BILL REQ. #:  H-3736.1 

Prefiled 1/5/2006. Read first time 01/09/2006.   Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

     AN ACT Relating to mental health consultation services for child care programs; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there is compelling evidence demonstrating that young children who experience high-quality early learning programs are more self-confident and have better language skills, a greater ability to regulate their behavior, and more advanced cognitive developments. These outcomes are inextricably linked to school readiness and a child's overall success in school and beyond. The legislature finds also that there has been an increase in the manifestation of significant emotional and behavioral problems of children in preschool and other early childhood settings. Growing numbers of young children are being expelled from child-care settings because their behaviors create additional responsibilities for caregivers who may not have adequate support or training to appropriately manage the challenges presented by such behaviors. The legislature finds further that children's mental health is critical to school readiness and left untreated, mental health issues create the potential of significant damage and life-long consequences. The legislature finds that mental health consultation in child-care settings can provide information, education, and support for caregivers and administrators to enable them to identify and work more effectively with children presenting difficult behaviors or other challenges to caregivers. The legislature intends to promote the integration of mental health services into early care and education settings as a means of early intervention to prevent more serious, long-term consequences and to promote quality child care continuity and school readiness for more children.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The child care mental health consultation pilot program is established. The pilot program shall be administered by the department of early learning within the office of the governor or, if the cabinet-level department of early learning is not established, by the division of child care and early learning within the department of social and health services. The pilot program shall promote the integration of evidence-based practice for young children with challenging behaviors into the child-care setting through a collaborative approach to supporting the child and family.
     (2) The pilot program shall provide a structure for mental health consultants to:
     (a) Consult with caregivers on-site or with case management teams around solving specific problems with an individual child or family;
     (b) Observe children in the child-care setting to assess functioning relationships with peers and caregivers, and the appropriateness of the setting and program for the child's needs;
     (c) Meet on-site or at home with families to complete assessments and provide developmental guidance and referrals, including but not limited to referrals to clinical services and other services for families and children;
     (d) Provide support and guidance to child-care staff through structured opportunities for training, team building, communication, and problem solving that is person-centered and strengths-based; and
     (e) Coordinate with specialists in public health, infant and toddler early intervention, infant mental health, and others involved with the care and well-being of young children.
     (3) The pilot program shall consist of at least two communities selected on the basis of need as determined by:
     (a) The relative availability or unavailability of comparable services locally;
     (b) The relative at-risk populations within the community; and
     (c) The availability of information regarding numbers of children expelled from child-care settings within the community.
     (4) Funding shall be contracted to the local child-care resource and referral network, or to another community-based organization with knowledge or expertise in child development and child-care programs. Contracted agencies shall be responsible for:
     (a) Coordinating with the community to develop a program model consistent with the legislative intent in section 1 of this act and the description of program structure in subsection (2) of this section;
     (b) Hiring mental health consultants knowledgeable in child development;
     (c) Supervising the work of mental health consultants;
     (d) Responding to requests from providers for consultation services;
     (e) Maintaining information required for evaluation of program outcomes;
     (f) Managing funds;
     (g) Ensuring equitable access to services for all child-care providers in the community; and
     (h) Reporting to the legislature and to the department of early learning or the division of child care and early learning.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Sections 1 and 2 of this act expire July 1, 2010.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2006, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.