Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Early Learning & Human Services Committee
HB 1509
Brief Description: Concerning family reconciliation services.
Sponsors: Representatives Taylor, Dent, Davis, Reed and Hill.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), subject to available funding, to offer contracts to provide community-based family reconciliation services in at least three regions served by the DCYF by January 1, 2026, and offer these contracts statewide by January 1, 2030.  

  • Expands the circumstances in which the DCYF or a designated contractor must, subject to available funding, provide family reconciliation services to a family or youth to include circumstances where the youth is:  (1) in a county juvenile detention center and family conflict exists; and (2) identified through the housing stability for youth in crisis program.

  • Expands the information that must be included in the annual report required by the DCYF regarding family reconciliation services.
Hearing Date: 2/11/25
Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).
Background:

Family Reconciliation Services.

Family Reconciliation Services (FRS) is a voluntary program serving families and youth who are experiencing conflict and may be in need of services and when a child in the family is away from their lawfully prescribed residence. 

 

The services offered by FRS are provided by culturally relevant, trauma-informed, community-based entities under contract with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or directly by DCYF and are designed to assess and stabilize the family with the goal of resolving crises and building supports, skills, and connection to community networks and resources.

 

These services may include:

  • referrals for services for suicide prevention, psychiatric or other medical care, behavioral health treatment, legal assistance, or educational assistance;
  • parent training;
  • conflict management or dispute resolution; or
  • other services.

 

The goal of FRS is to return the family to a pre-crisis state and work with the family to identify alternative methods of handling conflict.  FRS services are not intended to provide long-term services or to place the youth outside of the home.  

 

Department of Children, Youth, and Families Regions.

The DCYF organizes itself into six regions.  Region 1 includes Northeastern Washington.  Region 2 includes Southeast Washington. Region 3 includes Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and San Juan Counties.  Region 4 includes King County.  Region 5 includes Pierce and Kitsap Counties.  Region 6 includes Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula.  
Summary of Bill:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) must, subject to available funding, offer contracts to provide community-based family reconciliation services in at least three regions served by the DCYF by January 1, 2026, and offer these contracts statewide by January 1, 2030.  

 

Community-based family reconciliation services are defined to mean family reconciliation services that are provided by a community-based entity under contract with the DCYF.

 

The circumstances in which the DCYF or a designated contractor must, subject to available funding, provide family reconciliation services to a family or youth are expanded to include where the youth is:

  • in a county juvenile detention center and family conflict exists; and
  • identified through the housing stability for youth in crisis program.

 

The information included in the annual report required by the DCYF regarding family reconciliation services is expanded to include:

  • the number of requests for community-based reconciliation services; and
  • the number of referrals made to community-based family reconciliation services.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 3, 2025.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.