Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee
SB 5419
Brief Description: Removing a Washington state institute of public policy outcome evaluation requirement.
Sponsors: Senators Gildon, Billig, Liias, Mullet and Wilson, C..
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Eliminates the requirement that the Washington State Institute for Public Policy prepare an outcome evaluation of short-term support services provided to foster parents.
Hearing Date: 3/15/23
Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).
Background:

Short-Term Support and Case Aides for Foster Parents.

In 2017 the Legislature directed the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to design a program of respite care that will minimize disruptions to the child and serve foster parents, including the provision of short-term support and case aides who provide temporary assistance to foster parents that does not include overnight assistance.  The DCYF was directed to establish a statewide pool of individuals to provide this support through contract with nonprofit community-based organizations.  Short-term support must be available to all licensed foster parents in the state as funding is available.  A foster parent may request case aide services from a nonprofit organization under contract with the DCYF.

 

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) was required to prepare an outcome evaluation of the short-term support described above, with a preliminary report due by December 1, 2018, and a final report submitted by June 30, 2021.

 

A preliminary report was completed by the WSIPP in 2018 that described two community-based agencies that began offering short-term support for foster parents beginning in June 2018.  The two community agencies provided this short-term support in five counties and served eight families in 2018.  

 

In 2020 the WSIPP Board of Directors voted to delay the final report on short-term support until June 30, 2023.

 

Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

The mission of the WSIPP is to carry out practical, nonpartisan research at the direction of the Legislature or the Board of Directors.  The WSIPP works closely with legislators, legislative and state agency staff, and experts in the field to ensure that studies answer relevant policy questions.  Fiscal and administrative services for the WSIPP are provided by The Evergreen State College.
Summary of Bill:

The requirement that the WSIPP prepare an outcome evaluation of short-term support services provided to foster parents, including case aides who provide temporary assistance for those foster parents is removed.  
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.