FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5811

C 226 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Requiring greater opportunities for involvement of birth families in foster care.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Stevens and McAuliffe).

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Background: Children placed in foster care often have little or no contact with their birth family for the duration of their placement. They rarely see interaction between their foster family and birth family, and yet the majority of children placed in foster care are returned to their birth family.

Summary: It is the intent of the Legislature to sanction a connection between the birth family and foster family. Foster parents are encouraged to provide input to social workers and birth parents about the child placed in their care; to mentor birth parents by modeling appropriate, healthy parenting behaviors; and to assist in visitation with birth families.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       45  3

House       83  0    (House amended)

Senate       43  0    (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 27, 2003