Bill to restructure DSHS at risk of dying in Legislature
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- State lawmakers are fighting to break apart the state Department of Social and Health Services in the wake of some startling revelations.
A KOMO News investigation found on average since 2002, more than one child was dying every single month of abuse or neglect. The findings energized Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, to take action.
"That's a travesty. That's one that we need to get our arms around, and we need to do it now," he said.
The KOMO investigation found that the DSHS Children's Administration tried but failed to get national accreditation. KOMO News also discovered two other national reviews showed abuse and neglect on the rise in Washington state with 36 other states doing a better job keeping kid's safe.
Those are just some of the reasons Armstrong wants to abolish the state's largest agency that employs nearly 19,000 workers.
"That's how large this agency is. It takes a road map for DSHS to provide services,' said Armstrong.
Michael Ravenell's son, Kekoa,was beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend. He's one of dozens of parents, foster parents, and DSHS workers who told KOMO News the same thing: "Bottom line, the system failed me."
More than 30 lawmakers - Democrats and Republicans - agree with Armstrong that creating several smaller agencies is the only way to stop the deaths and abuse.
"We have people who are dying. There are children who are dying. They're not doing their jobs," said Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo.
In 2004, Gov. Chris Gregoire campaigned on revamping DSHS. But now her policy adviser is arguing against Armstrong's bill.
"We believe the reorganization proposed in this bill would be disruptive and would cost money at least in the short term," said policy adviser Kari Burrell.
The Governor's new DSHS Secretary Susan Dreyfus testified she's streamlining the department and adding accountability.
"If you allow too much decentralization, you will get the very things that we are talking about here today,' she said.
Dreyfus argues the department has been too fragmented.
"What I'm already doing is by working on this one department framework," she said.
But Armstrong warns of dire consequences if lawmakers don't act.
"This Legislature sends the message that we're fine with the status quo, we're fine with all the lawsuits, we're fine with kids dying, we're fine with the elderly being abused, we don't want to make any change," he said. "And that's the frustration many of us feel here that there is truly a change needed."
There is one last chance for this bill to get passed out of the House Health and Human Services Committee on Friday.
If it doesn't make it out by then, however, the bill is, more or less, dead, for legislative session. If such is the case, Armstrong says he'll start all over again next year.
A KOMO News investigation found on average since 2002, more than one child was dying every single month of abuse or neglect. The findings energized Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, to take action.
"That's a travesty. That's one that we need to get our arms around, and we need to do it now," he said.
The KOMO investigation found that the DSHS Children's Administration tried but failed to get national accreditation. KOMO News also discovered two other national reviews showed abuse and neglect on the rise in Washington state with 36 other states doing a better job keeping kid's safe.
Those are just some of the reasons Armstrong wants to abolish the state's largest agency that employs nearly 19,000 workers.
"That's how large this agency is. It takes a road map for DSHS to provide services,' said Armstrong.
Michael Ravenell's son, Kekoa,was beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend. He's one of dozens of parents, foster parents, and DSHS workers who told KOMO News the same thing: "Bottom line, the system failed me."
More than 30 lawmakers - Democrats and Republicans - agree with Armstrong that creating several smaller agencies is the only way to stop the deaths and abuse.
"We have people who are dying. There are children who are dying. They're not doing their jobs," said Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo.
In 2004, Gov. Chris Gregoire campaigned on revamping DSHS. But now her policy adviser is arguing against Armstrong's bill.
"We believe the reorganization proposed in this bill would be disruptive and would cost money at least in the short term," said policy adviser Kari Burrell.
The Governor's new DSHS Secretary Susan Dreyfus testified she's streamlining the department and adding accountability.
"If you allow too much decentralization, you will get the very things that we are talking about here today,' she said.
Dreyfus argues the department has been too fragmented.
"What I'm already doing is by working on this one department framework," she said.
But Armstrong warns of dire consequences if lawmakers don't act.
"This Legislature sends the message that we're fine with the status quo, we're fine with all the lawsuits, we're fine with kids dying, we're fine with the elderly being abused, we don't want to make any change," he said. "And that's the frustration many of us feel here that there is truly a change needed."
There is one last chance for this bill to get passed out of the House Health and Human Services Committee on Friday.
If it doesn't make it out by then, however, the bill is, more or less, dead, for legislative session. If such is the case, Armstrong says he'll start all over again next year.