February 9, 2009

Washington State Senate Bill 5943

This legislation would require the Children's Administration to move all child welfare services to private vendors by 2012, using performance-based contracts. The state would retain the responsibility to investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect and quality oversight of contracted services. Contracted vendors would provide out-of-home care and case management. To manage the transition, SB 5943 establishes a child welfare transformation design committee. The committee will be convened by representatives from Partners for our Children, which is affiliated with the University of Washington School of Social Work. The committee will develop a transition plan that includes a model or framework for performance-based contracts that includes outcomes, metrics, and incentives. The plan will be due by December 15, 2009.