Mason Burley, Jim Mayfield - December 2001

In 1995, Washington State implemented policies for at-risk youth intended to protect children and help families reconcile. Known as the "Becca Bill," the policies include court intervention for at-risk youth and provisions for mandatory treatment of youth with chemical dependency problems. The bill established secure crisis residential centers (CRCs), which prevent youth from leaving CRCs without parent or staff permission. During their stays in secure CRCs, youth and their families are referred to counseling and treatment services. The 2000 Washington State Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to examine outcomes for Becca youth.

Jim Mayfield - November 2001

In the spring of 2001, the Washington State Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to recommend how Washington could consider adding a targeted, stand-alone higher education component to the WorkFirst program in a way that is cost-neutral and consistent with the WorkFirst philosophy. This report examines other states’ practices, federal TANF regulations, and research regarding welfare and higher education.

Steve Lerch - November 2001

With the continued growth in state health care expenditures, interest in cost containment remains high. This report identifies one area where expenditure reductions may be possible: avoidable hospitalizations. Initial research indicates that potentially unnecessary hospitalizations in Washington are an issue for the federal Medicare program, private insurers, and for the state's Medicaid program. Based on the findings in this paper, the Institute will undertake a more comprehensive examination of avoidable hospitalizations for Medicaid recipients.

Mason Burley, Mina Halpern - November 2001

Over 12,000 school-age children in Washington State lived in foster care sometime during the past 12 months because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or family conflict.  While the health and safety of these children are of primary concern, the educational attainment of foster children will also greatly impact their ability to succeed as adults.  This study finds that at both the elementary and secondary levels, the educational attainment of foster students in Washington falls significantly behind other students.  Furthermore, foster students are likely to experience additional risk factors related to poor school outcomes.  As directed by the Legislature, this study also suggests alternatives for sharing information about the educational experiences of foster students.

For an updated analysis on the educational attainment of foster youth using the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), see this March 2008 report.

Robert Barnoski - October 2001

The 1999 Washington State Legislature directed the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to address disruptive behavior by students. Using a $2 million appropriation, OSPI implemented the Foundations for Learning: Safe and Civil Schools Project to promote a positive instructional approach to school discipline by building collaborative school teams though a training process. Schools had to apply for project participation through Safe and Drug Free Schools Program. The project, funded for two years, included 123 schools: 19 high schools, 26 middle schools, and 78 elementary schools.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy was asked by OSPI to evaluate the Foundations Project. The preliminary evaluation is encouraging since the teacher surveys show some positive improvements after the first year of the planned three-year implementation effort. News from the research community is also encouraging. Researchers are having success in finding programs shown to change school environments and student behaviors. Schools can be more confident in implementing a research-based school-wide initiative to develop effective discipline practices and school norms, and then adding programs within that environment to target specific behaviors, such as bullying, or programs that focus on specific at-risk student groups.

Barbara McLain, Madeleine Thompson - September 2001

This report, presented to the Legislature in September 2001, relies on analysis of a statewide survey of public high schools and visits to eight case study schools.  The following questions are addressed in the final report:

1) Are High Schools Increasing the Rigor of What Students Learn?
2) Are High Schools Making Learning More Relevant for Students? 
3) Are High Schools Providing Learning Options for 11th and 12th Grades? 

Barbara McLain, Madeleine Thompson - September 2001

The Institute selected eight high schools as case studies to examine state education reform:  Pasco, Moses Lake, Sunnyside, Nathan Hale (Seattle), Sequim, Nooksack Valley, Mark Morris (Longview), and Lake Roosevelt (Grand Coulee Dam).  This report presents summaries of interviews with principals, teachers, students, and parents from the case study schools conducted during the 2000-2001 school year. 

Robert Barnoski - July 2001

In 1997, the Washington State Legislature funded intensive parole for youth under the supervision of the state’s Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA). This legislation targets 25 percent of the JRA population at the highest risk for re-offending. The goals of the intensive parole program include maintaining public protection in both the short-term and long-term; assuring individual accountability; and providing treatment and support services. JRA's method for achieving these goals is through an overarching case management system intended to help high-risk delinquents make the transition from secure confinement to community supervision.

What value does the Intensive Parole Supervision Assessment (IPSA) have for JRA? How does the IPSA relate to JRA’s two additional risk instruments: the Initial Security Classification assessment and the Community Risk Assessment? How should we use the IPSA to measure progress on parole? How does the IPSA change between the initial assessment and the final assessment at the end of intensive parole?

Steve Lerch, Jim Mayfield - June 2001

This study examines the impact of Post-employment services provided by the Washington State WorkFirst program. Post-employment services are intended to help employed WorkFirst clients stay employed and find better paying jobs. The analysis shows that clients who receive Post-employment services have higher rates of employment, earn more, and work more hours than similar clients who did not receive those services. The study also evaluates the impact of more intensive Post-employment services provided in the Spokane area and examines the costs associated with supporting employed clients.

Lucy Berliner, David Fine - June 2001

The 2000 Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) to compare placement decisions and funding methodologies for residential care services for children in long-term foster care and to examine the best practices in other states (EHB 2487).  This report finds that initial placement decisions that correspond to the level of difficulties faced by a foster child and ongoing supports appropriate to the needs of the foster family are two steps that may improve the continuity of foster care placements and lead to positive outcomes for youth in foster care.