Sine Die - The Legislature Has Adjourned
Author: Susan Barbeau
Last week marked the conclusion of the 2022 Legislative Session. For 90 days, Washington State elected officials came together to create policies and funding decisions that impact the lives of children, families, and communities. Below are some highlights of the legislative actions we are celebrating, organized by the WCFC Learning Networks. This is in no way an exhaustive list. Rather, we wanted to spotlight a handful of examples of where we see pockets of possibility.
BUDGET ITEM: Washington Communities for Children (WCFC) – $900,000
For the first time ever, the 10 WCFC Regions collectively requested dollars to support our early childhood network infrastructure. There are 132 roles being filled by individuals and organizations all across Washington State. These dollars will continue to be distributed throughout the network so that we can break down silos, create connections, and solve complex challenges together. Big thanks to our legislators for seeing the value of a connected early childhood system!
BUDGET ITEM: Rate Increase for Child Care Centers – $49.6 million
Starting July 1, 2022 Child Care Centers will receive a 16% rate increase for subsidy payments for Working Connections Child Care. Working Connections is a benefits program to help low-income families pay for child care. While the family is eligible for the benefits, the child care provider receives payment directly from the state. The payment amount has always been below the actual cost of what it takes to provide care for families. In 2021, the Fair Start for Kids Act set a goal to bring subsidy rates up to the 85th percentile of the market rate. This is the first step in meeting that goal.
POLICY ITEM: SB 5761 – Concerning employer requirements for providing wage and salary information to applicants for employment.
An important step in creating equity in early childhood is ensuring that the workforce reflects the populations in which we serve. Research shows that omitting salary information during the hiring process increases the gender and racial wage gaps. Greater transparency offers applicants a level playing field, thus reducing discrimination and other inequities both in the hiring process and overtime on the job. SB 5761 requires that employers must disclose the wage scale or salary range in job postings and include a general description of all the benefits and additional compensation to be offered to the hired applicant.
POLICY ITEM: SB 5793 – Concerning stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
Engaging in public dialogue can be difficult and time-consuming, especially for people who are not participating as part of their job. Taking time off work and away from family may not be possible, especially for low-income folks. SB 5793 now allows state agencies to provide a participation stipend, not to exceed $200, to individuals who are low income or have relevant lived experience. This policy should create greater participation and representation of people with lived experience in state government. We can create better, more equitable policies when we prioritize the people most impacted to contribute in policy, program, and system design from the beginning.
BUDGET ITEM: Family, Friend, or Neighbor Supports – $640,000
Nearly 75% of our state’s young children 0-5 are not in formal early learning programs. 25% are in the care of Family, Friend, or Neighbor (FFN) caregivers while their parents are at work or school. In the 2022 Budget, the legislature allocated $640,000 to the Department of Children Youth and families to support FFN providers with expanded play and learn groups, training, technical assistance, and data collection.
POLICY ITEM: SB 5838 – Providing a monthly diaper subsidy for parents or other caregivers receiving temporary assistance for needy families.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) provides cash grants for families in need. Until now, there has been no public benefit that includes diapers as an allowable expense. With this bill, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) may make additional monthly payments to TANF recipients with children under the age of three for the purchase of diapers. This is the first step in closing the diaper access loophole!
BUDGET ITEM: Funding for Family Resource Centers – $5,000,000
Family resource centers are places where families can get connected to the resources in their local community. In the 2022 budget, the legislature allocated $5,000,000 to the Department of Commerce to administer grants to family resource centers (FRCs) and organizations becoming FRCs to increase capacity and enhance service provision.
BUDGET ITEM: Behavioral health integration – $2,000,000
Finding mental health support for children is an ongoing struggle for many families. One innovative and proven approach is to ensure that physical and behavioral health providers are better connected to each other. In the 2022 budget, the legislature allocated funding to the Health Care Authority for one-time grants for eligible clinics to establish behavioral health integration in primary care clinics for children and adolescents.