Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Early Learning & Human Services Committee

HB 1858

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to allow secure and semi-secure Crisis Residential Centers (CRCs) and HOPE centers to co-locate, and must adopt rules to allow the licensing of these collocated facilities.
Requires the DSHS to contract for a continuum of short-term stabilization services, and to collaborate with service providers in a manner that allows secure and semi-secure CRCs and HOPE centers to be located in a geographically representative manner.
Requires the DSHS to adopt rules regarding flexible payment structures, center-specific licensing waivers, or other appropriate measures to increase utilization and provide flexibility, while continuing to meet the goals of each program.

Background:

Role of the Department of Social and Health Services.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) contracts with vendors who provide a variety of residential programs specific to older youth in crisis who need shelter and assistance. These residential options include: secure and semi-secure Crisis Residential Centers (CRCs), HOPE Centers, and Responsible Living Programs. Separate rules govern each program. Some providers operate more than one program within one physical facility.

Crisis Residential Centers.

Crisis Residential Centers have operated in Washington since 1980 to serve youth who are homeless, those who seek shelter including runaway youth, and those transported by law enforcement or the DSHS. Crisis Residential Centers consist of both semi-secure facilities and secure facilities. Secure CRCs were established in 1995. Secure CRCs are designed to prevent youth from leaving without parental or staff permission for a short period of time while they receive support to stabilize during a period of crisis. Secure CRCs include some facilities located within or adjacent to a juvenile detention facility, but do not allow for in-person contact between youth in the CRC and juveniles being held in the detention facility. Some secure CRCs are community-based.

HOPE Centers and Responsible Living Skills Programs.

In 1999 the Legislature passed the HOPE Act, which established services for older street youth without family support and for whom foster placements have not been successful. HOPE centers are facilities where youth can stay for up to 30 days while they are evaluated for services. The Responsible Living Skills Program provides long-term residential placement for older youth and other services to help youth gain independent living skills.

Summary of Bill:

The DSHS is required to allow co-location of secure and semi-secure CRCs and HOPE centers, and shall adopt rules to allow licensing of these co-located facilities.

Within appropriated funds, the DSHS is required to contract for a continuum of short-term stabilization services, and shall collaborate with service providers in a manner that allows secure and semi-secure crisis residential centers and HOPE centers to be located in a geographically representative manner. The DSHS is authorized to contract for the operation of HOPE Center beds and Responsible Living Skills programs that are not specifically located in departmental regions that either operate CRCs or in which the DSHS finds significant progress toward opening a CRC.

The DSHS is authorized to adopt rules regarding flexible payment structures, center specific licensing waivers, or other appropriate measures to increase utilization and provide flexibility, while continuing to meet the statutory goals of the each of the programs.