OLYMPIA – Today the Washington State Senate passed Senate Bill 5943, sponsored by Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, which will bring much needed reforms to the Child Welfare System.

“This is about improving the outcomes for children across our state,” Hargrove said. “The current system is dysfunctional, and children are paying the price.”

SB 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.

Following today’s vote, SB 5943 advances to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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

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