This month both Patrick Dowd from the Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds and I testified in a House committee about hotel stays.

Right before the change in administration earlier this month, the federal Health and Human Services agency repealed a rule that prohibited government contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) or on religion.

Washington State recently published a 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty. As a lead agency tasked with improving outcomes for all Washington children, youth, and families, we see ourselves closely aligned with the work of the state’s plan to dismantle poverty.

In December 2020, 11 young men from Oakridge Community Facility celebrated their graduation from the Manufacturing Academy (MA), a 12-week pre-apprenticeship for Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) youth who reside in less restrictive community facilities.

Senate Bill 6560 required the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) to develop a plan that ensures no young person will be discharged into homelessness from a system of care.

Read the full January Secretary Newsletter.

In 2020, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) administered more than $60 million in grants to child care providers to help stabilize the industry and provide access to care for children and families.

In May, the agency provided $30 million in grant funding and incentives and administered a second round of grants and incentives in November.

DCYF recognizes that caring for children experiencing foster care comes with costs. To that end, DCYF is distributing a one-time grant to many caregivers and placement providers to offset expenses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Individuals with a founded finding of child abuse or neglect made by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or a Washington State court may now apply to work in an assisted living facility or nursing home, provide long-term care services, or seek unsupervised access under a DCYF program such as child care or foster care.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) offers support in several programs to provide housing vouchers to eligible young people in our care. We work with a variety of partners to ensure that these youth experience supported transitions into safe, stable, and appropriate housing when they leave our care.