After spending her teenage years in the foster care system, a Spokane teen pursued her degree and is using her lived experience to give back to her hometown and advocate for youth like her. With assistance from the Education Training and Voucher Program (ETV), Aubrey Shuman recently graduated from Eastern Washington University with her social work degree.
On Dec. 17, 2025, DCYF child welfare staff and leadership from across Washington state gathered to discuss the impact High Potency Synthetic Opioids (HPSO) are having on families and the child welfare system.
As we near the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate some exciting accomplishments across DCYF that are positively impacting the children, youth, and families we serve.
In 2025, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families:
Communities across Washington are celebrating the adoption of children and youth out of foster care during special ceremonies this month, as they join the nation in celebrating Adoption Day.
Since Jan. 1, 2025, more than 400 children and youth have been adopted in Washington state. This month, dozens of families will finalize their adoption in courthouses, from Seattle to Spokane.
Although the current government shutdown is not directly impacting DCYF programs or services, many benefits accessed by the children, youth, and families we serve are affected.
In Snohomish County, you can find a family of three that goes on bike rides, celebrates with movie nights, adventures in the forest, and has lots of laughs. This family unit was formed about two years ago when Jaxon — who was 16 months old at the time — moved to Washington to live with his grandparents Shaun and Brenda.
We are excited to announce that the Family Separation Rapid Response Team Resource Flyer is now available in multiple languages on our website. This is a comprehensive list of trusted resources for families at risk of separation due to immigration-related detention or deportation.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) launched new licensing standards that make it easier for relatives to become licensed caregivers, which provides additional supports to care for children and youth in foster care.
Across Washington state there are parents taking child development classes, going through substance use disorder treatment, and finding jobs, housing, and transportation to strengthen their skills and create an environment where they and their children can flourish.
