Case Aides. Case aides provide temporary assistance to foster parents as needed with the overall goal of supporting the parental efforts of the foster parents except that this assistance may not include overnight assistance.? These individuals must be hired by or volunteer through nonprofit community-based organizations (CBO) contracted with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), and must have the appropriate training, background checks, and qualifications determined by DCYF.

?

Washington State Institute for Public Policy. The Legislature created the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) in 1983, to conduct non-partisan research at the direction of the Legislature or the WSIPP Board of Directors. WSIPP produces reports on a variety of topics of interest to the state and estimates benefit-cost analyses for a variety of state programs.

?

In 2017, the Legislature directed WSIPP to prepare an outcome evaluation of short-term support?provided by case aides. The evaluation is to assess the impact of this short-term support service on the retention of foster homes, and the number of placements a foster child receives, as well as the return on investment to the state. A preliminary report was due to the Legislature and the Governor by December 1, 2018, with a final report due by June 30, 2021.?

?

In its preliminary report, WSIPP reported that from June through September 2018, a total of 13 families requested, and 8 families received, a range of support services through the two CBOs contracted to provide case aid support services.

Language directing WSIPP to conduct an outcome evaluation of short-term support provided by case aides for foster families is struck from statute.