DCYF-Reviewable Critical Incidents
DCYF is required by statute (RCW 74.13.640) to review child fatalities and near fatalities that are maltreatment-related and where DCYF provided services to the child or youth within 12 months prior to the incident.
For example, DCYF would not review a case if the family had no child welfare history in the past year, even if a critical incident occurred.
Child fatality reports that fit the above requirements are posted to this page.
Critical Incident Data and Briefings
Child Fatality Reviews
Fatality reviews are typically conducted two to three months following a critical incident. This timeframe allows for the receipt of autopsy or medical examiner records, coordination of participant schedules, and consideration of the current volume of reviews being managed by a limited number of facilitators.
Each report undergoes a thorough review process, which includes input from the assigned supervisor, Assistant Attorney General (AAG), committee members, the QA/CQI Administrator, Director of Practice Support and Quality Improvement, as well as the Office of Public Affairs (OPA). Once finalized, the report is submitted to the Legal Office Records and Discovery (DCYF) for redaction, then published.
Quarterly Child Fatality Reports to the Legislature
Archived Reports
Region 3 Snohomish County (2010) (1 Mb) - identifying information of the children involved has been redacted as the fatalities were not the result of abuse or neglect
Robinson, Justice & Raiden (2005)
