BILL REQ. #:  H-5271.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/05/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to postadoption supports for children adopted from foster care; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that children's histories of abuse and neglect and aspects of their foster care experiences significantly impact their needs even after they are adopted and achieve permanent placements. The number of children being adopted from the foster care system has increased over the last decade. Policy changes also have resulted in more 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. The risk of adoptions being terminated is greatest for older children and within the first few years of the adoption. Risk factors associated with adoption disruption and termination include a variety of child-related factors and parent-related factors. The legislature intends to promote postadoption and postpermanency services to children and families in order to support families, 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:
     Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the department shall contract for an information and referral services provider to support families with children adopted out of foster care. The contract shall include components for statewide support of families who may be seeking adoption-specific resources and information, including referrals for individual or family counseling, support groups, or community services; a lending library; and relevant training programs. The information and referrals must be provided by an entity knowledgeable and experienced in adoption issues. The contract shall specify that the service provider must serve as the central point of contact for Washington families seeking adoption-related information and referral services. The department also shall develop a simple process for voluntary sharing of contact information for adoptive parents for the purpose of facilitating periodic surveys by the contracted information and referral services provider about the service and support needs of families who have adopted children from foster care.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the department shall contract for education advocacy services for children adopted out of foster care. Advocacy services may be designed to provide support and guidance for parents to navigate the education system, and may include training, information, referral, consultation, and direct advocacy designed to promote the educational success of the child.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall provide outreach to parents of children adopted out of foster care and encourage adoptive parents to seek an annual assessment of the functioning of the adoptive child with the family to determine if there are services needed to help maintain or strengthen the adoptive placement. The annual assessment encouraged under this section is intended to help families to build strong relationships, to recognize and enhance their strengths, and to understand and address adoption-related dynamics.