In 2009, Washington State legislators directed the Office of Financial Management to study the feasibility of closing state Residential Habilitation Centers. The directive reflected ongoing policy discussions about the future of institutional care and the state’s continued transition toward community-based services following the Olmstead decision.

The study was intended to examine fiscal, operational, and service impacts, including how residents’ needs would be met in community settings. The directive occurred during a period of broader debate about institutional downsizing, community capacity, and long-term funding priorities. It marked another step in Washington’s multi-year examination of how best to structure services for people with developmental disabilities.

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