Background: Home visiting programs deliver services to children and families in the home and aim to alleviate the effects of various risk factors on child development. In 2007 the Legislature directed the Council for Children and Families to develop a plan with the Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Health, and the Department of Early Learning (DEL) to coordinate or consolidate home visitation services.

In 2006 the Legislature created a nongovernmental private-public partnership to focus on supporting the government's investments in early learning and ensuring that every child in the state is prepared to succeed in school and in life. This partnership is known as Thrive by Five Washington.

Summary of Bill: The Home Visiting Services Account (Account) is created in the custody of the State Treasurer. Revenues to the Account must consist of appropriations by the Legislature and all other sources. Only the director of DEL or the designee may authorize expenditures, and only after private funds are committed and available.

Expenditures from the Account must be used for state matching funds to implement home visiting services and to administer the infrastructure to develop, support, and evaluate evidence- and research-based promising programs. Activities eligible for funding through the Account include, but are not limited to:

home visiting services that enhance child development and well-being by alleviating the effects of poverty and other risk factors; reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect; or promoting school readiness; and
development and maintenance of the infrastructure for home visiting programs, including training, quality improvement, and evaluation.

Beginning July 1, 2010, DEL must contract with the nongovernmental private-public partnership to administer programs funded through the Account. DEL must monitor performance and provide periodic reports on use outcomes. The partnership must fund programs through a competitive bid process and convene an advisory committee of early learning and home visiting experts to advise on research and the distribution of funds.

To provide for continuity, the programs currently funded must continue to be funded through June 30, 2012, based on availability of funds and the achievement of stated performance goals. Organizations that may receive program funding include local health departments; nonprofit, neighborhood-based, community, regional, or statewide organizations; and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: We have done a good job of building home visiting programs and creating a network across the state. However, there has been a cut to home visiting programs. This year we have been trying to figure out a way to expand the voluntary programs we have and were approached by private investors interested in a matching fund. We have other successful models in this state for public-private partnership accounts. This model could strengthen home visiting. It allows us to leverage private dollars with public dollars, and would give us an opportunity to double the number of programs and families served. The cornerstone of early learning is to build on home visiting. First Relationships is a home visiting model, that is effective by getting into the home right after the baby comes home from the hospital. Many of these parents don’t have a role model. Many of the babies would end up in foster care without help. Parents as Teachers would be impacted by account. The program is just hitting the tip of iceberg; the majority of its programs have waiting lists. The families in the Nurse Family Partnership are low income, first-time mothers, whose own lives have not given them good examples for how to be parents. The need is great. Families are facing domestic violence and homelessness. There is a risk to children of young, single moms. If we can support these children early on in their lives we can make a real difference. The outcome of home visiting that is of most interest to law enforcement is the reduction of child abuse and neglect. Children who are abused are far more likely to commit abuse as adults, and the cycle continues. Being abused and neglected sharply increases the risk the child will grow up and be arrested. We need to reach kids before they go to kindergarten. Home visiting programs save money because of reduced crime, higher academic performance, higher graduation rates, and reduced abuse. Home visiting serves parents and children. You can't change child’s life without working with the parents. Long-term outcomes show a decrease in alcohol and substance abuse and criminal activity in both parents and children. Parenting education allows parents to realize goals that they wouldn’t be able to with all the other crises facing them. The development of implementation training is invaluable to implementing evidence-based programs. Use evidence-based models as much as possible. United Way is willing to put its money where its mouth is, and knows early learning will make the difference. Despite the most challenging budget in many years, Thrive by Five looks forward to working with partners to reach as many children and families as possible.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Kagi, prime sponsor; Laura Wells, Shelton Chief Terry Davenport, Centralia Chief Bob Berg, Fight Crime Invest in Kids; Cathy Garland, Children’s Home Society; Kathy Zeisel, Parent’s Trust for Washington’s Children; Linda Clark, Family Education for Support Services; Sandy Long, United Way of Clallum County; Helen Myrick, Connie Ladenburg, United Way of Pierce County; Kelly Phanco, First Five Fundamentals; Lois Schipper, Public Health Seattle King County; Beth Wilson, Tacoma, Pierce County Health Department; Molly Boyajian, Thrive by Five.