Drafter

Clerk 11/08/2022

Title

AN ORDINANCE renaming the department of community and human services children and youth services division to the children, youth and young adults division; and amending Ordinance 11955, Section 6, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.16.130.

Body

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  The department of community and human services has provided education programs and employment services to youth and young adults, up to twenty-four years old, for over twenty years.

2. In September 2020, the council passed Motion 15673 accepting the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account ("PSTAA") implementation plan.  PSTAA directs transit-related revenue to educational services to improve outcomes in early learning, K-12 and postsecondary education.  Postsecondary education includes young adults eighteen to twenty-four years old.

3.  Enacted in April 2021, Ordinance 19267 provided for submission to the voters of King County a proposition to renew the best starts for kids levy, for the purpose of funding prevention and early intervention strategies and a capital grants program to improve the health and well-being of children, youth and their communities.  In August 2021, voters renewed the best starts for kids levy through 2027.  In November 2021, Ordinance 19354 adopted the best starts for kids implementation plan to govern the expenditure of levy proceeds from 2022 through 2027.  The Best Starts implementation framework covers children, youth and young adults, zero to twenty-four years old, and their communities.

4. Because services and programs for young adults up to twenty-four years old are an integral part of the mission of the department of community and human services, it is appropriate to rename the children and youth services division, as the children, youth and young adults division in order to better reflect that mission.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Ordinance 11955, Section 6, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.16.130 are each hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  The department of community and human services is responsible to manage and be fiscally accountable for the children ((and youth services)), youth and young adults division, the behavioral health and recovery division, the developmental disabilities and early childhood supports division, the adult services division and the housing, homelessness and community development division.

                     B.  The duties of the children ((and youth services)), youth and young adults division shall include the following:

                       1.  Working in partnership with communities and other funders to develop, support and provide human services that emphasize prevention, early intervention, and community education, and that strengthen children, youth and young adults, families and communities in King County;

                       2.  Managing programs that promote healthy childhood development, enhance youth resiliency, reduce justice system involvement, strengthen families and communities and ensure all children ((and)), youth and young adults have the opportunity to achieve their full potentials.  The division shall also provide staff to support the King County children and youth advisory board.

                     C.  The duties of the behavioral health and recovery division shall, subject to available resources and to its exercise of discretionary prioritization, include the following:

                       1.  Managing and operating a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services including prevention, mental health, substance use disorder and co-occurring disorder treatment services for children, youth and adults who meet eligibility criteria;

                       2.  Managing and operating a twenty-four-hour crisis response system, including civil commitment as a last resort;

                       3.  Selecting appropriate agencies for the provision of behavioral health services and developing, implementing and monitoring the provision and outcomes of contracted services;

                       4.  Being responsible for resource management of a comprehensive behavioral health system including provision of staff support to appropriate advisory boards, and serving as liaison to federal, state, and other governments and relevant organizations in carrying out planning and allocation processes;

                       5.  Facilitating the continuing availability of appropriate treatment services for eligible individuals with a diagnosis of a mental illness, substance use or co-occurring disorder; and

                       6.  Developing and maintaining a continuum of appropriate treatment services for eligible individuals.

                     D.  The duties of the developmental disabilities and early childhood supports division shall include the following:

                       1.  Managing and operating a system of services for infant mental health, early childhood development screening and a system of services for persons with developmental disabilities in accordance with relevant state statutes and county policies and to provide staff support to the King County board for developmental disabilities; and

                       2.  Negotiating, implementing and monitoring contracts with community agencies for the provision of developmental disabilities and early childhood support services.

                     E.  The duties of the adult services division shall include the following:

                       1.  Working in partnership with communities to develop, support and provide human services and programs that emphasize health and safety, self-sufficiency and healthy aging.  The programs are to include, but not be limited to, providing employment and training for adults to achieve self-sufficiency, providing supports to survivors of abuse and trauma, and providing health, socialization and wellness services to promote healthy aging in place;

                       2.  Providing assistance to indigent veterans and their families as authorized by chapter 73.08 RCW; and

                       3.  Providing staff support for the women's advisory board as specified in K.C.C. 2.30.040 and for the veterans, seniors and human services levy advisory board and its committees consistent with state and county requirements.

                     F.  The duties of the housing, homelessness and community development division shall include the following:

                       1.  Managing programs that address housing, homelessness and community development needs, and helping implement improvements identified in subarea and neighborhood plans for low and moderate income communities;

                       2.  Administering the county's federal housing, homelessness and community development funds and other housing, homelessness and community development programs;

                       3.  Developing housing, homelessness and community development policies and programs to implement the growth management policies throughout King County to provide affordable housing to low and moderate income residents; and

                       4.  Providing staff support for the renter's commission as specified in K.C.C. chapter 2.150.