Brief Description: Revising the definition of out-of-home placement.

Sponsors: Representatives Kagi, Boldt, Darneille, Miloscia, Pettigrew, Roach, Dickerson, Fromhold, Talcott, Shabro, Pearson and Bailey.

Hearing Date: 2/2/04

Staff: Cynthia Forland (786-7152).

Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to be the lead administrative agency for preservation services, which consist of family preservation services and intensive family preservation services.

Family preservation services are in-home or community-based services drawing on the strengths of the family and its individual members while addressing family needs to strengthen and keep the family together, where possible, and may include the following:

 •    respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents and other caregivers;

 •    services designed to improve parenting skills with respect to such matters as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, safety, and nutrition; and

 •    services designed to promote the well-being of children and families, increase the strength and stability of families, increase parents' confidence and competence in their parenting abilities, promote a safe, stable, and supportive family environment for children, and otherwise enhance children's development.

Intensive family preservation services are community-based services that are delivered primarily in the home and follow intensive service models with demonstrated effectiveness in reducing or avoiding the need for unnecessary imminent out-of-home placement.

The DSHS may provide preservation services directly and is required, within available funds, to enter into outcome-based, competitive contracts with social service agencies to provide preservation services, provided that those agencies meet measurable standards, which must include, but not be limited to, satisfactory performance in the following areas:

 •    the number of families appropriately connected to community resources;

 •    avoidance of new referrals accepted by the DSHS for child protective services or family reconciliation services within one year of the most recent case closure by the DSHS;

 •    consumer satisfaction;

 •    for reunification cases, reduction in the length of stay in out-of-home placement; and

 •    reduction in the level of risk factors specified by the DSHS.

With respect to family preservation services, out-of-home placement is defined by law as placement in a licensed foster family home or group care facility or placement in a home, other than that of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian, not required to be licensed.

Summary of Bill:

The definition of out-of-home placement relating to preservation services is limited to placement in a licensed foster family home or group care facility.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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