Programs and Organizations

Statewide

The Oversight Board was created along with the new department but outside it, in the Office of the Governor. It exists for the purpose of monitoring that DCYF achieves the stated outcomes as intended by the legislation, and ensuring that the department complies with all relevant rules/policies/guidelines. They hold monthly meetings open to the public.

The Ombuds investigates complaints about a Washington State agencies action or failure to act in cases involving children and families at risk of harm or involved with child welfare services/state care. This office is outside of DCYF. Complaints are anonymous but aggregated data is reported annually.

A commission under the Administrative Office of the Courts, formed to improve collaboration between the courts, child welfare partners and the education system to achieve safe, permanent families for all children.

 

A nonprofit organization founded in 2006 to create better lives for generations of children and youth by reforming the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. CCYJ works with parents, advocates, service providers and policymakers, to achieve research-based, data-driven, tangible outcomes for generations of youth. Their work includes developing a model protocol for responding to commercially sexually
exploited children, a gender responsive children’s court program (Kitsap County Girls Court) and the Safe Babies program.

Safe Babies Court Team

The Safe Babies Court Team™ (SBCT) approach (created by CCYJ) is a community engagement and systems-change initiative focused on reducing trauma and improving how courts, child welfare and child-serving organizations work together to support young children in, or at-risk of entering, the child welfare system. Pierce County led the way in Washington with the Best for Babies Program, and the program is now rolling out to communities across Washington State.

Programs within DCYF

  • DCYF Office of Constituent Relations – Constituent Relations staff are able to provide information and education relating to the various programs within DCYF, and are an internal resource for escalating requests and complaints that have not been addressed adequately by lower levels of DCYF staff.

  • DCYF 1624 Foster Parent Consultation Team – Created by legislative bill 1624 in 2007, this is a quarterly meeting between elected regional foster parent representatives, elected representatives from the Foster Parent Association of Washington State (FPAWS), and DCYF staff who are appointed by agency leadership. See the 1624 page for more information.

  • DCYF Office of Innovation, and Accountability – The OIAA defines metrics and produces numerous reports throughout the year to meet state and federal requirements, detail recent research or analysis, and to highlight progress on program initiatives. 

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