By Gwen Davis
SPECIAL TO THE HIGHLINE TIMES

The state’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has determined that Hanbleceya, the Normandy Park mental health treatment center, is operating in compliance with Washington law. The investigation has been closed.

According to a press release on April 22, Lori Melchiori, assistant director for residential care services at DSHS said that the homes are not operating as unlicensed adult family homes.

The company has been under scrutiny for nearly a year.

“Complaints initially expressed concerns about the quality of care,” Melchiori told the Highline Times. “Individuals heard people were being served in the community, and those individuals felt their concerns weren’t being properly met.”

Normandy Park residents have complained about Hanbleceya’s facilities. They reportedly felt the company shouldn’t have been allowed to buy the properties. They were concerned about shattered glass from a Hanbleceya window and worried the facilities were not state-regulated.

“We told DSHS during the investigation we would fulfill all the requirements necessary to be a licensed adult family home, said Kerry Paulson, Hanbleceya spokesman.

The investigation was two-fold.

The first piece – beginning in June and ending in September – was to determine if the facilities needed a state license for Adult Family Home, a specific type of facility under the auspices of DSHS.

“There were a number of initiations for investigations at the time of whether or not the operation would be considered an unlicensed adult family home or an unlicensed adult living facility,” Melchiori said.

On Sept. 28, DSHS determined the facilities needed the adult family home license.

“We informed Hanbleceya that we made a determination of investigations and that yes, we did have authority and that yes, they made the definition of needing an adult family home license.”

If the operation fell under the authority of another entity such as the Department of Health (DOH), the adult family home license would not apply.

Melchiori said DSHS, the DOH and other authorities were in communication with each other during this part of the investigation.

Shortly thereafter, another investigation began regarding whether the facilities were operating in accordance with the state adult family home license.

One of the houses was closed as a result of the investigation.

“They did make changes,” Paulson said.

On March 29, DSHS announced Hanbleceya was in compliance with state law,” according to Paulson.

“DSHS did a really good, thorough job,” Paulson said. “They reviewed a lot of components, interviewed staff, and interviewed patients. They did unannounced site visits to the treatment center and to the individual houses.”

This type of investigation is common for DSHS, which periodically makes investigations about whether a facility should be licensed under the department’s authority.

Hanbleceya provides treatment for individuals dealing with mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression. The program includes psychotherapy, support for learning basic living skills, vocational and educational support and regular socialization. It also provides treatment for people with addiction.

The company began in 1979 and is based in California. Hanbleceya opened its Normandy Park location in 2011.

Paulson said there is a maximum of one person to one bedroom, and four to five bedrooms per house.

“Everybody in the houses comes to the treatment center on a daily bases,” he said.

Insurance covers the cost of psychiatric treatment including medication and some therapy. The rest comes from patients and their families out-of-pocket.

It costs $1,500 to live in the houses, per month, according the Paulson. The patients and their families generally have higher incomes.