Thank you for your support of the Paid Parent Caregiving petition!  We are thrilled to announce that HB 2184 "Authorizing payment for parental caregivers of minor children with developmental disabilities." was filed by Rep Taylor and Rudd in the House of the WA State Legislature. There is still much work to do, and we would appreciate your support to ensure it gets through the short session. 

BILL UPDATE:  

This year, the Washington State Legislature is ready to help thousands of parents with developmentally disabled children by making natural, adoptive, and stepparents of children under the age of 18 eligible to be paid caregivers! 

HB 2184 HAS BEEN FILED AND WILL BE HEARD THIS WEDNESDAY!

Currently in Washington State, Medicaid eligible children under the age of 18 who receive caregiver support through Community First Choice cannot hire their natural, adoptive, or stepparents to be a paid caregiver. However, Medicaid eligible adults over the age of 18 who receive caregiver support through Community First Choice can hire their natural, adoptive, or stepparents to be a paid caregiver. 

Because of the well-documented caregiver shortages in our state and in our country, and because of the pervasive lack of accommodations and supports in childcare and school settings, parenting a developmentally disabled child means that at least one parent must dedicate their entire day toward providing basic caregiving supports to their child for 18 years of the child’s life. 

And the parent must do this work without any payment from the state. 

Caregiving continues to be “women’s work” and as such, is unseen, unpaid, and deprioritized. Further, this policy omission leaves women of color, poor people, and families with language access barriers especially exposed to the financial burdens families of loved ones with developmental disabilities face.

PLEASE SIGN IN PRO TO HELP US GET THIS BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THIS SESSION. Time is of the essence. The first hearing on the bill is this Wednesday the 10th, at 1:30pm.

LEARN ABOUT THE BILL HERE:  

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2184&Year=2023&Initiative=false

SIGN IN AS PRO HERE: 

https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House&mId=31598&aId=156285&caId=22925&tId=3

Thank you so much for your support! 

Follow our FB Group for updates or to request more information on getting involved:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1904616219919483