Tana Senn serves as Secretary for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). She has spent her career dedicated to issues related to supporting Washington children and families. After more than a decade of shaping policy, she looks forward to creating direct, meaningful impact for our most vulnerable Washingtonians.
Prior to her appointment, Tana served as State Representative for Washington's 41st Legislative District since 2013, including six years as the chair of the Human Services, Youth, and Early Learning Committee. She is widely recognized for her leadership on significant pieces of DCYF-related legislation, including the Fair Start for Kids Act, the creation of Family Assessment Response, reducing homelessness for youth and young adults discharging from a publicly funded system of care and adding developmental disability services for foster youth.
Before entering the Washington State Legislature, Tana worked in government relations and communications for 15 years in the private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. She also served on the Mercer Island City Council. Tana earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Hopelink, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and Mercer Island Youth and Family Services.
Tana has two grown children, one of whom serves as an officer in the U.S. Army, while the other is attending college.