Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) providers will now receive payment for the true dollar value of services they provide to families thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee today.
Inslee signed House Bill 1916 into law, which will permit the full use of ESIT State Special Education 0-3 funding for the full months of service. Prior to the bill signing, DCYF and local ESIT provider agencies were prohibited from counting eligible children for the full number of months they receive services.
“The referral and intake process sets the tone for our relationship with each family and can take up to 45 days to complete,” said Colleen Fuchs, executive director at Joya Child and Family Development in Spokane, who supported the bill. “The month that requires the most resources is the month ESIT doesn’t currently fund. One additional month of funding means we can serve more families!”
HB 1916 will go into effect July 1, 2024.