BILL REQ. #: H-4128.1
| State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2004 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/20/2004. Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.
AN ACT Relating to collaboration among public and private providers of child welfare services; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that both the
department of social and health services and community-based agencies
play integral roles in protecting and supporting vulnerable children
and youth throughout the state. By strengthening collaboration on
decision making and service delivery, the department and community-based agencies can improve services for families by ensuring consistent
availability and implementation of programs throughout the state and
can ensure the best utilization of available funds to meet the needs of
Washington's families.
The legislature further finds that there is a growing body of
research literature on proven services for families involved in the
child welfare system. Research can and should guide funding decisions
in our communities, ensuring that proven strategies are utilized to
meet particular local needs.
It is the intent of the legislature to establish a process to
ensure collaboration of department of social and health services staff
and community-based agency staff in the provision of services to
families involved in the child welfare system with a focus on
implementing research-based practices across the state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 (1) The department of social and health
services shall convene regional and local department staff and
community-based agency staff to develop recommended policies and
protocols concerning the following:
(a) Collaborative decision making relating to both administrative
processes and services provided to families, including, but not limited
to, contracting practices, referral practices, and resource allocation;
and
(b) Integration of research-based practices into child welfare
throughout the state.
(2) The department of social and health services shall submit its
recommended policies and protocols developed pursuant to subsection (1)
of this section to the governor and the appropriate committees of the
legislature by December 1, 2004.