HB 1493-S2.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Provides that, in order to adequately and effectively address the complex issues confronting homeless children and their families, planning for, implementing, and evaluating such services must be a collaborative effort between the department of community, trade, and economic development and the department of social and health services, other local, state, and federal agencies, and community organizations.

     Declares an intent that children should not be placed or retained in the foster care system if homelessness is the primary reason for placement or the continuation of their placement.  It is the further intent that services to homeless children and their families shall be provided within funds appropriated for that specific purpose by the legislature in the operating and capital budgets.

     Declares that CTED shall be the principal state department responsible for providing shelter and housing services to homeless children and their families.  The department shall develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan to serve homeless children and their families.  The plan shall be developed collaboratively with the department of social and health services.  The departments shall include community organizations involved in the delivery of services to homeless children and their families, and experts in the development and ongoing evaluation of the plan.

     Requires the plan to address at least the following:  (1) The need for prevention assistance;

     (2) the need for emergency shelter;

     (3) the need for transitional assistance to aid families into permanent housing;

     (4) the need for linking services with shelter or housing; and

     (5) the need for ongoing monitoring of the efficiency and effectiveness of the plan's design and implementation.

     Directs the Washington state  institute for public policy to review the effectiveness of the HOPE centers and the responsible living skills programs.  The study shall include the characteristics of the youth being served, the services offered to participating youth, the success of permanent placement of youth, the number of youth participating in each program, the number of youth who successfully complete the responsible living skills program, educational achievement of participants, employment history of participants, the outcomes for youth who have progressed through the programs, and other measures that the institute deems helpful in determining the measurable outcomes of this act.

     Requires the review to be submitted to the legislature and the governor not later than December 1, 2001.