Juvenile Rehabilitation

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

The outcomes on record for youth experiencing incarceration in Washington reflect the lowest graduation rates of any other student population. The needs of students in Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) are complex. They require more intensive services to achieve positive outcomes, making quality education a critical need for this group of students.

DCYF's incredible Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) staff are going above and beyond to infuse cheer and create a warm and festive environment for our young people this holiday season.

The Canine Connections program was established at Echo Glen Children’s Center more than 20 years ago. The program pairs rescue dogs with the young people in residence who train them in basic obedience over an eight-week session. At the end of the session, the dog goes home with its new adoptive family.

In November 2021, Naselle Youth Camp hosted its annual potlatch where community members, family, and DCYF staff gathered to share a meal and immerse themselves in the spirit of local potlatch tradition.  

“The event is a chance to have our voices heard,” said Sage, a youth of the Cheyenne River Sioux and Lummi Tribes. “It brings us closer together.”

Echo Glen Children’s Center recently celebrated three significant high school graduations for youth in residence – the first it has seen since integrating with DCYF in 2019.

DCYF proposed a bill to the Legislature that would repeal RCW 13.40.220, Washington’s “Parent Pay” statute, which charges families for their child’s incarceration. The law currently requires parents to pay a percentage of their income to DCYF for the cost of their child’s support, treatment, and confinement in Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR).

Suicide prevention is a top priority in Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR).

New and ongoing research shows that solitary confinement and isolation are harmful and counterproductive to youth development and can be an ineffective intervention. Across the country, states are taking action to limit or end room confinement and isolation.