Background: Family Assessment Response. In 2012 the Legislature passed Senate Bill 6555 (SB 6555), which requires the Children's Administration (CA) to implement a differential response system, called the Family Assessment Response (FAR). Among its many provisions, SB 6555 outlines specific implementation procedures for FAR and requirements for evaluation processes.

A differential response system differs from a Child Protective Services investigation. Investigations are often considered forensic in nature and involve conducting a series of interviews that have a specific objective, which is to identify child maltreatment or risk of child maltreatment. A differential response system, however, emphasizes family engagement, family assessment, and the wellbeing of the family unit. Additionally, parents receiving supportive services through a differential response system are not considered perpetrators of abuse or neglect and parents do not receive a disposition or legal finding.

In September 2012, the federal government approved the CA's Title IV-E waiver application. Although the Title IV-E waiver does not provide access to new funding sources, the waiver does offer child welfare systems the opportunity to utilize federal dollars for services that were traditionally prohibited by certain provisions of Title IV-E legislation. The Title IV-E waiver requires the CA to conduct and study a demonstration project. The demonstration project for Washington's Title IV-E waiver is FAR.

On January 1, 2014, the CA implemented FAR in three offices: Aberdeen, Lynwood, and Spokane. In July 2014, CA will implement FAR in five additional offices. Pending funding, the target for statewide implementation is July 2016. Under the family assessment response, families may receive an array of supportive services depending on the needs of the family. If required for child safety, some families may have access to child care services.

Early Achievers and Early Care and Education. In 2007 the Legislature enacted Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5828, which created the quality rating and improvement system for the early care and education system in Washington called Early Achievers. The Early Achievers program establishes a common set of expectations and standards that define, measure, and improve the quality of early learning and care settings. There are five levels in the Early Achievers program. All licensed or certified child care programs enter the program at level one. Participants advance to level two when they officially enroll in the Early Achievers program. At level two, participants must complete several activities such as a self-assessment and trainings. At levels three, four, and five, Early Achievers participants are evaluated and assigned a rating.

The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is the Washington State Preschool Program. ECEAP serves families at or below 110 percent of the federal poverty level. Although ECEAP prioritizes children who are four years old by August 31, children who are three years old are also eligible for the program. In addition to preschool programming, ECEAP also provides family support and health services. The stated goal of ECEAP is to help ensure children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

The Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program offers subsidies to child care providers serving families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The state pays part of the cost of child care. The parents or caregivers are responsible for making a copayment to the child care provider. Both child care centers and family home providers are able to receive WCCC subsidy payments. Children of families receiving the WCCC benefits must be less than 13 years of age or less than 19 years of age and have a verified special need or be under court supervision. The Department of Early Learning (DEL) sets child care subsidy policy and provides WCCC oversight for child care licensing. The Department of Social Health Services helps families apply for WCCC, determines eligibility and parent or caregiver copayments, authorizes child care, and issues payment to providers.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute): The family assessment response worker must assess for child safety and child wellbeing when collaborating with a family to determine the need for child care, preschool, or home visiting services.

Effective July 1, 2015, the family assessment response worker may only refer children to preschool programs that are enrolled in the Early Achievers program and rate at a level three, four, or five unless one of the following conditions applies:

the family lives in an area with no local preschool programs that rate at a level three, four, or five in the Early Achievers program;
the local preschool programs that rate at a level three, four, or five in the Early Achievers program are not able to meet the needs of the child; or
the child is attending a preschool program prior to the family assessment response case and the parent or caregiver does not want the child to change preschool programs.

Effective July 1, 2019, the family assessment response worker must only make child care referrals for nonschool-aged children to licensed child care programs that rate at a level three, four, or five in the Early Achievers program unless one of the following conditions applies:

the family lives in an area with no local programs that rate at level three, four, or five in the Early Achievers program;
the local child care programs that rate at a level three, four, or five in the Early Achievers program are not able to meet the needs of the child; or
the child is attending a child care program prior to the family assessment response case and the parent or caregiver does not want the child to change child care programs.

The family assessment response worker must make every effort to provide referrals to high-quality child care and early learning programs.

The family assessment response worker must make every effort to provide referrals to state and federally subsidized programs such as, but not limited to, licensed child care programs that receive a state subsidy through WCCC; ECEAP; head start programs; and early head start programs.

At least 15 days prior to closing the family assessment response case, the family assessment worker must meet with the child's parent or caregiver to discuss child care and early learning services. If the family plans to use child care or early learning services, the family assessment worker must work with the family to facilitate successful enrollment.

The definition of eligible child is amended to include language regarding children involved in the child welfare system.