Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Early Learning & Human Services Committee |
SB 6407
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 Description: Concerning private case management of child welfare services.
Sponsors: Senator Darneille; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/16/18
Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).
Background:
Supervising Agencies Performing Child Welfare Services.
Child welfare services must be provided in certain demonstration sites by supervising agencies with whom the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has entered into performance-based contracts by December 30, 2019. Supervising agencies are defined as an agency licensed to care for children on a 24-hour basis that has entered into a performance-based contract with the DCYF to provide child welfare services.
In these demonstration sites, the DCYF is only responsible for:
monitoring the quality of services for which the DCYF contracts;
ensuring the services are provided in accordance with state and federal law;
providing child protection functions including intake and investigation of allegations of child abuse or neglect, emergency shelter care functions, and referrals to appropriate providers; and
issuing licenses for foster homes.
In the demonstration sites, the DCYF may provide child welfare services only:
for the limited purpose of establishing a control group, with input from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP), for research comparison purposes; or
in an emergency or as a provider of last resort.
The demonstration sites for providing child welfare services through supervising agencies were identified by the Child Welfare Transformation Design Committee (CWTDC). The CWTDC included representatives from the Children's Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services, other state agencies, private agencies, stakeholders, the Indian Policy Advisory Committee, and superior court judges. The CWTDC first met in 2009 and selected two demonstration sites in 2011. The western Washington demonstration sites selected were in Everett, Lynnwood, Sky Valley, Smokey Point, and two offices in Seattle. The eastern Washington demonstration sites selected were in Clarkston, Colfax, Moses Lake, and Spokane.
Children whose cases are managed by a supervising agency remain under the care and placement authority of the state.
The DCYF must give primary preference for performance-based contracts to private nonprofit entities, including federally recognized Indian tribes located in the state.
The WSIPP must provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the outcomes of the supervising agencies by April 1, 2023. No later than June 1, 2023, the Governor must determine whether to expand the demonstration sites to the rest of the state or terminate them based on the WSIPP report.
Summary of Bill:
The requirement that child welfare services be provided by supervising agencies such as private nonprofit entities in demonstration sites beginning December 30, 2019 is eliminated. The WSIPP report on the outcomes related to supervising agencies is eliminated. The requirement that the Governor determine whether to expand the demonstration sites is also eliminated.
References to supervising agencies are removed from statute.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.