BILL REQ. #:  H-2128.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/23/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to promoting more efficient and prompt relative searches for children requiring out-of-home placement in dependency proceedings; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that children needing out-of-home placement in dependency and termination proceedings are often best served when they are placed with relatives or other suitable persons with whom they have a positive relationship. The legislature further finds that state and federal law recognizes the potential benefit to children of being placed with appropriate relatives and other suitable persons. The legislature also finds that in order to best support the child and reduce the likelihood of multiple placements, the search for potential placements for a child should be prompt, efficient, comprehensive, and conducted at the earliest indication the child has been, or is likely to be, removed from home by court order. The legislature intends to increase the efficiency and expedite the search process for relatives and other suitable persons who may be placement options for a child by directing the department of social and health services to enter into a performance contract with a service provider in one demonstration region.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall contract in one demonstration region for a relative search service provider, with the goal of earlier identification of more persons who can be appropriate and stable placement options for children in dependency or termination proceedings. The department shall select the region with the lowest rate of relative placements as of the effective date of this act. The terms of the performance contract shall:
     (a) Specify that the search process shall seek to identify relatives, as described in RCW 74.15.020(2)(a) and other suitable persons as described in RCW 13.34.130(1)(b) at the earliest indication the child is or will be in need of an out-of-home placement;
     (b) Describe the methods to be used by the department and the contractor for gathering preliminary information about the child, the family, and significant relationships, including a process for gathering and documenting preliminary information from the parents and the child, unless by virtue of age or disability, the child is unable to communicate such information;
     (c) Include processes and timelines for the contractor to provide the names of all persons identified during the search process, whether successfully contacted or not, as possible placement options for a child;
     (d) Describe how the contractor shall make the initial contact with a potential placement resource, as well as how the information from the initial contact will be transmitted to the department for further review and a final determination of whether the potential placement resource meets minimum criteria for a child's out-of-home placement under chapter 13.34 RCW, and whether the department will seek court approval for such placement based on the child's best interests;
     (e) Describe the performance outcomes to be measured under the contract, the majority of which must directly relate to earlier identification of appropriate and stable placement options for children needing out-of-home care in dependency or termination proceedings; and
     (f) Include any other elements necessary to comply with state or federal laws or to assure that performance under the contract is aligned with other elements of child protection and child welfare practices, including state and agency policies for the health, safety, and well-being of children.
     (2) The department may incorporate the contract required under this section with another performance contract if doing so is likely to result in improved administrative efficiencies or improved outcomes for children.
     (3) The department shall brief the governor and the legislature by September 1, 2010, regarding performance under the contract and recommend whether and how the same or similar approach to the search for relatives and other suitable persons should be expanded to other regions of the state.