The authority for child and family services are established in RCW 74.16.300, 74.16.400 and 74.16.490. The purpose of this program is to provide services to blind children and their families in order to facilitate the child's optimum participation in school and society.

Referrals of children for child and family services shall be accepted from any and all sources.

(1) The department shall interview all referrals to child and family services and/or their families as soon as possible following referral.

(2) At the initial interview the interviewer shall:

(a) Explain to the child and/or his family the nature and scope of available services as they relate to the child.

(b) Inform the child and/or his family of the right to confidentiality of information possessed by the department.

(c) Obtain any information necessary in determining eligibility for child and family services.

The department shall make eligibility determination as to every referral for child and family services. The determination of eligibility shall be made as soon as possible after referral.

(1) To be eligible for child and family services an individual must be between the ages of birth through six years of age or fourteen through twenty-one years of age.

(2) Any child below the age of twenty-one years who has completed high school or has discontinued his/her formal education shall not be eligible for child and family services. Such children shall be referred for vocational rehabilitation or other appropriate resources.

(3) Eligibility for child and family services shall be dependent on documentation of a visual impairment including one or more of the following conditions:

(a) Legal blindness or visual handicap as they are customarily defined, either in terms of qualifying reduction in visual acuity and/or a qualifying reduction in visual fields.

(b) A visual impairment which is progressive in nature and can be expected to lead to blindness within a reasonable period of time.

(c) Reductions in both visual acuity and visual fields such that the effect is substantially that of legal blindness, or visual efficiency is so reduced as to have substantially the same effect as legal blindness.

(d) A visual impairment which makes it impossible for a child to compete successfully in school and other childhood endeavors.

Services provided by child and family services include:

(1) Direct consultation with children and their families to provide developmental training, general counseling, needs assessment, and information regarding other available resources.

(2) Direct consultation and technical assistance to teachers, administrators and other educational personnel in order to facilitate adequate programs for blind and visually handicapped children.

(3) Direct consultation and technical assistance to other professionals who work with blind and visually handicapped children.

(4) Periodic follow-up throughout the child's term of eligibility to assure continuation of appropriate services.

(5) Continuity of case management and facilitation of transition to vocational rehabilitation at the appropriate time.

(6) Advocacy in all sectors of society for blind and visually handicapped children and/or their families to assure their rights to participate fully in the educational, vocational and social endeavors of society in general.

A child shall be terminated from child and family services for the following reasons:

(1) The child has completed high school;

(2) The child has withdrawn from school prior to his/her senior year and does not intend to return;

(3) The child has reached the age of twenty-one years, or is between the ages of seven and fourteen years;

(4) The child's vision improves to a degree which no longer meets the criteria for eligibility;

(5) The child moves from the state of Washington; or

(6) The child and/or his/her family requests termination.