DCYF assessment practices

AN ACT Relating to authorizing the Washington state institute for 1
public policy to evaluate outcomes related to assessment practices at 2
the department of children, youth, and families; adding a new section 3
to chapter 13.34 RCW; and creating a new section. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the statewide 6
dependency filing rate has consistently dropped annually since 2016. 7
Simultaneously, Washington has seen a measured rise in the number of 8
critical incidents and near critical incidents. The legislature finds 9
it is necessary to understand the relationship between assessment 10
screening tools used by the department of children, youth, and 11
families, and the impact they have on the initiation of dependencies, 12
out-of-home placements, and the risk these assessments pose toward 13
increasing child fatalities and child near fatalities, particularly 14
where families have a history of substance abuse and frequent child 15
welfare referrals.16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 13.34 17
RCW to read as follows: 18
S-3656.1
SENATE BILL 6007
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senator Warnick
Prefiled 01/07/26.
p. 1 SB 6007
(1) Within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the 1
Washington state institute for public policy shall, to the extent 2
possible: 3
(a) Perform an assessment of the department of children, youth, 4
and families' use of screening tools and risk assessment processes 5
for child welfare referrals, to determine whether and how those tools 6
and processes affect outcomes; 7
(b) Address, at a minimum, how screening and risk assessment lead 8
to family assessment response, voluntary and mandatory services, 9
dependencies, out-of-home placements, rereferrals, and child 10
fatalities or near fatalities. 11
(2) The institute shall report any preliminary findings to the 12
legislature and the department of children, youth, and families by 13
December 1, 2026. 14
(3) The institute shall report its findings to the legislature 15
and the department of children, youth, and families by September 1, 16
2027. 17
(4) The department of children, youth, and families and the 18
Washington state family and children's ombuds must cooperate with the 19
institute to facilitate access to data or other resources necessary 20
to complete this work. 21
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p. 2 SB 6007