Read the full October Secretary Newsletter and subscribe.
DCYF Agency Structure Update
A few weeks ago, I introduced a shift in DCYF's leadership structure to our staff as part of our work to integrate and streamline practices and center our work around our Strategic and Racial Equity Plan. Today, I want to share more details about the new teams that will support families in ways that keep them out of penetrating deeper into our system and help them improve their quality of life.
Read the full message from Secretary Ross Hunter.
Extended Foster Care Funding Extension
Earlier this year, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Proclamation 21-02: Extended Eligibility for Foster Care Services in response to the Federal requirement that states must not exit young people from care beginning in March 2020. The Federal moratorium, which removed the age limits on receiving Extended Foster Care (EFC), expired Sept. 30, 2021. As a result, more than 320 youth were exited from care and stopped receiving any financial support through this program on Oct. 1.
In response, Gov. Inslee has authorized $299,113 from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to support the youth who will be transitioning out of EFC. This additional financial support was not included in DCYF's budget and is needed to provide one-month transition funding for EFC young people. Our partners at Treehouse will distribute the funding directly to young people.
Fair Start for Kids Act - DCYF Updates
The passage of the Fair Start for Kids Act in May provides DCYF with resources to stabilize child care, support providers in serving the children that come through their doors, and allows more families to access affordable, high-quality child care.
High-quality child care provides children with access to early learning experiences that help them develop the skills they need to be successful in school and beyond.