Washington’s Permanency from Day One Initiative

Olympia — The federal Administration for Children and Families recently notified Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families that it has been awarded one of only five grants nationally to improve permanency outcomes for children. The grant will benefit youth who are in dependency in ten intervention counties across the state. DCYF worked with multiple partner agencies and organizations to develop the competitive grant application that was submitted in July.

In 2017, the Washington State Center for Court Research reported that just 28% of dependent children achieved permanency before 15 months in out-of-home care.¹ The 5-year project will build system capacity to support the workforce, families, and children to achieve improved permanency outcomes. The project will build on the current Court Improvement Project partnership, and will align with improvement efforts currently underway in partnership with the state Administrative Office of the Courts and local county juvenile courts.

Other partners in this effort include Casey Family Programs, Office of Public Defense, Court-appointed Special Advocates, Northwest Resources Associates/Northwest Adoption Exchange, Children’s Home Society of Washington’s Parents for Parents program, and Tribal partners. The ten intervention counties are Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grant, Benton, Franklin, Jefferson, King, and Okanogan.

During the 5-year project, DCYF and partners will: 1) develop and implement a robust concurrent planning model, 2) implement evidence-based supports for biological parents, 3) build a strong multi-system collaboration with the courts, legal, and community partners, and 4) increase adoptions for youth over age 12. In addition, DCYF will work with The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

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¹ Washington State Center for Court Research, Annual Case Timeliness and Outcomes Report, 2017
https://www.courts.wa.gov/