WAAFHA is seeking a fair, secret-ballot election so eligible adult family home providers can decide which organization should represent them. Learn the history, review the process, and decide for yourself whether to participate.
Why it matters History If WAAFHA is elected FAQ Get a card How to help
Why WAAFHA is seeking a provider election
Representation directly affects reimbursement, contracts, regulatory advocacy, and provider working conditions.
Providers must be able to be part of the bargaining process.
Providers must be able to choose an organization they trust to represent them.
Providers deserve an opportunity to choose their representative through a fair, secret-ballot election.
The 2026 providers have never had an opportunity to decide who represents them.
Providers deserve an independent organization to represent them — not an organization controlled by a state agency.
Your voice must be heard.
WAAFHA belongs at every table where policy affecting AFH providers is being discussed.
History and timeline
2007
Washington created the statewide AFH provider bargaining unit.
2008
Providers voted in an election between the Residential Care Council and the Washington Federation of State Employees. At that time, Washington had fewer than two thousand AFH providers.
2008 providers < 2,000
2016
The Residential Care Council changed its name to the Adult Family Home Council. The name change did not give providers a new election.
2016 – 2026
WAAFHA’s record of this period is that AFH Council failed to negotiate a substantial increase in Medicaid reimbursement.
2023
AFH Council failed to intervene in the caregiver Supreme Court case.
2024
AFH Council failed to assist providers with MCO late payment.
2025
Providers launched WAAFHA to represent themselves.
2026
WAAFHA officially launched and introduced the Providers’ Bill of Rights to protect providers. Washington now has more than six thousand AFH providers.
2026 providers > 6,000
None of these providers have had an opportunity to choose their bargaining representative until now.
Managed by a board of directors of six providers and three non-providers.
An Executive Director manages the day-to-day affairs of the organization.
A recognized 501(c)(3) that may receive tax-deductible donations.
A membership organization. Providers pay a monthly fee to be a member.
If elected
Medicaid reimbursement reform — at least a flat $300 per day per Medicaid resident.
Timely payment requirements
Transparent bargaining updates
Regional provider representation
Member voting and financial accountability
Assistance with regulatory and citation disputes — no fine for citations; time to remedy instead of citations.
Training and workforce-development programs
A Provider Bill of Rights
Questions
WAAFHA is seeking an election to give six thousand providers an opportunity to decide who should represent them.
An authorization card is an indication that a provider who signs the card wants to change his or her bargaining representative.
Signing an authorization card does not make you a member of WAAFHA, and you do not have to be a member of WAAFHA to sign an authorization card.
No. Signing a card is a showing of interest. You still have to vote when PERC announces the manner of voting. WAAFHA will educate you on how to vote.
Any provider who has a Medicaid contract to accept Medicaid residents may sign the authorization card.
Your information will always remain confidential.
WAAFHA’s attorneys will submit a petition to PERC — the Public Employment Relations Commission — on or about March 1, 2027.
Voting is always confidential. No one will ever know how you voted.
Yes. You can always vote even if you did not sign a card. Signing a card is still the right thing to do. You can also volunteer to collect signatures. Volunteer here.
You can always submit a request for records to PublicDisclosure@PERC.wa.gov.
Authorization cards
Download and print an authorization card. Complete it with your name, the name of your adult family home, your signature, and the date. Then mail it to:
WAAFHA
9802 N Seminole Street
Spokane, WA 99208
Download an authorization card
Do not sign more than one authorization card.
Get involved
Attend an informational Zoom meeting.
Become a member of WAAFHA.
Volunteer to speak with providers in your region, and volunteer to collect signatures.
Translate educational materials.
Host a local provider meeting.
Submit concerns and policy priorities.
Sign an authorization card.
Volunteer as an election observer.
WAAFHA · A fair, secret-ballot election for AFH providers · Washington State
