[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the quality of foster care services; amending RCW 74.13.270; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; and recodifying RCW 74.13.290, 74.14A.050, 74.13.320, 74.13.325, 74.14B.020, 74.13.250, 74.13.310, 74.13.260, 74.13.280, 74.13.285, 74.13.300, 74.13.330, 74.13.270, 74.13.315, 74.13.335, 74.13.340, and 74.14B.080.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW, to be codified after RCW 74.13.230 under the subchapter heading "Foster Care", to read as follows:

The legislature finds that children and youth in foster care deserve to be provided with a safe, secure, and stable home along with the compassion and nurture of a foster family. The legislature recognizes that foster families open their homes and hearts to children whose families are in crisis, play a vital role in helping children and families heal and reconnect, and in launching children into successful adulthood.

Children in foster care deserve to be in homes that meet high quality standards that are assured through accountability. It is the intent of the legislature that children in foster care are supported in homes that meet their needs, and that foster parents are supported.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW, to be codified after RCW 74.13.010, to read as follows:

The legislature finds that accreditation by an independent entity improves the quality of services provided to children and families. Accreditation demonstrates an ongoing commitment to nationally recognized standards of best practice in child welfare and provides accountability for achieving outcome goals. Accreditation provides assurance that the organization delivers effective services that meet community needs.

Accreditation is a structured process designed to facilitate organizational change and improvement. Accreditation means persons served can expect greater participation in decisions that affect their cases, improved case management and documentation, and improved internal operations and accountability. Accreditation improves relationships with biological parents, foster and adoptive parents, providers, the courts, and members of the community.

The accreditation process promotes organizational improvement through the application of several strategies, including but not limited to:

(1) Appropriate caseworker ratios;

(2) Aggressive recruitment and retention of foster parents;

(3) Improved responsiveness to foster parents;

(4) Provision of appropriate reunification services to birth families;

(5) Development of positive outcome goals and compliance with customer service standards; and

(6) Establishing the principle that all parts of the services system will respond consistently, positively, and timely.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW, to be codified after section 2 of this act, to read as follows:

In recognition of the value of accreditation in improving the child welfare services system, the legislature supports the department's efforts to seek full accreditation of all children's administration offices and establishes a goal of achieving accreditation by an independent entity by July 1, 2006.

Sec. 4. RCW 74.13.270 and 1990 c 284 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature recognizes the need for temporary short-term relief for foster parents who care for children with emotional, mental, or physical handicaps. For purposes of this section, respite care means appropriate, temporary, short-term care for these foster children placed with licensed foster parents. The purpose of this care is to give the foster parents temporary relief from the stresses associated with the care of these foster children.

(2) The legislature recognizes the need for respite care under subsection (1) of this section for foster parents who care for children in foster care placements longer than ninety days.

(3) The department shall design a program of respite care that will minimize disruptions to the child and will serve foster parents within these priorities, based on input from foster parents, foster parent associations, and reliable research if available. The respite care program shall provide that foster parents who care for children in foster care longer than ninety days will be eligible for at least three days of respite care per month per foster family. The respite care program shall make payments directly to respite care providers on behalf of the foster parents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW, to be codified after RCW 74.13.325, to read as follows:

The legislature recognizes that children and youth entering foster care have more complex needs than in the past. New service models are needed to address these needs. The department is instructed to explore proven and effective professional foster care projects nationwide and to adopt such models to meet the needs and capacity of the state foster care system. The professional foster care models should focus on increasing the recruitment and retention of quality foster care settings, and, where appropriate, should focus on the hardest to serve children in foster care.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. RCW 74.13.290, 74.14A.050, 74.13.320, and 74.13.325 are each recodified as sections in chapter 74.13 RCW. These recodified sections are to be placed after section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. RCW 74.14B.020, 74.13.250, 74.13.310, 74.13.260, 74.13.280, 74.13.285, 74.13.300, 74.13.330, 74.13.270, 74.13.315, 74.13.335, 74.13.340, and 74.14B.080 are each recodified as sections in chapter 74.13 RCW. These recodified sections are to be placed after section 5 of this act.