Brief Description: Creating programs to promote prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Sponsors: Representatives Kagi, Boldt, O'Brien, McIntire, Hunt, Schual-Berke, Shabro, Cooper, Linville, Pettigrew, Upthegrove, Moeller, Darneille, Miloscia, Dickerson, Clements, Armstrong, Orcutt, Fromhold, Delvin, Roach, Kenney, Haigh, Lovick, Chase, Santos and Hudgins.

Hearing Date: 2/17/03

Staff: Cynthia Forland (786-7152).

Background:

Prevention and early intervention programs focused on children and youth in the state are administered and funded through various state agencies, including the following:

 •    The Children's Administration in the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) contracts with community agencies for the following programs:

       •    Alternative Response Systems, which provides services to low-risk families referred to Child Protective Services;

       •    Family Preservation Services, which provides services to families whose children face substantial likelihood of being placed outside of the home or have already been placed outside of the home; and

       •    Intensive Family Preservation Services, which provides in-home therapist time to families whose children are at imminent risk of foster care placement.

 •    The Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse in the DSHS operates the Parent-Child Assistance Program, which provides referral, support, and advocacy services to high-risk substance abusing pregnant and parenting women and their young children.

 •    The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) operates the following programs:

       •    Community Mobilization Program, which supports community-designed and administered prevention, treatment, and law enforcement efforts to reduce and prevent substance abuse and violence; and

       •    Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, which provides a statewide system of comprehensive early childhood education and assistance services, through public and private contractors, to support the healthy development and future success of less advantaged children.

 •    The Department of Health (DOH), through its Injury Prevention Program, operates the Youth Suicide Prevention Program, which contracts for services and programs focused on preventing youth suicide in the state.

 •    The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) operates the Readiness to Learn program through authorizing grants to local school-linked, community-based consortia that develop and implement strategies to ensure that children arrive at school everyday ready to learn.

 •    The Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (WCPCAN) funds primary prevention programs, which are designed to inhibit or preclude the initial occurrence of child abuse and neglect.

Summary of Bill:

The DSHS, the CTED, the DOH, the OSPI, and the WCPCAN are each required to establish and implement uniform criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs that are either state-operated or contracted.

The uniform funding criteria must mandate that all funded programs, at a minimum:

 •    Define clear, measurable outcomes;

 •    Are research-based;

 •    Can demonstrate their anticipated cost- effectiveness;

 •    Can demonstrate broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and

 •    Conduct an evaluation of their program outcomes.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy is required to conduct a review of existing research to identify specific research-proven prevention and early intervention programs that produce a positive return on the dollar compared to the cost of the program, and identify possible mechanisms for funding such programs.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 12, 2003.

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