Washington state's Parent to Parent disability support program faces possible funding cut
Washington’s Parent to Parent program, which pairs new parents of children with autism or other developmental disabilities with experienced families, provides guidance, resources and sibling support across all 39 counties. The service handles tens of thousands of calls and emails each year and costs about $900,000 annually.
State officials say the program’s funding is not guaranteed beyond August as the governor’s two‑year budget proposal relies on cuts rather than tax increases. Gov. Bob Ferguson highlighted programs created or expanded after 2019 as potential reduction targets. The Arc of Washington State, led by executive director Stacy Dym, operates the program under contract with the Department of Social and Health Services, which has let the contract lapse while budget talks continue. A spokesperson said no final funding decision has been made.
Entities: Bob Ferguson · Department of Social and Health Services · Parent to Parent program · Stacy Dym · The Arc of Washington State · Washington state
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Arc of Washington State oversees the Parent to Parent program under a contract with the Department of Social and Health Services. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Parent to Parent program provides support and resources for families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities in Washington state. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Funding for the program may end after August 2026 due to a state budget shortfall. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Parent to Parent program costs about $900,000 per year. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The program serves families in all 39 counties of Washington and handles tens of thousands of calls and emails each year. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ferguson has identified programs created or expanded after 2019 as possible targets for reductions. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Advocates such as Stacy Dym and Cathy Murahashi said they were taken aback and warned the cuts would be destructive and could cost more to rebuild later. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Governor Bob Ferguson has pledged not to propose tax increases in his two‑year budget proposal and plans to rely on cuts. (belongs)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Arc of Washington State oversees the program under a contract with the Department of Social and Health Services. (All Washington articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ferguson cited programs created or expanded after 2019 as possible targets for reductions. (All Washington articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Gov. Bob Ferguson has pledged not to propose tax increases in his two‑year budget and will rely on cuts. (All Washington articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Parent to Parent program provides support and resources for families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. (All Washington articles)