SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6537

BYSenators Smith, Stratton, Vognild, Bailey, Craswell and Rasmussen

Providing for foster care reform and making appropriations.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 16, 1990; January 22, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6537 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     Signed by Senators Smith, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Stratton, Vognild.

Senate Staff:Jan Sharar (786-7747)

                January 25, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 5, 1990; February 6, 1990

Majority Report:     That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6537 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Smith, Talmadge, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Karen Hayes (786-7711)

                February 7, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Due to reports of deterioration in the foster care program and alarming foster care budget overruns, the Governor established a Task Force on Foster Care to review the foster care delivery system and department policies.  The report included 20 recommendations regarding the foster care delivery system.

The United States Congress published a report by the United States General Accounting Office, "Foster Parents Recruiting and Preservice Training Practices Need Evaluation," that has many recommendations concerning training, teamwork, reimbursement rates, respite care and recruitment.

Experts believe foster parents should be assisted in developing their ability to care for more difficult children with emotional and physical handicaps.

Experts also believe preservice and continuing training of foster parents is key to creating a stable and high quality foster care system.  Quality assurance can also be enhanced through a regular sample on-site monitoring program which is designed to identify problems and obstacles to better care.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to offer mandatory preservice training for licensed foster parent applicants.  DSHS must monitor a minimum of 10 percent of licensed family foster homes.

DSHS shall contract for a comprehensive evaluation of protective services, child welfare services and foster care programs on an ongoing basis.  DSHS is to develop a program for respite care for foster parents who care for special needs children.

Whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care by DSHS or by an agency, DSHS and the agency may share information about the child with the care provider.  Confidentiality provisions are included.

To provide stability for the child, DSHS is instructed, within certain limitations, to consider the initial placement of the child as the only placement.  To minimize disruption, DSHS must, within certain limitations, notify the foster family at least five days prior to the planned removal of the child from the foster home.

Additional training must be offered to foster parents who are willing to care for children with special needs.

DSHS is required to consider the wishes of the natural parent regarding family constellation, ethnicity and religion when placing a child in foster care.

The basic rates for family foster care and receiving home care are increased by an average of 15 percent.  Private child placement agency administration rates are increased by an average of 50 percent.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

References made to children with "special needs" are removed and replaced with "emotional, mental or physical handicaps."

References made to licensed foster care applicants are changed to foster care applicants.

DSHS is required to hire an administrator for a statewide recruitment program for foster care and adoptive homes.  Expansion of the foster adopt program is mandated statewide.  DSHS is required to assist foster and adoptive agencies with printing of materials.  A report to the Legislature on why foster parents leave the program is required by December 1991.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The appropriation of $5,993,500 is removed and Sections 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 20 are made contingent upon funding in the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    available

Effective Date:July 1, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified:   CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES:  FOR:  Greg Holmquist; Barrett Knudsen; NEUTRAL:  Jim Legaz and Darlene Flowers, Catholic Community Services; Bonnie Northcott, Linda Holcomb, Carla Ashton, Josef Shaffer, Clark County Foster Parents Association; James Upton; Katharine Briar, DSHS

Senate Committee - Testified:   WAYS & MEANS:  Julia Calhoun, Foster Parents Association (pro); Katherine Briar, DSHS (neutral); Judy Golphenee, Foster Parents Association (pro)