Advocacy
WACF's Legislative Agenda
WACF’s legislative agenda reflects the shared priorities of our member organizations and is actively advanced by Executive Director Jill May and lobbyist Amber McPhee-Millard. Your own advocacy is also very important. Please reach out to let us know how you can support these legislative priorities.
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Liability Insurance is pending, this will be updated as we know more.
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2025 Win: This year, the legislature protected those gains by maintaining the 2024 rates for ILS and FPS. Without this continued investment, both programs faced significant cuts. Thanks to strong advocacy and legislative support, essential services for youth and families remain funded at sustainable levels.
WACF Legislative Agenda
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2024 Win: The legislature approved rate increases for both the Independent Living (ILS) and Family Preservation Services (FPS) programs. The ILS increase helped bridge a gap in federal funding caused by declines in foster care placements. Meanwhile, FPS—which had long been underfunded—received a long-overdue rate increase.
WACF Legislative Agenda
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Legislative Win! Child Placing Agencies (CPA) Division
In 2023 the legislature passed a rate increase that helped sustain independent living service providers. The result was an increase of $750,000 million a year ($1.5 million biennium).
Independent Living Services One-Pager 2023
WACF One-Pager -
Legislative Win! Family Prevention and Support Services (FPSS) Division
In 2022 the legislature passed a rate increase that helped to ensure the availability of in-home prevention services. The result was an increase of $8.5 million a year ($17 million biennium). The new rate was a 45% increase from the previous rate.
Combined In-Home Services - One-Pager
Combined In-Home Services - Cost Study -
Legislative Win! Child Placing Agencies (CPA) Division
In 2020 CPAs were successful in obtaining a badly-needed stabilizing 7.5% rate increase which the legislature acknowledged was needed but was, unfortunately, vetoed due to the COVID-19 emergency. As a result of more advocacy in 2020 it was included in the 2021-23 budget.
CPA One-Pager 2021
WACF 2020 CPA Overview
Legislative Win! Family Preservation & Support Services (FPSS) Division
In 2020 the legislature passed a rate increase that improved the rate for travel time to provide prevention services to families that are at risk of entering foster care. In 2021 this increase was listed as a suggested cut to the governor’s budget due to the pandemic. We were able to keep the rate increase that went into effect July 1, 2020, which maintained the $2.3 million a year proviso that improved the rate of pay for travel to family homes for the 2021-23 budget. - Prevention Services One-Pager 2021 -
Legislative Win! Family Preservation & Support Services (FPSS) Division
In 2020, the legislature provided 1 million dollars to bring the travel time rate up from 75% to the full hourly rate of $65. - WACF Prevention Services Travel Reimbursement
Child Placing Agencies (CPA) Division Agenda
CPA One-Pager Final -
Legislative Win! Intensive Services (IS) Division
Provider rates were increased to cover the full cost of care for group care agencies (BRS) and a small increase for BRS foster care. Behavioral Rehabilitative Services increase for group care was consistent with the results of 2018 BRS Rate Study. - WACF 2019 Intensive Services Advocacy Agenda Update 12-11-18 REVLegislative Win! Family Preservation & Support Services (FPSS) Division
The legislature passed 2nd Substitute - 2SHB 1645 establishing a Certificate of Parental Improvement for individuals who have a founded finding of abuse or neglect. - WACF CERTIFICATE OF PARENTAL IMPROVEMENT-1-30-19
The Washington Association for Children & Families' 2019 Legislative Agenda
2019 WACF Leg Agenda One Pager 1-4-19 REV
Child Placing Agencies (CPA) Division Agenda
2019 CPA Division Public Policy Agenda Update 1-4-19-REV -
Legislative Win! Intensive Services (IS) Division
In 2018, the legislature passed a proviso requiring DCYF to conduct a rate study. - Behavioral Rehabilitation Services Rate StudyLegislative Win! Family Preservation & Support Services (FPSS) Division
The legislature passed SB 6309 extending the time period for cases to remain open in FAR to 120 days rather than 90 days. - WACF FAR Extension Summary Final
The WACF 2018 Legislative Agenda -
Legislative Win! The Family Preservation & Support Services (FPSS) Division
The legislature provided funding to bring the travel rate up from 50% of the vendor rate to 75% of the vendor rate. - WACF 2017 travel rate Final
The WACF Public Policy Agenda - 2017 Legislative Session: -
Legislative Win! Child Placing Agencies Division
The legislature restored the agency fee rates (8.63%) after reductions in 2009 and 2011 and included a cost of living increase (9.4%). The total annual fiscal request was for $925,000. WACF CPA Rate Restoration One Page Summary
Full Legislative Agenda and Division One-Page Summaries: -