BILL REQ. #:  H-1833.2 

Read first time 02/14/2007.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services.

     AN ACT Relating to permanency and postadoption services; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the impact of children's histories of abuse and neglect and aspects of their foster care experiences significantly impact the postpermanency needs of adopted children. The number of children being adopted from the foster care system has increased over the last decade. Policy changes also have resulted in an increased number of children who are eligible for adoption but who have not yet been adopted. The legislature also finds that adoption disruption occurs at a rate of approximately ten to sixteen percent of adoptions. Risk of adoptions being terminated is greatest within the first years of the adoption and for adoptions involving older children. Risk factors associated with adoption disruption and termination include a variety of child-related factors and parent-related factors. The legislature intends to establish a pilot program of well-coordinated and comprehensive postadoption and postpermanency services to children and families in order to reduce adoption disruptions and terminations and to increase the number of potential adoptive families.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department of social and health services shall establish a postadoption services pilot program to provide community-based and coordinated postadoption supports. The pilot program shall be designed to gather data regarding the effectiveness of the coordination and delivery of services in achieving the intent of this act.
     (2) The department shall contract with community-based organizations in two or more pilot sites in the state to deliver a combination of intensive and less intensive services to children who have been adopted out of the foster care system and their adoptive families. Intensive services include, but are not limited to: Child assessment and assistance with behavior management; advocacy and case management; parent-to-parent mentoring and support; planned respite; recreational enrichment; problem solving; and crisis response. Less intensive services include, but are not limited to: Parent education classes; and information and referral.
     (3) Services to be coordinated through each pilot site include interventions and supports to prevent disruption of adoptive placements, improve parent-child relationships, and strengthen family functioning, including but not limited to the following:
     (a) Mental health services, such as appropriate periodic assessments and review of previous diagnoses, and appropriate therapeutic interventions and skills for children and caregivers;
     (b) Support services, such as support groups, family resource specialists, and planned respite care.
     (4) By January 2, 2008, the department shall provide the legislature with a progress report on implementation, including the location of pilot sites. Annually, through January 2011, the department shall brief the legislature on the operation of the pilot program, including the data regarding the effectiveness of the coordination and delivery of services in reducing adoption disruptions and terminations and increasing the number of potential adoptive families.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act expires January 1, 2012.