Washington’s Foster Care Crisis: Decreasing Numbers Amid Rising Child Abuse Concerns

In 2017, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a law creating the Department of Children, Youth and Families DCYF in Washington. Since then, the number of kids in the state’s foster care system has almost halved, dropping from 9,171 in 2018 to 4,971 now. This decrease is due to the department’s focus on keeping families together rather than separating them.

Despite the drop in foster care numbers, reports of child abuse and neglect needing face-to-face responses have stayed roughly the same, with nearly 92,000 calls in 2023 compared to over 93,000 in 2018.

The new approach aims to support families and reduce risks without removing children unless necessary. Patrick Dowd, the DCYF ombudsman, explained that the goal is to keep children at home whenever possible. However, there is concern that this might leave some children at risk if decisions are too lenient.

Foster care advocates say the system still needs improvement. A report from the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds noted a rise in serious incidents, including child deaths, from 77 in 2019 to 149 last year, partly due to the growing fentanyl crisis.

To address this, lawmakers passed a bill requiring courts to consider the presence of opioids in the home when deciding to place a child in foster care. Some Republicans wanted to go further by lowering the threshold for removing children from homes with fentanyl, but this proposal did not pass.

The department also aims to reduce racial disparities in foster care, as Native, Black, and white children are more likely to be removed from their homes than Asian and Hispanic children. While the rates for Black children have slightly decreased, they are still more likely to enter state care than other groups, except Native children, who are increasingly affected by the opioid epidemic.

DCYF has launched the Thriving Families initiative, which includes projects to reduce out-of-home placements by clarifying removal standards and expanding support services. These services can include childcare, family therapy, substance use treatment, and providing practical items like diapers or car seats.

Dowd mentioned that Washington’s approach is part of a broader trend across the U.S. to prioritize keeping families together, recognizing the harm caused by separating children from their parents.

 

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