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Agency 300010
Children and Family Services
RCW 13.32A, .34, 26.32, .33, .34, .44, 70.123, .125, 74.13, .14A, .15

Request

$789,696,000

Net change from current biennium

$183,347,118

Increase

Percent change from current biennium

30.2%

Increase

The Children's Administration provides proactive, family focused, culturally relevant services to children and their families. This includes: providing social services to strengthen and assist families and to provide for children who require guidance, care, protection, treatment, or rehabilitation; setting standards for social services and facilities for children; and promoting the use of community resources that assist parents with responsibilities for the care, development, and well-being of their children.

The goal is to provide child welfare services to children and families through a comprehensive and coordinated program.

Links to Category Level Detail

Purchased Social Services

Direct Social Services

Field Support

Family Policy Council

Special Projects

Program Support

Program Level Summary

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Operating Budget: Summary by Object

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries And Wages				61,253,803			66,819,275			68,917,394			81,837,965			88,357,086
Employee Benefits				16,354,250			17,606,844			19,851,887			21,882,639			23,561,844
Personal Service Contracts				327,415			237,234						51,000			35,000
Goods And Services				14,004,137			14,701,515			13,931,416			17,415,544			19,081,966
Travel				2,330,085			2,560,713			2,828,713			3,631,683			4,088,756
Capital Outlays				740,919			8,091,592			5,413,030			4,291,905			4,031,777
Grants, Benefits & Client Services				163,662,928			173,004,684			202,584,228			251,503,349			258,382,372
Debt Service				184,690			237,128			213,300			213,300			213,300
Interagency Reimbursements				47,790			(182,049)			(89,594)			(723,594)			(723,594)
Intra-Agency Reimbursements				4,524,143			4,246,284			5,375,288			4,748,209			7,815,493

Annual Total				263,430,160			287,323,220			319,025,662			384,852,000			404,844,000

Operating Budget: Category Summary

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Purchased Social Service				154,237,747			164,602,620			190,100,196			227,708,124			238,414,124
Direct Social Services				63,577,580			68,191,823			73,690,827			89,550,583			97,130,302
Field Support				24,033,742			25,271,706			24,652,869			28,084,223			29,316,376
Family Policy Council							2,067,299			6,542,417			10,831,935			11,517,145
Special Projects				14,429,727			10,629,633			12,534,874			13,796,112			12,720,656
Program Support				7,151,364			16,560,139			11,504,479			14,881,023			15,745,397
Annual Total				263,430,160			287,323,220			319,025,662			384,852,000			404,844,000
Fiscal Year 1993-94				243,644,657
Biennium Total				507,074,817			606,348,882						789,696,000

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

				1993-95 Actual								1995-97 Estimated								1997-99 Proposed
				Amount			Percent				Amount					Percent			Amount					Percent
Purchased Social Service			25,012,521			9.2%				57,938,803					19.5%			111,419,432					31.4%
Direct Social Services			8,083,534			6.8%				15,373,913					12.2%			44,798,235					31.6%
Field Support			8,528,677			22.0%				2,715,263					5.8%			7,476,024					15.0%
Family Policy Council										8,609,716								13,739,364					159.6%
Special Projects			698,517			3.1%				194,405					0.8%			3,352,261					14.5%
Program Support			(9,079,833)			(40.0)%				14,441,965					106.0%			2,561,802					9.1%

Total			33,243,416			7.0%				99,274,065					19.6%			183,347,118					30.2%

Employment Summary

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			1,738.1		1,819.8			1,902.8				2,239.1				2,406.3
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			35,242			36,718		36,219				36,549				36,719

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Social Service Fed Block Grant							31,995,740				41,642,545			33,943,000			33,942,000
General Fund - Basic Account - State				154,119,439			148,947,985				175,797,193			239,208,000			258,709,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				107,430,778			3,738,663				3,314,629			8,003,081			7,863,177
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal Unanticipated							1,431,572				304,882
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Other Federal Fixed Grants							10,496,699				14,232,074
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local							125,311				200,000			200,000			200,000
General Fund - Basic Account - Private/Local Unanticipated							171,361				116,272
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Family Support/Child Welfare F							55,386,329				51,689,027			32,058,553			35,781,696
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Medicaid Federal							32,162,132				28,877,468			37,226,366			38,564,127
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Child Care Dev. Fac.														29,397,000			25,006,000
Violence Reduction/Drug Enforcement - State				1,879,943			2,867,428				2,851,572			4,816,000			4,778,000

Annual Total				263,430,160			287,323,220				319,025,662			384,852,000			404,844,000

