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.
Awards:
- Treehouse, Legislator of the Year, 2024
- Children’s Alliance, Champion for Children, 202, 2023 and 2024
- Holocaust Center for Humanity, inaugural Legislator of the Year Award, 2024
- Child Care Resources, Ruth Kagi Award for Excellence in Early Learning Advocacy, 2021
- Women’s Commission, inaugural Marian Wright Edelman Award, 2021
- Foster Parents Association of Washington State Shining Star, 2019
- Washington Association for Children & Families, Child Advocate of the Year, 2019
Related Legislation:
Below is a selection of key bills championed or sponsored by Tana Senn as the former Washington state representative for the 41st Legislative District.
- SB 6109 passed in 2024 to clarify the lethality of fentanyl when Juvenile Courts are considering whether a child is at imminent physical harm when considering the need for removal in child welfare cases. Senn championed the legislation along with Sen. Claire Wilson.
- HB 1916 in 2024 increased funding for the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers program by ensuring reimbursement for the first month of services they provide families.
- 1394 in 2023 created a developmentally appropriate response to youth who commit sexual offenses.
- HB 1188 in 2023 allowed children and youth in foster care to receive services and supports from the Developmental Disability Administration under Medicaid Waiver Services.
- 1905 in 2022 provided crucial pathways to stability, safety, and support for our homeless youth, providing flexible funding, rapid response teams, housing for youth in crisis and more. The Youth and Young Adult Housing Response Team was born from this important policy.
- SB 5237, known as the Fair Start for Kids Act of 2021, dramatically expanded state investment in child care and early learning across Washington State, ensuring greater access and affordability for families and more supports and funding for providers.
- HB 1061 in 2021 improved transition planning for youth with developmental disabilities in foster care.
- SB 5290 in 2019 was a Senate Bill that Senn championed along with Sen. Darnielle that ended the detention of youth for status offenses like contempt, truancy or being a child in need of services.
- HB 2530 in 2018 allowed former foster youth to continue to receive health care and behavioral health services for 12 months after reuniting with their families.