SENATE BILL REPORT

2SHB 1841

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Children & Family Services & Corrections, April 4, 2003

Title: An act relating to the funding of prevention and early intervention services.

Brief Description: Establishing funding criteria for prevention and early intervention services.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by 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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Children & Family Services & Corrections: 4/2/03, 4/4/03 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Stevens, Chair; Parlette, Vice Chair; Carlson, Deccio, Hargrove, McAuliffe and Regala.

Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)

Background: The Children's Administration in the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) administers the following prevention and early intervention programs focused on children and youth in the state:

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

       •    Family Reconciliation Services, which provides voluntary services devoted to maintaining the family as a unit and preventing adolescents from being placed outside of the home;

       •    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;

       •    Intensive Family Preservation Services, which provides in-home therapist time to families whose children are at imminent risk of being placed outside of the home;

       •    Continuum of Care, which provides early intervention services to low-risk families designed to be appropriate, accessible, and sensitive to the population served;

       •    Community Public Health and Safety Networks, which provide community-based services for reducing child abuse and neglect, youth violence, youth substance abuse, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, school dropout, and teen suicide;

       •    Parent Trust Programs, which provide child abuse and neglect prevention services to families throughout the state; and

       •    Public Health Nurse Early Intervention Program, which provides trained public health nurses for voluntary in-home nursing services that can prevent the need for more intrusive Division of Children and Family Services interventions in at-risk families with young children.

Summary of Amended Bill: The Family Policy Council must identify and implement criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs that are either state-operated or contracted. The Department of Social and Health Services Children's Administration incorporates the funding criteria into contracts and operating policies within existing resources. The criteria must require that funded programs, at a minimum: define clear, measurable outcomes; identify research that may be applicable; identify anticipated cost-effectiveness; describe broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and provide data related to program outcomes. The Family Policy Council must collect and analyze the program data and make the data and the analysis available.

"Prevention and early intervention services and programs" include, but are not limited to, the following or their successors: Alternate Response System, Family Reconciliation Services, Family Preservation Services, Intensive Family Preservation Services, Continuum of Care, Parent Trust Programs, and the Public Health Nurse Early Intervention Program.

Nothing in the act may be construed to create: an entitlement to services; judicial authority to order the provision of services to any person or family if the services are unavailable or unsuitable, or the child or family is not eligible for such services; or a private right of action or claim on the part of any individual, entity, or agency.

Amended Bill Compared to Second Substitute Bill: The Family Policy Council is given the responsibility to identify and recommend criteria for funding prevention and early intervention programs.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Prevention programs are vulnerable during times of budget cuts. It is important that data be provided on programs that save the state money. Where state dollars are being spent, agencies and programs must be accountable for results.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Representative Ruth Kagi, prime sponsor; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Margie Reeves, Thurston County Community Network; Seth Dawson, Deaconess Children's Hospital; Nancy Taft, Department of Social and Health Services, Children's Administration; Linda McDaniels, Parent Trust; Delight Roberts, Children's Alliance; Mary Kenfield, WA St. PTA; Margie Reeves, Community Networks.