Passed by the House February 12, 2024 Yeas 97 Nays 0 Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate March 1, 2024 Yeas 49 Nays 0 President of the Senate	CERTIFICATE I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1970 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. Chief Clerk Chief Clerk
Approved	FILED
	Secretary of State State of Washington

ByHouse Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning (originally sponsored by Representatives McClintock, Couture, Waters, Graham, Cheney, Sandlin, Harris, and Caldier)

AN ACT Relating to improving communication between the department of children, youth, and families and caregivers; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

The department shall establish a caregiver communication specialist position within the department for the purpose of improving communication between the department and caregivers. The caregiver communication specialist position established in this section is responsible for:

(1) Developing policies for sharing appropriate and timely information with caregivers of children receiving child welfare services; and

(2) Supporting coordination between existing caregiver engagement teams, constituent relations, communications specialists, and child welfare field offices.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) By October 1, 2025, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department of children, youth, and families shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the governor describing:

(a) How the department of children, youth, and families could implement an automated notification system that would provide electronic or telephonic notifications to caregivers of children receiving child welfare services regarding upcoming changes in placements for the child, court hearings, or other relevant and appropriate information;

(b) Any statutory, policy, or funding changes needed to accomplish the automated notification system described in (a) of this subsection; and

(c) Recommendations regarding improving communications between the department of children, youth, and families and caregivers. The department shall consult with the caregiver communication specialist established in section 1 of this act, current and former caregivers, and youth who received or are receiving child welfare services regarding the recommendations required under this subsection.