SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6694

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 3, 2000

Title:  An act relating to establishing a foster parent retention pilot program.

Brief Description:  Halting sexual acting out and offending behaviors in foster care.

Sponsors:  Senators Wojahn, Swecker, T. Sheldon, Hargrove, Long, Oke, Winsley and Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/3/2000 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Sheahan, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Jinnah Rose-McFadden (786-7444)

Background:  Concerns have been raised that foster parents do not receive proper support from Child Protective Services, leading to problems retaining foster parents who are willing and able to care for difficult and sexually aggressive children.

Summary of Bill:  The foster parent retention pilot program is established to retain foster parents who care for sexually aggressive children.  The program is run by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for two years.

Foster families taking part in the program are provided with direct services, including emergency assistance and training.

DCFS must prepare an evaluation of the program and present its findings before the appropriate legislative committees by December, 2001.  The evaluation must analyze:  the retention rate of foster parents taking part in the program, as compared to other foster parents caring for sexually aggressive children; the number of incidents of molestation by children in the program; and the estimated savings to the state.

Appropriation:  $330,000.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Foster parents feel isolated.  Case workers and counselors are not always available and, due to confidentiality requirements, foster parents cannot talk with friends or family about problems they are having with their foster children.

Children who act out sexually are particularly difficult and require constant supervision.  The isolation issues, coupled with the stress of caring for a child around the clock, lead many foster parents to leave the foster care system. 

Foster parents who care for children who act out sexually need more support and training.

Testimony Against:  This program is costly and does not provide anything new.  A task force has recently been assembled by the Children's Administration to address the foster parent retention problem.  In addition, foster parents who care for children who act out sexually are currently required to meet additional training requirements.

Testified:  PRO:  Rose Stidham, Metro Development Council; Nancy Bennett, foster parent.  CON: Jacob Romo, DSHS/CA.