SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6127
BYSenators Stratton, Talmadge and Niemi
Establishing the department of children and family services.
Senate Committee on Children & Family Services
Senate Hearing Date(s):January 13, 1988
Senate Staff:Jean Soliz (786-7755)
AS OF JANUARY 11, 1988
BACKGROUND:
The children's service delivery system suffers from a lack of comprehensive planning. Each year there is an increasing amount of fragmentation and a lessening accountability regarding the effectiveness of services. Case planning and monitoring are considered inadequate.
In 1977 juvenile code revisions were enacted to develop services and avoid institutionalizing non-offender juveniles. Although runaways are no longer treated as criminals, alternative residential programs have not been created. Many adolescents are on the streets or in temporary care, with little chance of permanent placement.
The Child Protective Services and Child Welfare Services divisions of the Department of Social and Health Services are extremely overloaded and emphasize crisis intervention instead of prevention and treatment. The result is an ever-increasing caseload and a correlative decrease in effectiveness.
The Legislature has made numerous revisions to achieve more efficiency in the provision of services to children, but these measures have not resulted in an improvement to the overall system.
SUMMARY:
A Department of Children and Family Services is created as of July 1, 1988. The new Department will include the existing Division of Children and Family Services, the Division of Juvenile Rehabilitation, and the Divisions of Mental Health, Health and Alcohol and Substance Abuse to the extent that they serve children.
The Department shall develop and operate a comprehensive and integrated statewide program of services spanning the entire continuum of care to children, youth and their families.
A central case management system shall be developed to provide coordinated information on each child. A case plan must be written for each child. The individual plans must be designed to achieve any required out-of-home placement in the least restrictive setting possible and in close proximity to the child's home, and each plan shall be reviewed every six months.
A nine member advisory council on children and family services is established to recommend programs and legislation, to serve as a liaison to the communities, and to issue an annual report to the Governor concerning its activities and any recommendations.
Each county is authorized to submit a biennial needs assessment and service plan that incorporates all services provided by the county consistent with state minimum standards. The Department will provide grants to the counties based on the plans. The counties will contract with and monitor local service providers with at least 95 percent of their state grant. Portions of the remaining 5 percent may be used for community pilot projects, including prevention and early intervention programs. The remainder is to be used for emergencies, technical assistance and staffing costs.
A Juvenile Disposition Standards Commission is created within the new Department of Children and Family Services to propose disposition standards to the Legislature. A separate Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee is established in accordance with federal law to analyse problems related to juvenile delinquency and to advise the Governor and the Legislature regarding prevention and programs.
The Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect is moved from the executive office of the Governor and placed under the new Department of Children and Family Services.
The Governor is to appoint a Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, after consultation with the advisory council. The Secretary is to develop a biennial program plan that incorporates county needs assessments and service plans. The Secretary is authorized to develop a six-year state children and family services long-range plan.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: requested January 5, 1988