PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Children's Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Licensing standards for group receiving centers.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.15.030(2) and 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: There is a growing shortage of receiving care resources for children in most areas of the state. A provider is interested in establishing group receiving centers (GRCs) for children for a short period of time while foster home resources can be located. The current group care facility licensing standards to [do] not match the short-term, emergency-type group care setting needed for GRCs.
The development of licensing rules for group receiving centers will provide consistent standards for all similar programs and provide for regular monitoring of the health and safety of children receiving care from these facilities.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Representatives of the Department of Health and State Fire Marshal's Office will be involved in the development of the standards.
Process for Developing New Rule: Meetings with stakeholders will be held. A work group will be developed from the provider currently interested, child-placing agencies, representatives from other public and private stakeholders. Additionally, DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the standards of care for group receiving centers. Anyone interested in participating should contact the staff person indicated below. At a later date, DSHS will file proposed rules with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy will be sent to everyone currently on the mailing list and anyone else who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jean L. Croisant, Licensing Standards Program Manager, Division of Program and Policy Development, Department of Social and Health Services, Children's Administration, P.O. Box 45710, Olympia, WA 98504-5710, (360) 902-7992, TTD [TDD] (360) 902-7906, fax (360) 902-7903, e-mail loje300@dshs.wa.gov.
September 20, 2002
Brian H. Lindgren
Manager