Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
Title
Motion 26-413, authorizing approval of Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services Agreement PS-HS-25-32 with TMD Law, PLLC, for CASA Attorney Services
body
DEPARTMENT: Human Services
ORIGINATOR: Zachary Anderson
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved Lacey Harper 10/13/26
PURPOSE: To amend professional services contract PS-HS-25-32 to increase the contract maximum from $50,000 to $200,000 effective for the current contract term, January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027.
BACKGROUND: Professional Services Contract PS-HS-25-32 was executed on January 14, 2026, with a qualified attorney to provide legal representation and independent legal counsel for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers in dependency and termination of parental rights cases under Chapter 13.34 RCW.
Every day in Snohomish County, children enter the court system through no fault of their own, separated from their families due to abuse or neglect. The Office of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates who champion the best interests of these vulnerable children throughout the dependency court process.
Under Washington State law (RCW 13.34.100), courts are mandated to appoint a guardian ad litem for children in dependency matters. CASA volunteers serve as the eyes, ears, and voice of children navigating the complex dependency system, often becoming the one constant presence in a child's life during periods of uncertainty and transition.
To fulfill their critical advocacy role, CASA volunteers require professional legal representation and counsel. This contract provides essential legal services including representation at hearings and reviews, legal consultation, research and pleadings, training, discovery assistance, and public records response.
The CASA Program maintains attorney contracts to ensure volunteers have access to qualified legal counsel. This contract amendment represents a continuation of these essential services, solicited through a competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ-25-0487JM) process.
The contract term runs January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, with options to extend for two (2) additional two-year terms. As amended, services will be compensated at $115.00 per hour with a contract maximum not to exceed $200,000 over the term of the agreement ending on December 31, 2027.
This Executive/Council Approval Form accompanies Amendment No. 1 to Contract PS-HS-25-32. The amendment increases the contract adding $150,000 for a new total of $200,000 with a maximum not to exceed $200,000, effective for the current contract term of January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027.
This increase reflects a 25% increase in this attorney's caseload from 2025 to 2026 and a 45% increase in scheduled hearings over the same period, driven by a 22% increase in the number of children served by CASA volunteers in the juvenile dependency system. The additional dependency and termination cases require a corresponding increase in legal representation, and this trend is projected to continue into 2027.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
|
EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OBJ, AU |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
|
002-5047304106 |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
$150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
$150,000 |
|
REVENUE: FUND, AGY, ORG, REV, SOURCE |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
|
County General |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
$150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
$150,000 |
DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES: Click or tap here to enter text.
CONTRACT INFORMATION:
|
ORIGINAL |
|
CONTRACT# |
PS-HS-25-32 |
AMOUNT |
$50,000 |
|
AMENDMENT |
X |
CONTRACT# |
PS-HS-25-32(1) |
AMOUNT |
$150,000 |
Contract Period
|
ORIGINAL |
START |
1/1/2026 |
END |
12/31/2027 |
|
AMENDMENT |
START |
1/1/2026 |
END |
12/31/2027 |
OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEWCOMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by Risk Management (Stephanie Rousseau 10/6/26) and Finance (Nathan Kennedy 10/12/26)