Background:

In 2015 legislation created the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs (Office) at the Department of Commerce (COM). With the establishment of the Office, programs serving homeless and unaccompanied youth, including crisis residential centers (CRC) and HOPE centers, were transferred from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to the COM. The COM may adopt rules related to the administration or CRCs and HOPE centers.

Crisis Residential Centers.

A CRC is a short-term secure or semi-secure facility providing a temporary residence for runaway youth and adolescents in conflict with their families. Counselors at a CRC work with the family to resolve the immediate conflict and may refer the family for additional services. At the request of the child or parent, a CRC administrator may convene a multidisciplinary team to assist with coordination and delivery of services to the family. The DSHS must be notified when: (1) a child is transported to a CRC by law enforcement; and (2) a child leaves a CRC without authorization.

HOPE Centers.

HOPE centers provide temporary residence and services for street youth under the age of 18. Youth residing in a HOPE center receive a comprehensive assessment that may include referrals and permanency planning. A HOPE center administrator must accompany a resident who leaves the facility to attend school or other necessary appointments. The DSHS must approve payment for a HOPE center bed for a dependent youth.

Summary:

The DSHS may disclose confidential child welfare records for youth in foster care to the COM and its contracted providers. Records may be disclosed for the purpose of ensuring the safety and welfare of foster youth who are admitted to CRCs and HOPE centers under contract with the Office. Records used for these purposes must remain confidential and may not be disclosed further by the COM and its contractors.

Notification to the DSHS regarding: (a) law enforcement's transport of a child to a CRC; and (b) unauthorized leave from a CRC by a child, is only required in cases where the child is in the care of or receiving services from the DSHS Children's Administration.

Responsibility for adopting rules related to CRC licensing is transferred from the COM to the DSHS. Language is clarified to update the terms "secretary" and "department" to reference the DSHS with respect to rules and licensing for CRCs and HOPE centers. Responsibility for requesting state agency participation on multidisciplinary teams serving children and parents is transferred from the CRC administrator to the COM. The COM must provide information about state agency participation on the team to the CRC administrator. A CRC administrator, rather than the COM, may establish rules related to the hours a resident may come and go from a CRC.

The requirement for a HOPE center administrator to accompany a resident leaving the HOPE center to attend school or other necessary appointments is removed. HOPE center administrators may establish rules allowing residents to come and go from the facility at reasonable hours. Administrators may require that a resident leaving the facility:

be accompanied by a facility administrator or designee; and
notify the administrator of his or her intent to leave, intended destination, and probable time of his or her return to the facility.

Approval by the DSHS for payment for a HOPE center bed for a dependent youth is no longer required.

The DSHS, rather than the COM, is authorized to file a petition in juvenile court for a child in need of services.

House	96	2
Senate	49	0