Fircrest School is a residential facility that supports about 200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was established in 1959 in a building that had previously served as a Naval Hospital and later a Tuberculosis Sanitarium, and it has since evolved from a medical model of care to a person-centered approach.
Under this person-centered philosophy, individuals are placed at the center of their own care process. They receive encouragement and training designed to help them grow, build independence, and, where appropriate, transition to a less restrictive setting, preferably within the broader community.
Fircrest includes two distinct types of care within its campus. The Nursing Facility provides individualized health care and activities for residents with unique medical needs, while the Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/ID) offers habilitative services aimed at supporting and enhancing residents' individual skills and strengths. Both programs are partially funded through arrangements regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The facility is located in Shoreline, just north of Seattle, giving residents ready access to major medical and educational resources in the area. This location also allows residents the opportunity to take part in sporting, cultural, and outdoor events held throughout the Seattle region.
Admission to Fircrest School is coordinated through DDA Region 2 Field Services staff, and referrals are accepted from across the state.
