Mission and Values

We support the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) commitment to eliminate racial disparities and achieve racial equity in Seattle.

Aging and Disability Services, a unit of the Seattle Human Services Department, is the Area Agency on Aging serving Seattle and King County.

The Seattle Human Services (HSD) mission is “To connect people with resources and solutions during times of need so we can all live, learn, work and take part in strong, healthy communities.” HSD’s racial equity goal is “People of color do not experience disparities.”

The mission of Aging and Disability Services is:

“To develop a community that promotes quality of life, independence and choice for older people and adults with disabilities in King County.”

We will accomplish this by:

• Working with others to create a complete and responsive system of services.
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  We support the USAging (formerly the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging) commitment to equality and diversity.

  Focusing attention on meeting the needs of older people and adults with disabilities.

• Planning, developing new programs, educating the public, advocating with legislators, and providing direct services that include the involvement of older adults and others representing the diversity of our community.
• Promoting a comprehensive long-term care system.
• Supporting intergenerational partnering, planning, and policy development.

In fulfilling our mission, we follow these values:

• Older people, adults with disabilities and their families have a right to be treated with respect and dignity and to make decisions affecting their lives.
• Diversity brings richness to our community and within our agency and supports a wealth of ways to capitalize on this strength.
• The support and nurturing provided by family, domestic partners, and friends are important, and we seek to strengthen this capacity.
• Community partnerships are central in bringing together funders, providers, consumers, and community members to develop solutions that address changes in housing, education, health, long term care and advocacy needs.
• The concerns of low-income older people, adults with disabilities, and traditionally underserved groups are recognized, and the needs and potential of every member of our community.
• Efforts that encourage independence and enable individuals to remain in their community for as long as possible provide our main focus.
• Ensure that older people, adults with disabilities, and those with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds within our community have knowledge of and access to the services for which they are eligible.
• Accountability to the public trust means the programs we oversee are consumer guided, responsive and useful.
• Leadership is shared with our regional, state and federal partners and other city institutions as they develop ways to serve older people and adults with disabilities.

For information about how we accomplish our mission, visit our Area Plan webpage.

If you have questions about our mission or values, please contact us.