Caseworkers, juvenile rehabilitation staff, and licensors were among the 1,400 staff who tuned into the unofficial handoff between Secretary Ross Hunter and Rep. Tana Senn, who is set to lead the Department of Children, Youth, and Families on Jan. 15. 

Senn began by thanking Secretary Hunter and letting staff know she looks forward to working with everyone. 

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is hosting a webinar from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 to discuss the agency's 2025 budget investments. Join the webinar to hear about DCYF's investments in the 2025-2027 Governor’s budget and learn about proposed funding levels for DCYF, including our 2025 Legislative Session requests.

A few moments ago, Governor-elect Ferguson announced Rep. Tana Senn as the next Secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.  You can find the announcement in the attached release. 

Four young people at Green Hill School are the latest cohort to graduate from the Trades Experience Pre-Apprenticeship (TEPA) program, which provides the knowledge and trade skills required to enter the construction industry.  

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has updated its Mandatory Reporter training to highlight the distinction between families in need of support versus child abuse and neglect, and the importance of connecting those families to resources.

In 2021, the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1227 — the Keeping Families Together Act. The intent of the act was to safely reduce the number of children placed into foster care, reduce racial disproportionality in the child welfare system, and support relatives to take care of children when they must be placed out of home in order to protect their safety. 

After nearly 2.5 years in foster care, Logan said yes to his forever family during a National Adoption Day celebration at Yakima County Superior Court.

Young people at Echo Glen Children’s Center experienced music from the Seattle Symphony during a special performance that brought classical sounds to the juvenile rehabilitation facility. 

A podcast series focused on young people in juvenile rehabilitation, the programs they participate in, and the staff that support them was launched last week by The Bridge Music Project in partnership with the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

DCYF is investing funding in fatherhood support programs for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) fathers and father figures. The intent of this initiative is to build capacity to support fathers, leading to increasing family strengths, enhancing child development, and reducing the likelihood of abuse and neglect.