PDFRCW 43.20C.005

Intent.

(1) The legislature intends that prevention and intervention services delivered to children and juveniles in the areas of mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice be primarily evidence-based and research-based, and it is anticipated that such services will be provided in a manner that is culturally competent.
(2) The legislature also acknowledges that baseline information is not presently available regarding the extent to which evidence-based and research-based practices are presently available and in use in the areas of children's mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice; the cost of those practices; and the most effective strategies and appropriate time frames for expecting their broader use. Thus, it would be wise to establish baseline data regarding the use and availability of evidence-based and research-based practices.
(3) It is the intent of the legislature that increased use of evidence-based and research-based practices be accomplished to the extent possible within existing resources by coordinating the purchase of evidence-based services, the development of a trained workforce, and the development of unified and coordinated case plans to provide treatment in a coordinated and consistent manner.
(4) The legislature recognizes that in order to effectively provide evidence-based and research-based practices, contractors should have a workforce trained in these programs, and outcomes from the use of these practices should be monitored.
[ 2012 c 232 s 1.]