FTE Staff Years Summary

	1994-95 Actual		1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed		1998-99 Proposed
Social Service FTE Staff Years
Child Protective Services		420.4		435.8			478.2				540.6		604.2
Child Welfare Services		316.9		335.3			365.6				419.1		462.5
Child Care Services		29.1		26.7			26.7				43.0		43.0
Family Reconciliation Services		58.6		61.2			67.9				93.3		93.3
Licensers (Child and Foster Care)		104.5		114.0			128.5				140.8		140.8
Home Support Specialists		56.1		58.0			58.0				73.0		88.0
Adoption Services		39.7		37.8			39.3				37.8		39.3
Community Workers		4.8		3.5			3.5				3.5		3.5
Supervisors and Support		347.2		359.8			376.0				455.5		501.2
Subtotal		1,377.3		1,432.1			1,543.7				1,806.6		1,975.8
Program Support FTE Staff Years
DCFS Headquarters		92.8		115.2			111.1				160.0		158.4
DCFS Regional Offices		73.9		75.0			75.0				81.1		81.1
DCFS Area Offices		129.7		124.9			124.9				137.9		137.9
DCFS Special Projects		51.5		52.5			48.1				53.5		53.1
Subtotal		347.9		367.6			359.0				432.5		430.4
Program Total		1,725.2		1,799.7			1,902.8				2,239.1		2,406.3

Purchased Social Services

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This category includes services purchased on behalf of families and children from either private or public agencies. It includes adoption support payments, child day care, foster care, family support services, interim care, and services for victims of crime, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

The adoption support program encourages the adoption of hard-to-place children. Support may include limited monthly maintenance payments, payment of legal fees related to the adoption, and payment for medical, counseling, and rehabilitative services.

Families receiving child care services for purposes of employment (including seasonal employment), secondary education, and Child Welfare Services are required to participate in the cost of care. For programs requiring parent co-pays, maximum income eligibility is at 52 percent of the state median income (SMI) adjusted for family size. Subsidies are available without regard to income for active Department of Social and Health Services Child Protective Service (CPS) cases being served through therapeutic child development and CPS child care up to 75 percent of the SMI.

Foster care includes payments to cover emergency care, preadoptive care, time limited care while improvements in home situations are taking place, planned long-term care until age 18, and specialized care of mentally, physically, or emotionally handicapped children and teenagers exhibiting behavior problems.

Family support services include short-term intervention, assessment, referral, and counseling provided to families in conflict or to runaways.

Crisis residential care provides temporary emergency care for dependent children, runaways, or children absent from the home, pending their return home or to an alternative residential placement.

Victims assistance offers safe shelter and counseling services to victims and their children.

The program's objective is to provide culturally relevant family services consistent with overall program purposes and goals for community-based prevention services.

Budget Unit Data

			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Family Support Services		23,862,245			33,542,239			33,773,167			34,648,167
Crisis Residential Centers		2,417,936			9,087,492			9,314,492			9,566,492
Adoption Support		13,919,319			15,522,531			20,545,531			23,858,531
Child Daycare Payment		33,051,414			46,117,205			47,840,205			50,435,205
Victim Assistance		6,532,814			5,084,920			11,113,920			11,423,920
Foster Care Payments		84,818,892			80,745,809			105,120,809			108,481,809

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Grants and Subsidies			153,730,845			164,598,998			190,100,196			227,708,124			238,414,124
Other Operating Costs			506,902			3,622

Annual Total			154,237,747			164,602,620			190,100,196			227,708,124			238,414,124
Fiscal Year 1993-94			142,526,266
Biennium Total			296,764,013			354,702,816						466,122,248

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Social Service Fed Block Grant							4,123,400				9,110,400			3,328,400			3,327,400
General Fund - Basic Account - State				98,199,922			104,520,749				125,078,149			155,846,764			167,314,648
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				54,734,825			1,453,913				1,421,923			4,837,923			5,006,923
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Other Federal Fixed Grants							10,303,873				14,039,248
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Family Support/Child Welfare F							29,989,511				26,676,762			19,619,830			22,262,511
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Medicaid Federal							13,438,174				11,948,642			16,391,207			17,139,642
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Child Care Dev. Fac.														27,684,000			23,363,000
Violence Reduction/Drug Enforcement - State				1,303,000			773,000				1,825,072

Annual Total				154,237,747			164,602,620				190,100,196			227,708,124			238,414,124

Direct Social Services

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The Direct Social Services category includes caseworkers, out-of-home care and family day care licensors and supervisory and clerical support for staff who provide direct services to clients.

Direct Social Services include services to maintain children in their own homes, placement in appropriate alternative care when a child cannot remain home, and services to protect individuals from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Services to protect individuals from abuse, neglect, or exploitation include protective services for children and licensing of private care facilities, such as foster care, group homes, day care homes, and child placement agencies.

