BILL REQ. #:  H-4932.1 

Read first time 01/28/08.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services.

     AN ACT Relating to the roving early intervention specialist pilot program; and adding a new section to chapter 43.215 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall administer the roving early intervention specialist pilot program beginning July 1, 2008. The purpose of the program is to provide assistance to licensed child care providers and families with children ages birth to five with special needs. The pilot shall be conducted in Pierce county.
     (2) One roving early intervention specialist shall be housed at a local child care resource and referral organization in Pierce county. The specialist shall, at a minimum, have a bachelor of arts degree, preferably in child and family counseling or early intervention services. The specialist shall:
     (a) Assist families with children with special needs to find child care and other related services;
     (b) Coordinate with families and child care providers to ensure a child's enrollment and smooth transition into a child care facility;
     (c) Provide professional and technical assistance to licensed child care providers, which includes site visits to assist with any challenges that the providers are experiencing and training for the providers; and
     (d) Encourage child care providers not to expel a child with special needs until the specialist has had the opportunity to ameliorate the concerns.
     (3) By August 1, 2009, the department shall report its findings to the governor and appropriate education and fiscal committees of the legislature. The department shall report (a) how often the child care providers serving children with special needs received timely consulting and evaluation assistance; (b) how many children who might have been asked to leave a child care facility were retained due to the intervention of the specialists; and (c) how many child care providers reported improvement in learning progress and readiness with children with special needs. The department shall provide recommendations for increasing the number of roving early intervention specialists to serve the statewide child care resource and referral network.