Within DCYF, work is guided by its 2021-2026 Strategic Priorities, 3 a plan outlining six focus areas including eliminating racial disproportionality and safely reducing the number of children and youth in out-of-home care by half. Although DCYF leadership has remained relatively stable over the past five years, direct-service staff turnover has been high, around 26% based on external turnover data, with an overall turnover rate including internal movement reaching approximately 40%. Governor-elect Democrat Bob Ferguson, previously the State Attorney General, assumes office in January 2025. On Dec. 19, 2024, Ferguson announced Rep. Tana Senn as the next Secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Legislative action/litigation have substantially shaped prevention services: • WA HB 1661, signed on July 6, 2017, created DCYF, restructuring how the state serves children, youth, and families with the goal of preventing harm and producing better outcomes. After a transition year in 2017, early childhood and child welfare functions integrated in July 2018, with juvenile rehabilitation joining a year later. • WA HB 2525 (2019-20 legislative session) requires DYCF to contract for the Family Connections Program, a program to build positive connections between parents and caregivers for children in out-of-home placements, with one location in Eastern Washington and one location in Western Washington. • WA HB 1900 (2019) defines prevention and family services and programs in alignment with the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). • WA HB 1109 (2019) appropriates $7.6 million of the general fund solely for DYCF to leverage federal Title IV-E funds available under FFPSA for qualifying services and families. • WA SB 6168 (Enacted — Partial Veto, 2020) makes appropriations, including funds for DCYF, to leverage federal Title IV-E funds available under the FFPSA. • In 2021, the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1227, the Keeping Families Together Act, recognizing that children are best served when “cared for by their loved ones and in their communities.” This act raised the evidentiary standard for when children can be removed from
3 DCYF (2021). The Department of Children, Youth, and Families Strategic Priorities 2021-2026. 4 Washington Courts (July 2023). HB 1227: Keeping Families Together Act
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