OLYMPIA – Protecting Washington’s greatest resource, its children, has never been a higher priority than it is today for Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, and the need to keep children safe is the driving force behind his new bill, SB 5943.

“We’ve seen the data regarding child safety and well-being heading in the wrong direction for years,” said Hargrove.

His Senate Bill 5943 would reform the Child Welfare Services portion of the Department of Social and Health Services by moving nearly all of its family reconciliation and preservation, adoption, foster care, and many other services into Performance Based Contracts, potentially with private non-profit agencies. The contracts would increase efficiencies and offer incentives for success, and would free the Children’s Administration to focus more on child safety.

“This bill is based on the experiences other states have had when shifting to this new system-wide reform,” said Hargrove. “The data shows that when implemented correctly, PBCs can improve child safety, and lives of families across Washington.”

The bill will create a phased analysis and establish these reforms within the Children’s Administration by July 2012. 

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For more information:     Chase Gallagher, 360-786-7326

For interviews:                 Sen. Jim Hargrove, 360-786-7646