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.

Despite the pandemic closing court rooms, DCYF will celebrated National Adoption Day today. 

National Adoption Day was founded in the United States in 2000 by a handful of courts, child welfare agencies and businesses to raise awareness of the thousands of foster children awaiting adoption. It is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

You may have heard, COVID-19 cases are spiking and with the holidays around the corner, Gov. Jay Inslee made the tough decision this week to release additional orders that restrict gatherings, building occupancy and indoor activities.

Oakridge Community Facility is one of eight DCYF-operated least-restrictive community facilities. In these settings, young people gain community employment skills, strengthen family connections through enhanced visitation and attend school in the community.