Washington is nicknamed “The Evergreen State” because of the contribution of the forest to the state’s economy and to the region's ecosystems. Several large rivers run through the forests creating excellent habitat for steelhead trout and an abundance of energy. The Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River provides 30% of the nation’s hydroelectric power. Washington covers 66,544 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 6,549,224 people – 805,456 living in rural Washington (USDA-ERS). Olympia, the capital, is located in the western region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 84.6% of the state’s population is white, 6.7% is Asian, 3.6% is Black/African American, 1.6% is American Indian and Alaska Native, and 9.4% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).
There are 88 hospitals in Washington (Kaiser 2006). 35 of the state's hospitals are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, 2007). The state has 38 hospitals currently identified as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). Also, there are 131 Rural Health Clinics in Washington (CMS, 2009), and 25 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 225 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2007). Most Washingtonians have some form of health insurance coverage, although 11.7% of its residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Washingtonians in 2007 was $41,203, although rural per-capita income lagged at $29,632. 2007 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 15.2% exists in rural Washington, compared to a 10.9% level in urban areas of the state. Data from 2000 finds that 16.9% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 12.3% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Washington is at 6.5%, while in urban Washington it is at 5.2% (USDA-ERS, 2008).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources:
Organizations
Center for Children with Special Needs (CSHCN)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Focuses on improving care for children with special needs by providing information to families and health care professionals throughout the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho).
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Washington
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Pacific Health Association (PHA)
State/regional organization
PHA is comprised of the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and Washington State Hospital Association. Formed to provide information, support and representation to current members of the three state associations and future members. PHA provides a vehicle for the three state associations to collaborate and provide better service to their members on a multi-state basis.
Qualis Health
State/regional organization
Serves as the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Idaho and Washington. Also provides service to Alaska.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Helps rural communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to improve community infrastructure.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Washington
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
USDA Rural Development Washington State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED)
State government
Provides information, resources and programs regarding: community services, trade & economic development, energy policy, housing, local government, and public works for the State of Washington.
Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
State government
Provides protection, comfort, food assistance, financial aid, medical care and other services for children, families, vulnerable adults and seniors.
Washington Department of Social and Health Services: Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
State government
Assists individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to obtain services and supports based on individual preference, capabilities and needs, and which promote everyday activities, routines and relationships common to most citizens.
Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
State government
Provides employment-related services to individuals with disabilities who want to work but need assistance.
Washington Employment Security Department
State government
Helps people succeed throughout their working lives. Supports workers during times of unemployment, tracks and analyzes labor market trends, and links businesses and job seekers to a diverse range of employment services provided by the state's WorkSource system.
Washington Office of Community Health Systems, Rural Health (OCRH)
State government
Connects communities and resources to develop accessible and sustainable healthcare systems. A division of the Washington State Department of Health.
Washington Office of Public Instruction: Special Education
State government
Implements special education and related services to meet the unique needs of special education students.
Washington Rural Health Association (WRHA)
State/regional organization
Advocates for enhanced access, quality and stability for rural health services throughout Washington.
Washington State Board of Health: Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities
State government
Works to create a plan to eliminate health disparities in Washington State.
Washington State Community Action Partnership
State/regional organization
A partnership of all Community Action Agencies in the state of Washington serving all 39 Washington counties. Provides assistance to states and local communities, working through a network of Community Action Agencies for the reduction of poverty, the revitalization of low-income communities, and the empowerment of low-income families and individuals in rural and urban areas and migrant or seasonal farm workers to become as self-sufficient as possible. Also provides family development services through trained and certified specialists that work with the entire family to develop the necessary plans to become more self-sufficient.
Washington State Department of Health
State government
Works with federal, state and local partners to help people in Washington stay healthier and safer.
Washington State Department of Social & Health Services: Aging & Disability Services Administration (ADSA)
State government
Serving adults with chronic illnesses or conditions and people of all ages with developmental disabilities. Also provides contact information for reporting adult abuse.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services: Division of Child Support
State government
The state agency that administers state and federal child support laws.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services: Mental Health Division
State government
Promotes recovery and safety for adults and children with mental illnesses.
Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA)
State/regional organization
A membership organization representing community hospitals and several health-related organizations. The association provides issues management and analysis, information, advocacy and other services.
Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC)
State government
The Washington State Housing Finance Commission is a publicly accountable, self-supporting team dedicated to increasing housing access and affordability and to expanding the availability of quality community facilities for the people of Washington.
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center (WWAMI RHRC)
Academic/Research
One of six Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Focuses on training and supply of rural health care providers, availability and quality of care for rural women and children, and access to high-quality care for vulnerable and minority rural populations. Based in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Tools
ERS State Fact Sheet: Washington
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Washington
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
State Profiles- Washington: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
Washington QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Washington Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Washington Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Washington KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Washington State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
WWAMI Center for Health Workforce Studies Regional Information Center
Web site
Provides access to health workforce information for Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho. Content is available by state and by profession.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Funding
Regence Foundation Grant Program
The Regence Foundation works to transform health care and address core problems in our health care system with innovative solutions.
Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE)
A training program for dental students designed to help meet the oral health needs of rural and underserved communities in the Northwest.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Age Matters: Who Lives in Rural Washington?
Author(s): Zeynep Shorter
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
Provides an overview of age groups found in rural Washington State and a comparison of age groups in rural and urban Washington State.
Date: 06 / 2007
Beyond The Bottom Line: Expanding Economic Opportunities For Washington's Working Families
Author(s): Annette Case, Scott Mingus, Bob Watrus
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Explores the labor market, economic and
policy context in which Washington State workers must
operate, and reveals existing opportunities for low wage families to achieve economic success.
Date: 10 / 2004
Cancer Screening in Washington State: Does Location Matter?
Author(s): Zeynep Shorter
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
Discusses cancer screening statistics and how they vary among geographic areas.
Date: 09 / 2008
Contribution of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to Generalist Care in Washington State
Author(s): Eric H. Larson, Lorella Palazzo, Bobbi Berkowitz, Michael J. Pirani, L. Gary Hart
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Describes the contribution to generalist care made by nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in Washington State. Includes data on NP and PA contributions in rural areas.
Journal citation: Health Services Research Volume 38 Issue 4 Pages: 1033-1050
Date: 08 / 2003
Critical Access Hospital (CAHs) Medicaid Charges are about Three-Percent
Author(s): Mike Lee
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
A fact sheet identifying how the services of CAHs in Washington State have little impact on the Medicaid budget.
Date: 12 / 2007
Demographic and Economic Profile: Washington
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, and more. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 01 / 2009
Demographic, Education, and Practice Characteristics of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners in Washington State: Results of a 2008 Survey (Full Report)
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Louise Kaplan, Marie-Annette Brown
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Center for Health Workforce Studies
Describes the background and practice characteristics of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) who live and practice in Washington state.
Date: 04 / 2009
Demographic, Education, and Practice Characteristics of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners in Washington State: Results of a 2008 Survey (Policy Brief)
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Center for Health Workforce Studies
Provides a policy brief on the background and practice characteristics of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) in Washington State.
Date: 04 / 2009
Economic and Health Insecurity: A Survey of Washington Voters 18+ on Current Legislative Issues.
Author(s): Jennifer H. Sauer
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Presents the results of a survey of Washington State voters to assess their concern of both economic and health challenges.
Date: 02 / 2009
Education: A Regional Overview
Author(s): By Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Explores education characteristics in the western states and examines how it impacts rural development.
Date: 2008
Employment, Income and Poverty: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines and compares employment and income in western states with both rural and urban data.
Date: 2008
Greening Homes Through Brown Development: Water Conservation and Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Author(s): Allison Holmes
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
Working in the arid climate of central Washington, the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing has developed several techniques to conserve water and reduce utility costs for clients.
Journal citation: Rural Voices Volume 13 Issue 2 Pages: 13
Date: 2008
Health and Longevity: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines health and longevity for states in the western region.
Date: 2008
How Many Agencies does it Take to Define Rural?
Author(s): Zeynep Shorter
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
Identifies and describes briefly four of the most commonly used state and federal definitions
Date: 07 / 2007
Land Use and Resources: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Examines land use and resources in the western states.
Date: 2008
Profile of a Typical Rural Resident
Author(s): Zeynep Shorter
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
Provides a comparison of the typical rural resident to the Washington State population as a whole.
Date: 04 / 2008
Rural Disparities in Mortality
Author(s): Zeynep Shorter
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
Reports on a study that found rural residents have a higher risk of preventable deaths than urban residents.
Date: 06 / 2008
Rural Washington: Closing Health Disparities
Author(s): Zeynep Shorter
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
Results of a state-wide rural health
assessment looking at 26 indicators of communicable disease, chronic disease prevention, maternal and child health, and access to health care.
Date: 12 / 2008
Small Business Profile: Washington
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2006
State of Washington: Population Brief
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Baseline information for the advancement of rural development that examines population changes and characteristics within Washington.
Date: 2008
State Profiles - Washington: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005
The Changing West: A Regional Overview
Author(s): Don E. Albrecht
Sponsoring organization: Western Rural Development Center
Provides baseline data for identifying population changes in the western states for use in advancing rural development.
Date: 2008
Traumatic Brain Injury: Prevalence, External Causes, and Associated Risk Factors
Author(s): Zeyno Shorter
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
Provides an overview of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Washington State.
Date: 01 / 2009
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Success Stories
Angel Flight West: A Higher Level of Kindness
Angel Flight West provides free, private air transportation for people with medical and other needs.
Facilitating Health Care for Special Needs Children in Southwest Washington State
The project consortium developed survey instruments, policies, procedures, and data forms and then contacted health departments, schools, and local medical and service providers to introduce project services and encourage referral of children with special needs.
Washington State Emergency Medical and Trauma Care Services
Established to promote a system of emergency medical and trauma care services, the Washington Emergency Medical and Trauma Care Services offers timely and appropriate delivery of emergency medical treatment for people with acute illness and traumatic injury, and recognizes the changing methods and environment for providing optimal emergency care throughout the state of Washington.
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