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 enrolled clients of the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services ages 16 through 21 years old who are functionally eligible for medicaid waiver services, who are also defined as dependent children under chapter 13.34 RCW, and who may exit dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW after reaching the maximum age for dependent children.
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 subject to an open dependency proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW and may exit dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW after reaching the maximum age for dependent children, the department shall invite representatives from the entity providing managed health and behavioral health care for foster youth required under RCW 74.09.860, and the department of social and health services behavioral health administration, the developmental disabilities administration, the division of vocational rehabilitation, 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.
For youth who are subject to an open dependency proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW and the department caseworker believes may be eligible for services administered by the developmental disabilities administration, the department shall convene a shared planning meeting that includes representatives from the developmental disabilities administration and the division of vocational rehabilitation when the youth is between the ages of 16 and 16.5. This meeting must 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 functional 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 residential services provided by the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services;
Advanced planning for housing options available from entities other than the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services 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.
If children who are subject to an open dependency proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW and who are the subject of either shared planning meeting described under this section 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.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 71A.12. Here is the modified chapter for context.
When there is funded capacity for services provided through a medicaid waiver administered by the department, priority for that waiver shall be provided to eligible individuals who exited a dependency proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW within the last two years.