Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Human Services & Early Learning Committee

HB 1749

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: Establishing the child welfare housing assistance program that provides housing assistance to parents reunifying with a child and parents at risk of having a child removed.

Sponsors: Representatives Robinson, Macri, Senn, Appleton, Jinkins, Lovick, Ortiz-Self, Doglio, Stanford, Riccelli, Slatter, Valdez, Frame, Santos and Davis.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to establish a child welfare housing assistance program that provides housing vouchers, rental assistance, navigation, and other support services to eligible families.

  • Defines eligible families to include: (1) parents with a child who a court has found dependent and lack of appropriate housing is the primary remaining barrier to reunification; and (2) parents with a child who is at risk of removal by the DCYF based on a lack of appropriate housing, who will only be served if there are remaining funds for the program.

Hearing Date: 2/8/19

Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).

Background:

Child Welfare.

If an individual suspects that a child has been abused or neglected, that abuse or neglect can be reported to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Child Protective Services (CPS) office or to law enforcement. There are many individuals who are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect.

The CPS will then determine whether the report of child abuse or neglect is credible and whether the report meets the sufficiency screening criteria. If the report meets the screening criteria, CPS will assign either: (1) a 24-hour response that includes an investigation; or (2) a family assessment response for low to moderate risk allegations that requires a 72-hour response.

The DCYF, or anyone else, can file a court petition alleging that the child should be a dependent of the state due to abuse, neglect, or because no parent, guardian, or custodian is capable of adequately caring for the child. A court will hold a shelter care hearing following removal of a child from his or her home within 72 hours. At this hearing, the court will determine if the child can return home safely.

Summary of Bill:

The DCYF will establish a child welfare housing assistance program (CWHAP) that provides housing vouchers, rental assistance, navigation, and other support services to eligible families.

Families eligible for the CWHAP include: (1) parents with a child who a court has found dependent and lack of appropriate housing is the primary remaining barrier to reunification; and (2) parents with a child who is at risk of removal by DCYF based on a lack of appropriate housing, who will only be served if there are remaining funds for the program after serving all eligible families in the other eligibility category.

The DCYF must operate the program or contract with an outside entity or entities to operate the CWHAP.  If no outside entity or entities are available to operate the program or specific parts of the CWHAP, the DCYF may operate the program or the specific parts that are not operated by an outside entity.

Families may be referred to the CWHAP by a caseworker, attorney, guardian ad litem, child welfare parent mentor, office of public defense social worker, or the court.

The DCYF must convene a stakeholder group to assist the DCYF in design of the CWHAP and then provide input regarding the CWHAP. The stakeholder group must include:

The DCYF must report annually on outcomes for the CWHAP to the stakeholder group and the Oversight Board for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. 

The court must inquire whether referral to the CWHAP is appropriate during a shelter care hearing (first hearing after a child is removed from a parent) and at six-month dependency review hearings. 

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 2, 2019.

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