A state-funded program that provides peer support and resource navigation for families of children with developmental disabilities in all 39 Washington counties, including those in Southwest Washington, faces a potential loss of funding when its contract expires at the end of August. According to reporting by the Washington State Standard, the Parent to Parent program is currently under review by the Department of Social and Health Services as the state prepares for a projected multibillion-dollar budget shortfall.

The program costs approximately $900,000 per year and is overseen by The Arc of Washington State. It operates by pairing experienced parents with those new to navigating the developmental disability system, offering community support and “sibshops” for siblings. While the program received funding in the current state budget, its contract was recently extended by only one month, from July through August, leaving its future uncertain.

Stacy Dym, executive director of The Arc of Washington State, told the Standard that the organization was informed the contract might not be renewed. Dym noted that the program often fills gaps where government services are unavailable. Cathy Murahashi, an advocacy and policy specialist at The Arc, stated that losing the existing infrastructure would likely be more costly to rebuild in the future.

The potential cut comes as Governor Bob Ferguson has pledged to avoid tax increases in his upcoming two-year budget proposal, suggesting instead that programs created or expanded after 2019 may be targeted for reductions. DSHS spokesperson Jessica Nelson stated that no final funding decisions have been made for Parent to Parent or other agency programs, noting that budget conversations are ongoing to ensure a “solid financial foundation for the long-term.”

Parent to Parent was first established in 1980. If the state funding is eliminated, advocates argue that families will face greater difficulty accessing therapies, diagnostic services, and caregiving support. While DSHS has not provided a specific timeline for a final decision, the current contract extension provides only a few weeks of guaranteed operation for the statewide network.