Washington State Hospitals Don’t Need to Report All Drug Exposed Newborns to CPS
Hospitals in Washington state are no longer required to report infants with prenatal drug exposure to Child Protective Services (CPS), provided there are no safety concerns.
The updated state policy allows voluntary “wrap-around” services to be provided to infants born exposed to drugs if health care providers have no safety concerns.
The move is a joint effort by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), the Department of Health (DOH), the Health Care Authority, and the Washington State Hospital Association.
DCYF framed the decision as a move to “enhance the well-being of infants and parents impacted by substance use at birth.”…