Last year, Olympia’s Capital High School (CHS) head football coach, Terry Rose, attended Green Hill School’s (GHS) Pursuit for Change event.

As part of his Eagle Scout project, one Spokane youth chose to give back, focusing on youth who are involved with DCYF.

Working with Erik Larson, DCYF’s Home Finders supervisor in Region 2, and Joni Startin, a placement coordinator, Ben Smith came up with a project that worked for everyone and that would be approved by his scoutmaster.

Thank you for doing your part to support families, caring for children and youth, and continuing to keep our communities safe.

Read the full December Secretary Newsletter.

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) supports families in crisis and part of that work requires responding to allegations of abuse and neglect. Reporters of abuse primarily are mandated reporters in fields that work directly with children, but community members and neighbors also call the state’s End Harm line to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) works closely with the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds (OFCO) and I have great respect for their work. The Ombuds’ responsibilities are largely focused on responding to complaints about DCYF service provision.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) operates eight community facilities for young adults across Washington State. Community facilities are less restrictive options where youth can serve the remainder of their sentence in a therapeutic setting while strengthening community connections.

For the past year, parents, child care providers, early learning advocates, pediatricians, staff from state agencies and many others have worked together to develop goals and strategies to inform the future of Washington State’s early learning system for children prenatal through 3rd grade and the adults who care for them.

In response to the ongoing national discussion about out-of-state placements, specifically within Sequel Youth and Family Services facilities, DCYF has prepared the attached update. For reasons outlined in the update, DCYF has made the decision to end new placement referrals to Sequel facilities as of September 2020.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) operates eight community facilities for young adults across Washington State. Community facilities are less restrictive options where youth can serve the remainder of their sentence in a therapeutic setting.