The Washington Declaration on Public Assistance is a statement of principles that guides the design and implementation of public assistance programs in the United States. It was issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 1982 and has since been adopted by many local, state, and federal agencies. The Declaration outlines the goals of public assistance programs, emphasizing a commitment to helping individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency and access to resources that will help them become more independent. It also outlines principles for program design, including the need for services and benefits to be tailored to the individual's needs, and for programs to be cost-effective and designed to promote economic self-sufficiency. The Washington Declaration on Public Assistance outlines three types of public assistance programs: cash assistance, food assistance, and medical assistance. These programs are designed to provide basic needs such as income, food, and health care to individuals and families who are unable to provide these needs for themselves. The Declaration encourages states to develop innovative approaches to providing public assistance while also ensuring that programs are cost-effective and able to meet the needs of the people they serve.