HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2256

As Reported by House Committee On:

Early Learning & Human Services

Title: An act relating to the online availability of foster parent preservice training.

Brief Description: Concerning the online availability of foster parent preservice training.

Sponsors: Representatives Graves, Frame, Dent, Kagi, Tarleton, Fey, Eslick, Slatter, Muri, Hargrove, Dolan, Senn, McDonald, Reeves, Young, Kloba, Ormsby, Lovick, Doglio, Stonier and Gregerson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Early Learning & Human Services: 1/12/18, 1/16/18 [DPS].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Kagi, Chair; Senn, Vice Chair; Dent, Ranking Minority Member; McCaslin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Eslick, Frame, Goodman, Griffey, Kilduff, Klippert, Lovick, Muri and Ortiz-Self.

Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).

Background:

Foster Parent Pre-Service Training.

An individual must complete certain training requirements before becoming a licensed foster parent.

The first pre-service training requirement for foster parents is an orientation. The orientation provides an overview of the licensure process. Individuals are encouraged to attend this orientation in person but can complete an online orientation.

Following the orientation, individuals must complete 24 hours of core pre-service training. The Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence provides this training, which is only available in person. This training consists of eight three-hour sessions and a break for a field experience.

Prospective foster parents must also complete a first aid/cardiopulmonary resuscitation and blood borne pathogens course.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

All components of the foster parent pre-service training must be made available online. The Department of Social and Health Services must allow individuals to complete as much online preservice training as is practicable, while requiring that some preservice training be completed in person.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill requires that some preservice foster parent training be completed in person.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill requires that all training be made available online but provides flexibility in how much training must be completed online versus in person. There are still requirements to have eyes on a person and location for licensure that are separate from the foster parent preservice training requirements. There are a handful of people that are not able to complete training in person, and this would help those people complete the training and improve the recruitment and retention of foster parents.

(Opposed) None.

(Other) Online training will reduce the time and scheduling problems involved in completing preservice training. This will also help recruitment of foster parents and prospective foster parents living in rural areas. The bill does not eliminate in-person training. The bill acknowledges the in-person contact between a prospective foster parent and a trainer. The bill provides the Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families with the ability to strike the appropriate balance between in-person and online training.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Graves, prime sponsor.

(Other) Patrick Dowd, Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds; and David Del Villar Fox, Department of Social and Health Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.