Join DCYF in recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, Oct. 12. Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes that Native people are the first inhabitants of the Americas, including the lands that later became the United States. Falling on the same day as Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day encourages Americans to rethink and reevaluate our nation’s history.

The following letter was submitted by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in response to the proposed rule changes for Head Start:

Dear Federal Partners,

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is now accepting Unsung Hero Award nominations for 2027!

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) was one of only 14 child welfare jurisdictions across the nation to be awarded a grant from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to streamline the placement process for kin, foster families, and prospective adoptive parents.  

To make it easier to find publications that fit your needs or the needs of the populations you serve, DCYF is launching “Communications Kits.”

Child care center providers will be required to claim payment based on a new attendance-based rule, as part of the implementation of Substitute House Bill (SHB) 2689.

UPDATE on Sept. 28, 2026:  DCYF Centralia and Long Beach Offices are open and functioning as normal. 

The DCYF Centralia Office located at 3401 Galvin Road, Centralia, WA 98531 and the DCYF Long Beach Office Located at 2601 Pacific Ave N, Long Beach, WA 98631 are closed on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, due to power outages caused by inclement weather. 

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program offers free preschool and family support for low-income 3- and 4-year-olds

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is hosting a webinar from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, to provide updates on our Agency Request Legislation (ARL) and Decision Package (DP) submissions for the 2027 Legislative Session. 

Washington is one of the leading states in kinship care, which is the full-time care of a child by extended family or suitable others.