A bill sponsored by state Rep. Mark Hargrove, R-Covington, to better streamline communication between the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and foster parents has been signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Hargrove’s House Bill 2591 will require DSHS to provide foster parents with timely and adequate notice of their right to be heard before each dependency court proceeding.
Hargrove says the current system of communication is inadequate.
“Foster parents are one of the most valuable resources our courts have when it comes to deciding what is in the best interest of a foster child,” said Hargrove in a media release. “Unfortunately, many foster parents are not currently being notified of court hearings in a timely manner, which not only negatively effects them, but our foster children as well. This bill addresses that problem to create better systems of communication going forward.”
In order to verify a foster parent has been notified of a court hearing, the bill requires courts to create written findings about whether or not:
1. Foster parents were notified in a timely manner.
2. The court received a caregiver’s report.
3. The court provided the foster parents an opportunity to be heard.
The bill also adds an extra layer of accountability by requiring the Administrative Office of the Courts to create an annual dependency report to track how well the state is doing in providing proper notification to foster parents.
Hargrove’s bill was unanimously approved in the House and Senate before being signed into law by the governor. It goes into effect in June.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
