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Council to place revised Human Services funding for Children’s Therapy Center on consent agenda after commission review
Summary
The Human Services Commission recommended that Burien continue funding a revised program from Children's Therapy Center after the agency said it would sunset individualized therapy due to Medicaid reimbursement changes and shift to family navigation and play‑and‑learn groups.
Lede: The Burien City Council agreed on April 21 to place on a future consent agenda a revision to its 2025 Human Services General Fund allocation for Children’s Therapy Center after the Human Services Commission reviewed the agency’s request to shift funded services.
Nut graf: Children's Therapy Center told funders in February that changes in Medicaid reimbursement and therapy service models had prompted the agency to sunset its individualized pediatric therapy program; the agency requested participating cities reallocate the award to family resource navigation and Kaleidoscope play‑and‑learn groups serving children birth to 18. The Human Services Commission recommended continuing funding for the revised program.
Body: Human Services Manager Anujie Pansek and Human Services Coordinator Sarah Leffler described the 16‑city consortium process that coordinates applications, scoring and funding across participating cities. The council had previously approved a $10,200 award to Children's Therapy Center in the fall; in February the agency notified the consortium that the funded individualized therapy program could not continue under current reimbursement and requested that the award be used for family navigation and group programs.
Staff said the agency provided updated service units, outcomes, budget projections and resident counts to the seven South King County funding cities. The Human Services Commission reviewed the updated proposal against the city's funding priorities and recommended continued funding for the revised programming, noting the shift is the first of its kind the consortium has seen in staff experience. Councilmember Moore moved to place the item on the consent agenda for the next regular meeting; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
Ending: The council’s action will allow the city to continue supporting the agency’s reconfigured family navigation and play‑and‑learn groups pending placement on the consent agenda and final budget or consent approval.
