BUDGET PROPOSALS PROMISE STRONG INVESTMENTS

The state House and Senate have released their budget proposals for the 2023-25 biennium over the past five days, and Children’s Alliance was pleased to see positive investments in kids, families and racial equity in each. Now, House and Senate budget writers will meet to negotiate the final details.  

Both budget proposals make continued investments in early learning. Fulfilling lawmakers’ commitment to increase the Working Connections reimbursement rates will better support the child care workforce. Children furthest from opportunity will have greater resources to meet their needs through the expansion of the Early Childhood & Education Assistance Program (ECEAP), the Child Care Complex Needs Grant, the Equity Grant, and Tribal Early Learning grants. We hope that the House will agree to fuller funding requests for Child Care Complex Needs, ECEAP expansion, and ECEAP slot rate increases that are funded in the proposals of the Governor and the Senate. 

Both budget proposals make significant investments to address the behavioral health crisis that is impacting Washington’s children and youth. Lawmakers in the House and Senate have included a substantial reimbursement rate increase for behavioral health providers – fulfilling the top recommendation of the state’s Children & Youth Behavioral Health Workgroup. Funding is also provided for efforts to improve intensive services available to children and youth, including enhanced funding for the children's long-term inpatient program, and for the expansion of youth navigator programs. 

Additionally, lawmakers are choosing to invest in the oral health of our state’s kids; the House proposed capital budget includes funding for dental capacity projects at community health clinics, and the House operating budget proposes funding for Skagit Valley College’s dental therapy education program. The proposed House budget also includes $3.6 million for school-based health centers, where many of our state’s underserved children receive necessary medical, dental, and behavioral health care. 

In the wake of a tight revenue forecast, Children’s Alliance greatly appreciates the work of the legislature to center children and racial equity in many pieces of the proposed 2023-25 biennial budgets.  

Tell lawmakers to invest in kids—take action now.