Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-71-0836 What definitions apply to the long-term care worker training requirements? and 388-112A-0010 What definitions apply to this chapter? The department of social and health services (department) is planning on adding a new definition to these chapters and amending other related rules as required.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rules on this subject are needed because the training of home care aides is essential to the department's goal of expanding the number of long-term care workers available to serve the quickly growing number of clients that need them. The department has identified situations where some instructors are claiming they have "mentored" students, and there has been little or no supervision of the training or feedback for instructor growth. For this reason, and to assure [ensure] that students being mentored are offered the best preparation possible, the department needs to provide clarifying language to define the meaning of "being mentored."

Process for Developing New Rule: The department welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. The department will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone 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 Dave Chappell, P.O. Box 45600, Lacey, WA 98504-5600, phone 360-725-2516, email David.chappell@dshs.wa.gov.