State Statute
This chapter of the Revised Code of Washington governs the juvenile court process for dependency and the termination of parent-child relationships.
What is Chapter 13.34?
This 2024 Washington State Senate Bill clarified the child removal process in cases involving high-potency synthetic opioids.
What is SB 6109?
In Washington State, this agency is primarily responsible for investigating child abuse and neglect allegations.
What is the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF)?
This type of permanency plan goal is prioritized in Washington State dependency cases unless it is found not to be in the child's best interest.
What is reunification with the parent(s)?
This systemic issue the leading risk factor for child neglect reports, often influencing family involvement in the child welfare system.
What is poverty?
This legal document is file by the state to allege that a child had been abandoned, abused, or neglected by their parents.
What is a dependency petition?
Effective July 1, 2023, this act raised the standard for child removal to imminent physical harm.
What is HB 1227 (Keeping Families Together Act)?
This attorney represents the state or government in dependency cases, seeking to protect the welfare of children by filing petitions and working towards permanency for the child.
What is the Office of the Attorney General (Assistant Attorney General)?
This type of placement is considered when reunification is not a feasible option, and the child is legally free, with an emphasis on finding a permanent, stable, home.
What is Adoption?
These essential items, such as diapers, car seats, cribs, and clothing, are provided to families involved in the child welfare system to help stabilize their household and support reunification efforts.
What are concrete goods?
In dependency cases, this type of hearing must occur within 72 hours (excluding) weekends and holidays) after a child is removed from their home.
What is a shelter care hearing?
What 2024 Washington State Supreme Court decision requires superior courts to hold review hearings every 30 days as long as a child is in shelter care.
What is In re Dependency of Baby Boy B.?
This role represents parents in dependency cases.
What is a parents' attorney?
This is the maximum time period, out of 22 months, allowed by federal law for a child to remain in out-of-home care moving toward adoption of another permanent placement, before the state must seek to terminate parental rights.
What is 15 months?
This federal program provides cash assistance and work support to low-income families with children.
What is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)?
If a parent fails to correct the issues leading to a dependency case, the court may ultimately terminate these.
What are parental rights?
Effective July 1, 2025, this Senate Bill modifies the definition of a “dependent child” to include victims of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking.
What is SB 6006?
This professional represents a child's best interest in dependency cases.
What is the court advocate (CASA; GAL; DGAL)?
This term refers to the strategy of simultaneously working toward the goal of reunification while also preparing an alternative permanency plan, such as adoption or guardianship, in case reunification is not successful.
What is concurrent planning?
This federal program provides housing vouchers specifically for families involved in the child welfare system.
What is the Family Reunification Program (FUP)?
In Washington State, this is the standard that courts use to determine whether the actions of DCYF in offering services to parents were sufficient to meet the goals of family preservation of reunification.
What is the "reasonable efforts" standard?
In this 2024 Washington State Supreme Court decision, the court affirmed that dependency courts must review and find active efforts during every hearing in which the State seeks to place the Indian child out of the home.
What is In re the Welfare of: C.J.J.I.?
This legal professional represents a child's stated interest in dependency cases.
What is a Child's Attorney?
This federal law requires that a permanency plan for a child in foster care be developed within 60 days of removal and reviewed regularly to ensure timely reunification or another permanency goal.
What is the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA)?
This Washington State pilot program, initiated in 2020, provides housing vouchers, rental assistance, and support services to eligible families involved in the child welfare system.
What is the Child Welfare Housing Assistance Pilot Program?