Children in crisis program

AN ACT Relating to extending the program to address complex cases 1
of children in crisis; amending RCW 43.06.535; providing an 2
expiration date; and declaring an emergency. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 43.06.535 and 2023 c 423 s 1 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The governor must maintain a children and youth multisystem 7
care ((coordinator)) project director to serve as a state lead on 8
addressing complex cases of children in crisis. The children and 9
youth multisystem care ((coordinator)) project director must:10
(a) Direct: 11
(i) The appropriate use of state and other resources to a child 12
in crisis, and that child's family, if appropriate; and13
(ii) Appropriate and timely action by state agencies to serve 14
children in crisis; 15
(b) Have access to flexible funds to support: 16
(i) The safe discharge of children in crisis from hospitals; and17
(ii) Long-term, appropriate placement for children in crisis who 18
are dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW; and 19
(c) Coordinate with: 20
H-0208.2
HOUSE BILL 1272
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Callan, Eslick, Berry, Leavitt, Salahuddin, Davis,
Reed, Nance, Kloba, Timmons, Macri, Simmons, Hunt, and Fey
Read first time 01/14/25. Referred to Committee on Early Learning &
Human Services.
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(i) The rapid response team established under RCW 43.216.205 to 1
make sure that resources are effectively identified and mobilized for 2
people who meet the definition of child in crisis and a youth or 3
young adult exiting a publicly funded system of care; and4
(ii) Youth behavioral health and inpatient navigator teams to 5
efficiently and effectively mobilize services for a child in crisis.6
(2) The children and youth multisystem care ((coordinator)) 7
project director created under this section, in coordination with the 8
department of children, youth, and families, the health care 9
authority, the office of financial management, and the department of 10
social and health services, shall develop and implement a rapid care 11
team for the purpose of supporting and identifying appropriate 12
services and living arrangements for a child in crisis, and that 13
child's family, if appropriate. ((The rapid care team created under 14
this section must be implemented as soon as possible, but no later 15
than January 1, 2024.))16
(3) In creating the rapid care team required under this section, 17
the children and youth multisystem care ((coordinator)) project 18
director created under this section shall develop and implement a 19
system for: 20
(a) Identifying children in crisis who should be served by the 21
rapid care team; 22
(b) Initiating the rapid care team in a timely manner that 23
reduces the time a child in crisis spends in a hospital without a 24
medical need; 25
(c) Locating services and connecting youth and families with the 26
appropriate services to allow the child in crisis to safely discharge 27
from a hospital; 28
(d) Screening referrals for a child in crisis; and29
(e) Determining when it would be appropriate for the department 30
of children, youth, and families to provide services to a child in 31
crisis as the: 32
(i) Youth meets the definition of a "child who is a candidate for 33
foster care" under RCW 74.13.020; 34
(ii) Youth meets the definition of "dependent child" under RCW 35
13.34.030(6)(a) based on the child being abandoned; or36
(iii) Family should be offered a voluntary placement agreement.37
(4) The rapid care team under this section may provide assistance 38
and support to a child in crisis, or the family of a child in crisis.39
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(5) The following individuals may refer a child in crisis to the 1
rapid care team: 2
(a) A child in crisis themselves; 3
(b) A family member of the child in crisis; 4
(c) An advocate for the child in crisis; 5
(d) An educator; 6
(e) A law enforcement officer; 7
(f) An employee of the department of children, youth, and 8
families; 9
(g) An employee of the department of social and health services;10
(h) An employee of the health care authority; 11
(i) A service provider contracting with the department of 12
children, youth, and families; 13
(j) A service provider contracting with the department of social 14
and health services; 15
(k) A behavioral health service provider; 16
(l) A representative of a managed care organization;17
(m) A representative from a youth behavioral health or inpatient 18
navigator team; 19
(n) A person providing health care services to the child in 20
crisis; or 21
(o) A hospital employee. 22
(6) ((By November 1, 2023, the governor shall provide an initial 23
report to the legislature describing the process of developing and 24
implementing the rapid care team created under this section, and must 25
include a projection of when the rapid care team process will be 26
implemented. By November 1, 2024, the )) The governor shall provide 27
((a final )) an annual report to the legislature including data and 28
recommendations related to the rapid care team created in this 29
section. The report required under this subsection must be submitted 30
in compliance with RCW 43.01.036. The report required under this 31
subsection must include the following: 32
(a) The number of children in crisis referred to the rapid care 33
team and the types of people making referrals to the rapid care team;34
(b) The demographic data of the children in crisis served by the 35
rapid care team; 36
(c) The types of services and living arrangements identified by 37
the rapid care team; 38
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(d) The availability of the services and living arrangements 1
identified as needed for the children in crisis served by the rapid 2
care team; 3
(e) Any barriers that are preventing children in crisis from 4
safely exiting the hospital setting when there is not a medical need 5
for that hospital stay; 6
(f) Any barriers that are preventing children in crisis who are 7
dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW from maintaining an appropriate and 8
stable placement; 9
(g) Recommendations for earlier intervention to prevent children 10
from becoming children in crisis; 11
(h) Discussion regarding the implementation of youth behavioral 12
health and inpatient navigator programs and their role in serving 13
children in crisis; and 14
(i) Recommendations for systemic changes that could replace the 15
rapid care team in addressing complex cases involving a child in 16
crisis. 17
(7) The following definitions apply to this section:18
(a) "Child in crisis" means a person under age 18 who is:19
(i) At risk of remaining in a hospital without medical necessity, 20
without the ability to return to the care of a parent, and not 21
dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW; 22
(ii) Staying in a hospital without medical necessity and who is 23
unable to return to the care of a parent but is not dependent under 24
chapter 13.34 RCW; or 25
(iii) Dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW, experiencing placement 26
instability, and referred to the rapid care team by the department of 27
children, youth, and families. 28
(b) "Rapid care team" means a team, whose work is managed and 29
directed by the children and youth multisystem care ((coordinator)) 30
project director created under this section, working to quickly 31
identify the appropriate services and living arrangements for a child 32
in crisis. A rapid care team must include: 33
(i) One designee from the health care authority;34
(ii) One designee from the department of social and health 35
services; 36
(iii) One designee from the office of financial management;37
(iv) One designee from the developmental disabilities 38
administration of the department of social and health services;39
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(v) One designee from the department of children, youth, and 1
families; and 2
(vi) Any other entities, including governmental entities and 3
managed care organizations, or individuals, including clinicians and 4
other service providers, that the children and youth multisystem care 5
((coordinator)) project director deems appropriate to support a child 6
in crisis. 7
(8) This section expires June 30, ((2025)) 2027.8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate 9
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 10
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 11
effect immediately.12
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