(1) The department of social and health services shall contract for chemical dependency specialist services at each division of children and family services office to enhance the timeliness and quality of child protective services assessments and to better connect families to needed treatment services.

     (2) The chemical dependency specialist's duties may include, but are not limited to: Conducting on-site chemical dependency screening and assessment, facilitating progress reports to department social workers, in-service training of department social workers and staff on substance abuse issues, referring clients from the department to treatment providers, and providing consultation on cases to department social workers.

     (3) The department of social and health services shall provide training in and ensure that each case-carrying social worker is trained in uniform screening for mental health and chemical dependency.

[2005 c 504 § 305.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Intent -- Severability -- Application -- Construction -- Captions, part headings, subheadings not law -- Adoption of rules -- Effective dates -- 2005 c 504: See notes following RCW 71.05.027.

     Alphabetization -- Correction of references -- 2005 c 504: See note following RCW 71.05.020.