OSPI – Wasting $1 million on “feel good” antics and bypassing parental consent on medical issues

Washington State House Bill 1682 was signed into law by Governor Inslee on June 9, 2016. If you take the time to read the bill history (in the link) you will note some interesting information: Click this link to read the legislative summary

1. Brief Description: Improving educational outcomes for homeless students through increased in-school guidance supports, housing stability, and identification services.
2. The bill spends most of its time describing how children as young as 13 can get certain types of medical care WITHOUT the approval or knowledge of the parent(s)
3. Up to $1 million will be awarded to up to 15 school districts to hire “navigators” to help find shelter for homeless school children
4. There is no definition as to how much of the money will go to children vs. administration

Locally, in Southwest Washington, the Vancouver, Evergreen and Battle Ground school districts combined efforts (with Evergreen taking the lead) and applied for the grant. They collectively have been awarded $500,000. In a story in a local newspaper Evergreen and Vancouver were going to hire full-time “navigators” and Battle Ground is going to hire a 1/2 “navigator”. In the story published in The Columbian on August 14th we learn:

• There are ~2,313 homeless children in SWW (Clark County). This works out to 761 in Evergreen; 682 in Vancouver and 393 in Battle Ground. Together these three districts have 1,836 or 79.4% of the total homeless children
• The award was $500,000
• Evergreen and Vancouver will hire one (1) “Navigator” each with Battle Ground hiring 1/2 a person.
• If we assume that the Fully Loaded Cost (FLC) of a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is $70,000 per year (this is salary + benefits) then the total admin cost will be $70,000 + $70,000 + $35,000 = $175,000. If we divide $175,000 by the $500,000 award that leaves $325,000 or 65% of the money to help solve housing issues.
• Evergreen would have $130,000 left to spend; Vancouver $130,000 and Battle Ground $65,000
• Let’s translate that to the amount of money left to help each child. Evergreen has 761 homeless students and they have $130,000 which means they have $170.82 to spend per child. Vancouver has $190.61 per student. Battle Ground would have $165.39 to spend per homeless student.

So, these “Navigators” are going to do what that existing agencies don’t do? How are the “Navigators” going to find housing and make it affordable? Given that this is a temporary program (1 year?) and there is $165 to $190 per student how is that going to make housing affordable and how is it going to get those students into a home?

This is an example of a group of people wanting to do something that feels good. The legislators want to be able to say “we care”. But, this is a waste of money that does nothing new, does nothing to solve the issue and is really nothing more than putting a little pain-killer on a wound that is still infected, dirty and festering.

In our opinion this is an example of NOT thinking, not analyzing, wasting funds and wasting tax payer money. Existing agencies who try to help the homeless are in a far better position to make use of additional funds and would do much more with them. Contact your legislator and ask them what the Hades they are doing.

The REAL impact of this legislation relates to children’s health. Note what children as young as 13 can now do:

• Minors can receive medical treatment without the consent of an authorized adult if the minor: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ (1) is in need of emergency medical treatment; (2) is seeking family planning services or pregnancy care; (3) is aged 15 or older and satisfies the “mature minor rule,” meaning the minor has, based on a number of factors, demonstrated the maturity to provide consent for medical treatment; (4) is aged 13 or older and seeking mental health treatment; or (5) is aged 13 or older and seeking outpatient substance abuse treatment

In certain circumstances a non-parent can take control of the child’s healthcare. This legislation expands the ability of the state to bypass the parent. That’s scary.