SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESHB 1390

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES,

                                 APRIL 5, 1991

Brief Description:  Creating a community mobilization program for teens.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Hine, Leonard, Winsley, Belcher, Holland, Prentice, Jones, Sprenkle, Fraser, Brekke, H. Myers, Anderson, Riley, Heavey, Inslee, R. Meyers, Dorn, Cooper, G. Fisher, Basich, Pruitt, Bray, Franklin, Phillips, Valle, Roland, Rasmussen, Scott, Dellwo, Sheldon, O'Brien, Jacobsen, Wang and Rayburn).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chairman; Craswell, Stratton, and Talmadge. 

Staff:  Jan Sharar (786‑7747)

Hearing Dates:March 28, 1991; April 5, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Teenagers who drop out of school are at increased risk of living in poverty as adults.  Similarly, teen mothers are more likely to drop out of school, become separated or divorced, and live in poverty as an adult.  Children of teen parents often accomplish lower academic achievement and repeat their mother's behavior of early child bearing.

SUMMARY:

A grant program is established in the Department of Social and Health Services to fund six community-based projects for teenagers.  The programs will offer health screening and referrals; employment search and job training; mental health counseling; substance abuse treatment; and family counseling.  Health screening and referrals cannot include the distribution of contraceptives.  Pregnant teenagers must be referred to programs through the community mobilization projects which primarily emphasize healthy birth outcomes.  Additional service needs at the community level may be addressed through the projects or through referral to other organizations. 

A local match is required for projects funded through this act.  Projects may be funded for two-year periods within available funds. 

An independent evaluation of the six projects is required by December 1, 1993, and in every odd numbered year thereafter.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  July 1, 1991

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Funding provided shall not be expended for contraceptive or abortion referrals or services.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The local focus in social programs has worked in the past.  The approach is similar to existing successful teen programs.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  FOR:  Representative Lorraine Hine, original sponsor; Sheila Smith, Ruth Dykeman Center; Ken Bertrand, Group Health; Peter Berlinger, Children's Alliance; Teresa Rafael, Children's Home Society; Ruth Kagi, Seattle Commission on Children and Youth; Larry Fehr, Washington Council on Crime and Delinquency