Ross Hunter, Secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) visited this year’s Camp To Belong Washington, a camp dedicated to reuniting siblings separated by foster care, adoption or kinship.

Effective July 28, 2019, Engrossed House Bill 1638 removes the option for a personal/philosophical exemption to the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine requirement for schools and child care centers.

Child Care Subsidy Transfers to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Effective July 1, 2019, the Child Care Subsidy Program will transition from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), creating the DCYF Child Care Subsidy Contact Center.

During a recent court hearing, a biological mother whose children were previously removed from her care spoke up to thank a DCYF caseworker.

There’s a new Muppet in town and her name is Karli!

Sesame Street introduced the character — a young Muppet in foster care — on Monday as part of a new initiative that offers support to children, foster parents and providers who serve foster families.

Unbeknownst to her, Janet Watkins, a CPS investigator working out of the Benton County Sherriff’s Office, walked into a room full of people ready to recognize her commitment to safety, permanency and well-being of children and families.

Janet received the Rosie Oreskovich award during this year’s Children’s Justice Conference in Seattle.

On May 3, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) hosted a webinar about state and local emergency alert systems for early learning providers and foster parents. The recorded webinar is available online: Emergency Alert Systems Webinar.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to continuously improving our Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), and we know that there is more work to be done.