Dear Director Dowd,

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has released the recordings from the 4th annual Indigenous Children, Youth, and Families (ICYF) Conference, which brought together caregivers, judicial personnel, caseworkers, and tribal partners to discuss state tribal resources.

As part of the agency’s commitment to keeping residents and staff safe, staff at Echo Glen Children's Center, Green Hill School, and Community facilities are getting trained in Advanced Crisis Intervention Training (ACIT).

A Blog from a Former Foster Kid

Emiley Thorne

As a foster kid, something significant about permanency and suppo

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families has launched two newsletters, each focused on providing resources and information for families across the state.

The Fair Start for Kids Act (FSKA) is historic legislation signed by Governor Inslee in 2021, investing $1.1 billion to make early care and education (ECE) more affordable for families and to provide resources to support the ECE workforce.

Nov. 1 marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month. What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.

The new Assessment Oversight Group web page, accessible from the Practice Improvement landing page on the DCYF website, helps explain the AOG’s creation, priorities, and membership. It also includes an inventory of all decision-making assessments used in Child Welfare and Juvenile Rehabilitation.

October is Youth Justice Action Month. This month serves as an opportunity to build awareness, inspire action, and amplify youth voices to understand the justice system's impact on them. This year, we encourage you to engage with content featuring youth voices within Juvenile Rehabilitation.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Brackeen v.