S-1855.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6056

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Long, Hargrove, Costa, Stevens and Kohl‑Welles)

READ FIRST TIME 02/26/01.

Providing for department of social and health services coordination of services for children and families in child dependency cases.

    AN ACT Relating to the department of social and health services coordination of services for children and families in child dependency cases; adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The department of social and health services serves parents and children with multiple needs, which cannot be resolved in isolation.  Further, the complexity of service delivery systems is a barrier for families in crisis when a child is removed or a parent is removed from the home.  The department must undertake efforts to streamline the delivery of services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:

    The department of social and health services shall develop methods for coordination of services to parents and children in child dependency cases.  To the maximum extent possible under current funding levels, the department must:

    (1) Coordinate and integrate services to children and families, using service plans and activities that address the children's and families' multiple needs.  Assessment criteria should screen for multiple needs;

    (2) Develop treatment plans for the individual needs of the client in a manner that minimizes the number of contacts the client is required to make; and

    (3) Access training for department staff to increase skills across disciplines to assess needs for mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and other areas.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The department of social and health services shall report to the legislature regarding its methods for coordination of services under the provisions of this act.  The department must provide the report to the legislature with the reports required under kidscreen in RCW 74.14A.050(4).

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