SB 5211, authorizes payment for parental caregivers of minor children with developmental disabilities in par with parental caregivers of adults over 18. Personal care hours have been allocated to these children on the basis of need, but have historically only been budgeted based on utilization. Efforts to increase the in-home care workforce to meet demand have never produced full employment, and 41 percent of authorized hours systemwide go unused.
The unique needs of children to have stable and familiar caregivers are complicated by the current caregiver workforce shortage. Additionally, while the child care crisis has widespread effects on Washington families, it is particularly acute for families of children with disabilities, who often cannot find the highly trained providers to meet their child's needs. Families of children with disabilities often have to forgo income opportunities due to these care needs and that a lack of income has lasting impacts on those children. 703 children in the high B category (complex behavior support needs) and 301 in the E category (medically dependent) are initially eligible.
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