Category Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			1,389.7		1,441.8			1,543.7				1,788.4				1,945.8
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			34,982			36,320		35,744				36,480				36,609

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			61,481,341			66,059,824			71,322,670			82,688,635			90,244,270
Grants and Subsidies			958			1,659
Other Operating Costs			2,095,281			2,130,340			2,368,157			6,861,948			6,886,032

Annual Total			63,577,580			68,191,823			73,690,827			89,550,583			97,130,302
Fiscal Year 1993-94			62,931,157
Biennium Total			126,508,737			141,882,650						186,680,885

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Social Service Fed Block Grant							18,236,371				22,895,914			21,819,631			21,819,369
General Fund - Basic Account - State				35,637,431			25,388,697				27,201,039			48,183,316			54,199,036
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				27,940,149
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Family Support/Child Welfare F							12,406,742				11,553,382			4,770,638			5,033,765
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Medicaid Federal							12,160,013				12,040,492			14,163,998			15,447,132
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Child Care Dev. Fac.														613,000			631,000

Annual Total				63,577,580			68,191,823				73,690,827			89,550,583			97,130,302

Field Support

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This category includes day care center licensing, group care coordination, volunteer coordination, and regional administrative support to fulfill the goals of the program. Support includes building leases, equipment, and other related overhead costs.

Category Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years			203.8		213.8			199.9				234.0				249.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs			35,740			37,677		36,924				36,321				35,780

Expenditure Detail

				1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated			1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
Salaries and Benefits			9,383,548			10,326,234			9,376,927			10,796,959			11,331,927
Grants and Subsidies			508			387						250,000			250,000
Other Operating Costs			14,649,686			14,945,085			15,275,942			17,037,264			17,734,449

Annual Total			24,033,742			25,271,706			24,652,869			28,084,223			29,316,376
Fiscal Year 1993-94			23,175,570
Biennium Total			47,209,312			49,924,575						57,400,599

Source of Funds

					1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated				1996-97 Estimated			1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Social Service Fed Block Grant							7,505,897				7,506,103			6,849,897			6,850,103
General Fund - Basic Account - State				8,996,720			9,198,414				10,049,380			12,799,269			13,102,967
General Fund - Basic Account - Federal				15,037,022
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Family Support/Child Welfare F							3,356,842				3,379,527			3,735,105			4,123,054
General Fund - Basic Account - DSHS Medicaid Federal							5,210,553				3,717,859			4,699,952			5,240,252

Annual Total				24,033,742			25,271,706				24,652,869			28,084,223			29,316,376

Family Policy Council

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In 1992 the Washington State Legislature enacted the Family Policy Initiative, which created the Family Policy Council to design and carry out systemic reforms to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families (RCW 70.190). The Council consists of a representative from the Governor's Office; four legislators (a representative from each party caucus with the Senate and the House of Representatives); and the leaders of five state agencies managing family and children's services (the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Health, Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and Employment Security Department).

The Council has pursued two major strategies to carry out its reform mission. In 1993, the Legislature passed the Education Reform Act (RCW 70.190.040), which directed the Council to approve investments in the Readiness to Learn (RTL) program. RTL provides grants to school districts which formed partnerships with other organizations to provide school-linked supports to children and their families, and to initiate reforms within their local systems to improve service delivery.

The second major strategy has been the establishment of Community Public Health and Safety Networks, as directed by the Legislature in the 1994 Youth Violence Reduction Act (RCW 70.190). There are 53 Community Public Health and Safety Networks that each have 13 members who do not make their living from the social service delivery system (parents, youth, retirees, other citizens) and 10 professional local representatives from cities, counties, federally recognized Indian Tribes, parks and recreation programs, law enforcement agencies, education, state children's service workers, employment assistance workers, and/or private social or health providers. The networks are charged with developing a comprehensive plan, utilizing data, seeking public input, and building plans on a knowledge base of the existing efforts within the community. The plans are to address eight outcomes the Legislature is interested in improving: youth violence; youth substance abuse; teen pregnancy and male parentage; out of home placement; domestic violence; child abuse and neglect; school drop-outs; and teen suicide. Planning began in earnest in the spring of 1995 and comprehensive plans were submitted in the fall of 1996. During the next phase of implementation, the networks will work with state agencies and their communities to implement the plans and institute systemic changes in service delivery systems. In addition, networks will identify strategies and target funding toward those strategies supporting the reduction of the selected problem behaviors.

Category Employment

			1994-95 Actual			1995-96 Estimated		1996-97 Estimated				1997-98 Proposed			1998-99 Proposed
FTE Staff Years					7.3			7.5				10.0				10.0
Average FTE Staff Year Costs						46,726		60,123				49,493				45,893