.
If your request includes a list of individuals please complete the Declaration on Commercial Purposes form certifying the list will not be used for commercial purposes.
Confidential and Exempt Records: State and federal law exempt some DSHS records from disclosure because they contain client information. By law, DSHS may not disclose these records outside DSHS or its authorized partners with limited exceptions. Certain types of personal information about DSHS employees is also confidential.
If you are requesting confidential records about someone other than yourself, you must have that person’s permission to obtain those records. You can use the DSHS Authorization form or another form that complies with state and federal laws to allow you to see or obtain copies of those records. If you are a client and want someone to have copies of your records, you may fill out the DSHS Authorization form. Attorneys, please note that a subpoena is generally not sufficient to obtain DSHS client records. If you do not have permission or other legal authority to have confidential records, DSHS will deny your request for records.
Under the Public Records Act, agencies may charge to recover the actual cost of providing copies of records when fulfilling requests. DSHS charges and fees are outlined in RCW 42.56.120 and WAC 388-01-080. The current DSHS fee schedule is posted below: