DCYF says proposed House and Senate budgets would cut or assume underspends in child welfare services

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) told partners on a mid‑session webinar that both the Washington House and Senate budgets propose reductions and “underspend” assumptions in several child‑welfare program areas, and the agency disagrees with some of those estimates.

“Allison Lisonbee Kreutzinger, director of public affairs for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, said the budgets include broad assumptions of underspend that the department does not believe are accurate and is working with the Senate on that analysis.”

The department highlighted several specific differences between chambers. The Senate proposes a $26.5 million biennial reduction that would pause further phased implementation of caregiver support levels; the House instead would eliminate project management funding for caregiver supports and cut placement supports by 10 percent. DCYF also flagged Senate assumptions of underspend in child‑specific licensing, a $5 million reduction for EPS (emergency psychiatric services) beds, and a $20 million global underspend assumption in child‑welfare programs — assumptions DCYF said do not account for spending patterns tied to federal grant timing.

Renee Newkirk, DCYF chief financial officer, told attendees the Senate and House both propose reductions in combined in‑home services (Senate: $3.8 million; House: $2.9 million) and that the agency has disputed the Senate’s broader underspend calculations because federal grants are often spent early in the fiscal year and state dollars later. Newkirk said the department is “working with the Senate on that understanding.”

Program eliminations and reductions named by the agency included: elimination of a continuum of care service in Spokane (Senate), elimination of a pediatric interim care center (House), and eliminations or reductions to pilot programs and contracts (for example, the House removes the Mentor Washington contract). The Senate’s proposed reductions to the Fair Start for Kids Act prenatal‑to‑3 engagement would remove approximately 450 home‑visiting slots, DCYF said.

DCYF emphasized it is trying to quantify the impacts and will continue discussions with lawmakers; staff said some differences between chambers remain unresolved as the legislature moves toward conference. The department noted it will need time after a final budget to comb through provisos, rec. sums, and base funding to determine exact operational effects.

Less urgent details discussed near the end of the webinar included that House Bill 1177 would direct rulemaking related to a child‑welfare housing program and that House Bill 1509 (community‑based family reconciliation) was narrowed to a single pilot site in the House version.

DCYF said it will post the webinar recording and slides and hold an end‑of‑session briefing after the legislature finishes its work.