SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5803

BYSenators Smith, Fleming, Bailey, Vognild, Warnke, Johnson and Talmadge

Requiring that race or ethnic and cultural heritage be considered in adoptions and foster care placement.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 21, 1989; March 1, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Smith, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Vognild.

Senate Staff:Alice Zaleski (786-7755)

                  March 2, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Minority children comprise about 29 percent of all children who are placed in out-of-home care.  This rate is three times the prevalence of minorities in the general population.  The Department of Social and Health Services reports a growing shortage of culturally appropriate foster care and adoptive families for minority children.

The department's current recordkeeping methods do not include data necessary to determine the appropriateness of services to minority children and to report to the federal government for funding purposes.

SUMMARY:

A state policy is declared to serve the interests of children by considering a child's race and ethnic heritage in making foster care and adoptive placements.

The statutes related to adoption, dependency and families in conflict are modified to require child-placing agencies to give preference to a child's race, ethnic heritage or religion in making placements.

Child-placing agencies are required to use special efforts to recruit placement homes from the child's relatives or among families of the same ethnic, racial or religious heritage.

Intercounty adoptions are those in which a child is adopted by order of a Washington court and with authorization from a sovereign nation.

The department's duties are expanded to include compilation of statistical information regarding the placement preferences as to race and ethnic heritage.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 17, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Penny Vederoff, Interracial Family Assoc.; Kristin McMullen, citizen; Eric Pettigrew, Washington State Alliance for Children, Youth and Families; Anita Dixon-Thomas, Washington State Association of Black Social Workers; Shirley Caldwell, Odessa Brown Clinic; Bob Watt, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families; Justina Guyott, citizen; Robin Prentice, Medina Children's Services; Katharine Briar, Department of Social and Health Services; Margaret Casey, Washington State Catholic Conference