The legislature intends that this act help reduce the number of former foster youth with developmental disabilities discharged into homelessness or inappropriately placed in hospitals. The legislature further intends that the steps taken under this act maximize the use of the most cost-effective services for former foster youth with developmental disabilities.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 74.13. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The department shall collaborate with the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services to determine the number of individuals under 21 years old who are functionally and financially eligible for medicaid waiver services administered by the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services, who are also defined as dependent children under chapter 13.34 RCW, and who are expected to exit dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW after reaching either:
The maximum age for dependent children; or
The maximum eligible age to receive extended foster care services as defined in RCW 74.13.020.
By November 15th, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department shall submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of the legislature that provides the number of children and youth identified under subsection (1) of this section and other relevant information related to best serving these youth.
This section modifies existing section 74.13.341. Here is the modified chapter for context.
With respect to children who are dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW and are expected to exit dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW after reaching the maximum age for dependent children, the department shall invite representatives from the department of social and health services behavioral health administration, the developmental disabilities administration, and the economic services administration to the youth's shared planning meeting that occurs between the age of 17 and 17.5 that is used to develop a transition plan. It is the responsibility of the department to include these agencies in the shared planning meeting.
If children who are dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW and who are the subject of this meeting may qualify for services provided by the developmental disabilities administration pursuant to Title 71A RCW, the department shall direct these youth to apply for these services and provide assistance in the application process.
For youth who are dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW and eligible for services administered by the developmental disabilities administration, the department shall convene a shared planning meeting that includes the developmental disabilities administration staff when the youth is between the ages of 16 and 16.5. This meeting shall be used to begin planning services for the youth in advance of the youth's transition to adulthood. The shared planning meeting required under this subsection may include:
Assessing eligibility for developmental disability waiver services;
Understanding the services that the youth wants or needs upon the youth's exit from a dependency under chapter 13.34 RCW;
Advanced planning for housing options the youth wants or needs upon the youth's exit from a dependency under chapter 13.34 RCW; and
Development of an action plan so that the services the youth wants or needs will be provided following the youth's exit from dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW.