SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5976

BYSenators Bender, Talmadge, Murray and Bauer

Establishing early intervention projects for primary grade children with problems.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 1, 1989

Senate Staff:Susan Finkel (786-7483)

AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1983, the Legislature funded a pilot program called the primary intervention program to establish projects in at least three school districts. The projects provide school-based early intervention services for children in the primary grades who are having emotional, behavioral, or learning problems with the goal to reduce the incidence of later life problems associated with school failure.  Both professionals and paraprofessionals provide services.

SUMMARY:

The Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) develops guidelines, in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, for school-based early intervention projects to serve primarily children in kindergarten through grade three.  Parental consent is required before a child may participate and parents must be involved as part of the treatment team.  Existing or new school-based early intervention projects may receive funding under the program.

Each school-based early intervention project has a core team consisting of a children's mental health professional such as a school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor, and a staff of paraprofessionals.  One of the paraprofessionals serves as the project coordinator under the direct supervision of the mental health professional.  Responsibilities of the mental health professional and project coordinator are delineated.

School districts participating in the program must be capable of referring children to licensed public and private community health providers if such referrals are necessary and appropriate.  Referrals shall be made with the consent of the child's family.

DSHS issues to school districts a request for proposals by September 1, 1989, and contracts for a period of two years with at least three school districts to provide school-based early intervention projects no later than January 1, 1990.  Costs of the projects are 70 percent state mental health funds and 30 percent school district funds.  School sites will be selected based on:  availability of staff; evidence of future stability of the program and its personnel; representation of various economic, ethnic, and cultural populations; strong support by teaching, pupil services, and administrative school personnel and a written agreement with a community mental health licensed provider for outgoing referrals; assurance that grants will supplement existing local resources; and assurance that the project will not replace or adversely affect any existing special education program the school district is providing.

Administration, ongoing training and consultation are provided by DSHS which adopts rules to carry out the provisions of the act.  An advisory committee is created to assist DSHS in selecting, monitoring, and evaluating projects.

Appropriation:    $950,000 from the general fund to DSHS.

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 20, 1989