RCWA 74.13.360

Title 74. Public Assistance (Refs & Annos)

Chapter 74.13. Child Welfare Services (Refs & Annos)

Foster Care

(1) No later than July 1, 2011, the department shall convert its current contracts with providers of child welfare services into performance-based contracts. In accomplishing this conversion, the department shall decrease the total number of contracts it uses to purchase child welfare services from providers. The conversion of contracts for the provision of child welfare services to performance-based contracts must be done in a manner that does not adversely affect the state's ability to continue to obtain federal funding for child welfare related functions currently performed by the state and with consideration of options to further maximize federal funding opportunities and increase flexibility in the use of such funds, including use for preventive and in-home child welfare services.

(2) No later than December 30, 2012:

(a) In the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a), child welfare services shall be provided by supervising agencies with whom the department has entered into performance-based contracts. Supervising agencies may enter into subcontracts with other licensed agencies; and

(b) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, and notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department may not directly provide child welfare services to families and children provided child welfare services by supervising agencies in the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a).

(3) No later than December 30, 2012, for families and children provided child welfare services by supervising agencies in the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a), the department is responsible for only the following:

(a) Monitoring the quality of services for which the department contracts under this chapter;

(b) Ensuring that the services are provided in accordance with federal law and the laws of this state, including the Indian child welfare act;

(c) Providing child protection functions and services, including intake and investigation of allegations of child abuse or neglect, emergency shelter care functions under RCW 13.34.050, and referrals to appropriate providers; and

(d) Issuing licenses pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW.

(4) No later than December 30, 2012, for families and children provided child welfare services by supervising agencies in the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a), the department may provide child welfare services only:

(a) For the limited purpose of establishing a control or comparison group as deemed necessary by the child welfare transformation design committee, with input from the Washington state institute for public policy, to implement the demonstration sites selected and defined pursuant to RCW 74. 13.368(4)(a) in which the performance in achieving measurable outcomes will be compared and evaluated pursuant to RCW 74.13.370; or

(b) In an emergency or as a provider of last resort. The department shall adopt rules describing the circumstances under which the department may provide those services. For purposes of this section, "provider of last resort" means the department is unable to contract with a private agency to provide child welfare services in a particular geographic area or, after entering into a contract with a private agency, either the contractor or the department terminates the contract.

(5) For purposes of this chapter, on and after September 1, 2010, performance-based contracts shall be structured to hold the supervising agencies accountable for achieving the following goals in order of importance: Child safety; child permanency, including reunification; and child well-being.

(6) A federally recognized tribe located in this state may enter into a performance-based contract with the department to provide child welfare services to Indian children whether or not they reside on a reservation. Nothing in this section prohibits a federally recognized Indian tribe located in this state from providing child welfare services to its members or other Indian children pursuant to existing tribal law, regulation, or custom, or from directly entering into agreements for the provision of such services with the department, if the department continues to otherwise provide such services, or with federal agencies.

CREDIT(S)

[2010 c 291 § 4, eff. June 10, 2010; 2009 c 520 § 3, eff. July 26, 2009.]

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Findings--2010 c 291: See note following RCW 74.13.368.

Laws 2010, ch. 291, § 4, rewrote the section, which formerly read:

"(1) No later than January 1, 2011, the department shall convert its current contracts with providers into performance-based contracts. In accomplishing this conversion, the department shall decrease the total number of contracts it uses to purchase services from providers.

"(2) No later than July 1, 2012:

"(a) In the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a), child welfare services shall be provided by supervising agencies with whom the department has entered into performance-based contracts. Supervising agencies may enter into subcontracts with other licensed agencies; and

"(b) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, and notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department may not directly provide child welfare services to families and children provided child welfare services by supervising agencies in the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a).

"(3) No later than July 1, 2012, for families and children provided child welfare services by supervising agencies in the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a), the department is responsible for only the following:

"(a) Monitoring the quality of services for which the department contracts under this chapter;

"(b) Ensuring that the services are provided in accordance with federal law and the laws of this state, including the Indian child welfare act;

"(c) Providing child protection functions and services, including intake and investigation of allegations of child abuse or neglect, emergency shelter care functions under RCW 13.34.050, and referrals to appropriate providers; and

"(d) Issuing licenses pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW.

"(4) No later than July 1, 2012, for families and children provided child welfare services by supervising agencies in the demonstration sites selected under RCW 74.13.368(4)(a), the department may provide child welfare services only in an emergency or as a provider of last resort. The department shall adopt rules describing the circumstances under which the department may provide those services. For purposes of this section, 'provider of last resort' means the department is unable to contract with a private agency to provide child welfare services in a particular geographic area or, after entering into a contract with a private agency, either the contractor or the department terminates the contract.

"(5) For purposes of this chapter, on and after September 1, 2010, performance-based contracts shall be structured to hold the supervising agencies accountable for achieving the following goals in order of importance: Child safety; child permanency, including reunification; and child well-being.

"(6) A federally recognized tribe located in this state may enter into a performance-based contract with the department to provide child welfare services to Indian children whether or not they reside on a reservation."

RCWA 74.13.360, WA ST 74.13.360

Current with 2011 Legislation effective through May 31, 2011