ABOUT CHILDREN'S

Who We Serve

Thousands of children and families in Washington are impacted each year by services provided by the Children's Administration. Last year, one in 20 children in Washington was referred to Child Protective Services for suspected child abuse and neglect. We responded to those complaints of abuse and neglect by providing a broad spectrum of resources designed to balance the child's need for critical family connections with the need to protect them from those who might harm them.

Over 3,500 families each month receive a variety of in-home services to support them in caring for their children and over 3,000 families are supported through adoption services. We are the largest adoption agency in the state and provide most of the adoption services to children with special needs.

Nearly 17,000 children who could not remain with their own families were cared for by foster parents and group care facilities licensed by the Children's Administration. The administration licenses over 4,200 Children's Administration foster homes, over 1,700 private agency foster homes, and over 125 larger group facilities. Each month approximately 7,500 children are in paid out-of-home care and an additional 2,400 children are with relatives.

Where we serve them

We provide individualized, culturally responsive services to families and children in the communities where they live, both in family homes and in licensed care. Voluntary services devoted to maintaining the family as a unit and preventing the out-of-home placement or runaway of adolescents are available 24 hours a day, including intake, assessment, and in-home counseling services.

When serious and chronic issues prevent the safe placement of children in their own homes, Child Protective Services works in collaboration with law enforcement and the courts to assure safety for the child. Children are placed in out-of-home care settings to meet their medical, emotional, educational, and special needs, as close to their own families as possible. Over 20 percent of children in care are placed with relatives to preserve important family connections. Ongoing and frequent oversight of children in care, along with regular licensing reviews, assure consistent quality care to children.