Thanks to active input from staff, stakeholders, tribes, and community members, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families' (DCYF) Strategic and Racial Equity Plan is finalized and available on the agency website. As DCYF pivots to implementing the plan, the agency is forming leadership-level accountability groups. The accountability groups will establish targets and metrics for monitoring and publicly reporting progress on the agency's six priorities:
- Eliminate racial disproportionalities and advance racial equity
- Safely reduce the number/rate of children and youth in out-of-home care
- Create successful transitions to adulthood for youth and young adults in our care
- Create a high-quality integrated B-8 system
- Improve quality and intention of our practice
- Improve quality and availability of provider services
You can read more about the monitoring plan and outcome indicators here.
There is also strong alignment between the Legislature and the agency’s priorities. These include creating successful transitions to adulthood with a $9.5 million investment to implement community transition services, safely reducing the number of children and youth in out-of-home care with the passing of HB 1227, and much more.
An incredible amount of work went into the process of creating this plan. Thanks to your help with developing this plan, DCYF has a strategic vision to align and integrate the agency's work and ensure Washington’s children grow up safe and healthy.