Mason Burley, Steve Lerch, Jim Mayfield - January 2001

This report looks at the three-year history of the state's welfare reform program, WorkFirst, and assesses some of the key issues facing welfare reform in the coming years.  One of the foremost issues is the 5-year time limit on welfare benefits, which will take effect in Washington State beginning August 2002.  Approximately 7,600 individuals on WorkFirst may reach the 5-year time limit between 2002 and 2003.  This study describes these high risk cases, outlines the factors that increase the likelihood of remaining on welfare, and follows program participation of long-term recipients.

Steve Lerch - January 2001

This report examines the bidding process used by the Public Employee Benefits Board to purchase state employee health benefits from managed care organizations. Three options having the potential to improve decision-making and reduce costs are identified: 1) requiring the bidding process to occur before the biennial budget is passed; 2) limiting the number of accepted bids in a geographic area; and 3) requesting annual and multi-year bids.

Barbara McLain - January 2001

The 1999 Legislature requested the Institute to review the effectiveness of HOPE Centers and Responsible Living Skills Programs (RLSPs), two new state services for street youth.  This interim report describes the legislative intent in creating these services, provides an implementation update, and summarizes preliminary findings regarding characteristics of the youth served and services provided. 

Kay Knapp - January 2001

The 2000 Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy "to study the mission, programs, and usage of the state library." This study focused on three key questions related to this direction: 1) Are there options for redefining the roles and functions of the Washington State Library (WSL)? 2) What value can the WSL add to the delivery of information to the legislature and state government agencies? 3) Is the current location of the WSL on the capitol campus essential to its effective operation? Results of interviews, focus group meetings, and a survey of state government users are incorporated into the final recommendations.

Lucy Berliner, Roxanne Lieb - January 2001

The 1999 Legislature directed the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to establish three pilot projects involving child sexual abuse investigations.  The Child Protective Services (CPS) offices were to use written protocols and test different methods and techniques to conduct and preserve interviews with alleged victims of child sexual abuse.  This report examines the quality, feasibility, utility of interview techniques in each pilot site. 

Steve Lerch, Jim Mayfield - December 2000

The rapid growth of Washington State’s health care expenditures has renewed efforts to contain the state’s health care costs. Of particular interest is the potential to reduce expenditures and improve health outcomes for low-income Medicaid recipients with disabilities or who are over age 65. This paper proposes an approach that uses medical claims data to identify high-cost Medicaid beneficiaries and provide them with case management services to help improve their health status and contain their medical costs.

Robert Barnoski - November 2000

JRA contracted with the Institute to evaluate the program's implementation, determine whether it reduces recidivism, and analyze its costs and benefits to taxpayers and crime victims. To determine whether intensive parole reduces recidivism, the Institute compared intensive parole youth with a similar group of youth who did not receive intensive parole.

Madeleine Thompson, Edie Harding, Barbara McLain - November 2000

In 2000, the Washington State Legislature created the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to oversee new teacher assessments, recommend alternative methods of certification, and advise on issues pertaining to preparation and professional development of educators. This report examines scope of authority and governance options for Washington’s PESB through studying models for tapping the expertise of educators from all 50 states and eight case study states.

Steve Lerch - November 2000

The federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 is intended to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, focusing on individuals participating in the two federal income assistance programs: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income.  A key provision of the Ticket to Work law gives states the option of expanding Medicaid coverage to employed persons with severe disabilities. The Medicaid expansion, often referred to as a “buy-in,” represents a major change in access to health care for persons with severe disabilities by greatly increasing the income and asset thresholds for Medicaid eligibility. This report, undertaken at legislative request, examines the impacts of implementing the optional Medicaid buy-in provision of the Ticket to Work law.

Mason Burley - September 2000

At the request of its Board of Directors, the Institute studied the impact of the truancy petition process in the Seattle School District. Revised truancy procedures in Washington State school districts took effect in 1995 as part of the “Becca Bill.” The truancy component of this bill requires school districts to file a petition in juvenile court when students accumulate excessive unexcused absences. This paper describes whether the truancy requirements work to keep truant youth (from the Seattle School District) enrolled in school.