Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) was created in 2017.  In 2018 the DCYF assumed responsibility over child welfare and early learning functions previously held by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Early Learning.  On July 1, 2019, the DCYF assumed responsibility over juvenile justice programs previously administered by the DSHS.

Oversight Board for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

The Oversight Board for the DCYF (Oversight Board) was created in 2017, along with the creation of the DCYF.  The Oversight Board held its first meetings in 2018.  The Oversight Board is authorized for the purpose of monitoring and ensuring that the DCYF achieves certain outcomes and complies with policies and rules.

The Oversight Board has powers to:

• receive reports of the Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds (OFCO);
• obtain access to relevant records in the possession of the OFCO;
• select its officers and adoption of rules for orderly procedure;
• request investigations by the OFCO of administrative acts;
• request and receive information, outcome data, documents, materials, and records from the DCYF relating to children and family welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, juvenile justice, and early learning;
• determine whether the DCYF is achieving certain performance measures;
• review whether the DCYF licensors appropriately and consistently applied agency rules in inspection reports; and
• conduct annual reviews of a sample of the DCYF contracts for services from a variety of program and service areas to ensure that those contracts are performance-based.

The Oversight Board consists of 21 members, including:

• two Senators and two House of Representatives members from the Legislature, with one member from each major caucus;
• one nonvoting representative from the Office of the Governor;
• one subject matter expert in early learning;
• one subject matter expert in child welfare;
• one subject matter expert in juvenile rehabilitation and justice;
• one subject matter expert in eliminating disparities in child outcomes by family income, race, and ethnicity;
• one tribal representative from west of the crest of the Cascade mountains;
• one tribal representative from east of the crest of the Cascade mountains;
• one current or former foster parent representative;
• one representative of an organization that advocates for the best interest of the child;
• one parent stakeholder group representative;
• one law enforcement representative;
• one child welfare caseworker representative;
• one early childhood learning program implementation practitioner;
• one current or former foster youth under age 25;
• one individual under age 25 with current or previous experience with the juvenile justice system;
• one physician with experience working with children or youth; and
• one judicial representative presiding over child welfare court proceedings or other children's matters.

Nonlegislative members of the board are nominated by the Governor, subject to approval of the appointed legislators, and serve four-year terms.  When nominating and approving members of the Oversight Board, the Governor and appointed legislators must ensure that at least five of the Oversight Board members reside east of the Cascade Mountain range.

The Oversight Board must convene at least two stakeholder meetings per year regarding contracting with the DCYF.  The Oversight Board must also review surveys of providers, customers, parent groups, and external services to assess whether the DCYF is effectively delivering services. 

Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice.

The Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice (Council) was established by executive order as a state advisory group for matters pertaining to juvenile justice in Washington and functions as a common point of analysis, planning, and advocacy for youth involved in the juvenile justice system or youth at risk of involvement with that system.  There are 26 appointed Council members.  The DCYF convenes the Council and provides staff support through the DCYF Office of Juvenile Justice.

The membership of the Oversight Board for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is modified to:

• specify that the representative of an organization who advocates for the best interest of the child may be a current or former representative of that organization;
• specify that the foster youth may be a current or recent foster youth without requiring that the person is under age 25;
• specify that the individual with experience in the juvenile justice system has current or recent experience with that system without requiring that the person is under age 25; and
• add a subject matter expert on education for youth who are placed in a juvenile justice institution or dependent.

(In support) The Oversight Board for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (Oversight Board) was created in 2017 during a year with many special sessions.  The Oversight Board has in important place in ensuring success for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. 

It is very difficult to fill all the Oversight Board membership slots.  This bill would change a couple of the positions to allow more flexibility in the membership slots to allow more options of people to include. 

It is also important to hear the voices of individuals with experience in juvenile justice and foster care.  

The most important thing in this bill is to expand the age range of the members with experience with foster care and juvenile justice. 

(Opposed) None.