# data[].attributes.body
entitlement program, with a current date of 2026-27; expansion of facilities, teaching staff, family support staff, significant per slot increase
phasing out part day ECEAP (possibly by 2026-7)

# data[].attributes.headline
DCYF Submits 2023-25 Biennial Budget and Policy Proposals

# data[].attributes.subject
DCYF Submits 2023-25 Biennial Budget and Policy Proposals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families' (DCYF) 2023-25 legislative proposals have been designed with an over-arching focus on racial equity, observing that children, youth, and families of color are disproportionately involved in our systems.

Our Decision Package Proposals fall into three main categories:

Ensuring that the many people who work on behalf of Washington families are paid a living wage - to make sure that those working hard to keep a roof over the heads of our clients don't become clients due to poverty-level wages.

Items we are requesting because they are the right things to do and are in line with our Strategic and Racial Equity Plan - this includes investment in our state's child care system, prioritizing prevention efforts, increasing placement stability, and reducing trauma for children and families.

Items we are required by law to implement, such as a proposal to implement reforms to eliminate the use of hotel stays and one-night placements as required by the D.S. lawsuit settlement agreement.

In addition, you will see asks for continued funding for two critical agency IT solutions, as well as a request for resources to resolve a CCDF audit finding issued by the State Auditor's Office.

DCYF has also submitted two pieces of Agency Request Legislation:

Making the Relative Guardianship Assistance Program, which will provide financial support to caregivers who become guardians rather than adoptive parents, available to all families regardless of whether or not they qualify for federal funding.

A proposal regarding Child Care Background Check and Licensing Fees and Schedules, which will support providers and kin to move successfully through the licensing process.

In total, these requests represent the resources currently needed to better serve Washington's children, youth, and families. They are also an opportunity to make tangible our agency's commitment to advancing racial equity and reducing racial disparity in our services and outcomes. Each request was vetted for alignment with the Governor's priorities, as well as for alignment with our own commitment to DCYF's strategic priorities. We are confident in the ability of these tools to fill service gaps, to bring us into compliance with legal agreements, and to enable us to fulfill our commitment to the children, youth, and families we serve.

You can learn more about each proposal and find links to the decision packages by visiting the DCYF Government Affairs website. Fact sheets about each proposal will be available soon.

As part of the agency's commitment to promoting safety and trauma-informed environments, Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) is implementing Advanced Crisis Intervention Training (ACIT). ACIT is the only crisis intervention certification available from a professional mental health association for responding to anger, aggression, and violence. In the 2022 Performance-based Standards (PbS), more than 70% of staff indicated that additional training would increase facility safety, and about 50% specified the need for more verbal de-escalation training. The ACIT program aims to meet that need and represents an avenue to invest in staff's professional development and safety, while also empowering youth.

ACIT is designed to intervene with individuals experiencing crisis or emotional dysregulation in a way that prioritizes safety for staff and residents, protects dignity, and reduces the recurrence of future crises. ACIT is a highly structured framework for interacting with an individual in crisis by identifying their need, engaging safely, and empowering them to self-regulate, thereby reinforcing staff safety. At its core, ACIT is done with a resident rather than to them.
Read the full article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Message from DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families' (DCYF) 2023-25 legislative proposals have been designed with an over-arching focus on racial equity, observing that children, youth, and families of color are disproportionately involved in our systems. Our Decision Package Proposals fall into three main categories: Ensuring that the many people who work on behalf of Washington families are paid a living wage - to make sure that those working hard to keep a roof over the heads of our clients don't become clients due to poverty-level wages.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Department of Children, Youth & Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
DCYF is a cabinet-level agency focused on the well-being of children. Our vision is to ensure that Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community.

# data[].attributes.headline
Materials and Presentations from Trainings 

# data[].attributes.subject
Materials and Presentations from Trainings 

# data[].attributes.headline
Cecilia Gonzalez providing a training on Family Engagement

# data[].attributes.subject
Cecilia Gonzalez providing a training on Family Engagement

# data[].attributes.headline
Family Engagement Training by Cecilia Gonzalez

# data[].attributes.subject
Family Engagement Training by Cecilia Gonzalez

# data[].attributes.body
"Toda la información que nos dieron para mi fue muy importante Gracias por todo su tiempo"

"Que lo ofrezcan en Moses Lake para que las demás proveedoras puedan aprovecharlo"

"toda la informacion que proporciono fue muy interesante"

"Todas las erramientas y el conocimiento que nos dio para superarme"

"Qué las icieran más seguido"

"Mas tiempo una segunda parte"

"Se ofrezca más serca para las proveedoras que no pudieron hacistir"

"Muy buena información"

"Mas tiempo e ideas y no traducida que se entregue en el idioma electo"

"Proporcionar más información en español por el escrito"

# data[].attributes.headline
Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

# data[].attributes.subject
Please follow this link to sign in for today's meeting!

# data[].attributes.body
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88199731378

# data[].attributes.body
borrowed from ESD 105

# data[].attributes.headline
What’s the best thing that happened to you last week?

# data[].attributes.subject
What’s the best thing that happened to you last week?

# data[].attributes.headline
Calling for Executive Committee Nominations! 

# data[].attributes.subject
Calling for Executive Committee Nominations! 

# data[].attributes.body
For more information please see the Executive Committee section of our website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Executive Committee | Investing in Children Coalition

# data[].attributes.body
ESD105 Early Learning Fellows, Oct. 12, Jan. 18, March 14, and May 10, 2023   Registration link:  https://www.pdenroller.org/ospi/catalog/event/148726

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.washingtoncfc.org/fair-start-for-kids-act-communication-toolkit

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Big Thanks!

This project would not have been possible without the many advocates, experts, and WCFC Early Childhood Network members who provided valuable time, input, and skills. Special thanks to the following individuals who participated on the Fair Start for Kids Act Communication Workgroup:

Toolkit design & content creation

Colleen Condon, Molly Curtiss, Molly Draben, Cadie Dye, Debbie Ham, Brittany Hartikainen, Katie Maisch, Eiledon McLellan, Melissa McPheeters, April Messenger, Linden Obel, Nancy Spurgeon

Toolkit translation

Marina Medrano

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fair Start for Kids Act Communication Toolkit - Washington Communities For Children

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This project would not have been possible without the many advocates, experts, and WCFC Early Childhood Network members who provided valuable time, input, and skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Why Early Learning is Important:

Research has shown that children who are able to participate in early learning programs perform better throughout their years of schooling. Early learning programs focus on six areas of kindergarten readiness:

Social-Emotional - Children do better in school when they can regulate their emotions, establish positive relationships with others, and constructively participate in group settings.

Physical - The early years are important for the development of fundamental gross-motor and fine-motor skills needed to be active learners.

Language - Children need to understand increasingly complex language and use language to express their thoughts, ideas, needs, and feelings.

Cognitive - Children are more successful in school when they have positive approaches to learning, and are able to attend, engage, and persist to solve problems.

Literacy - A child's progress in reading and writing is one of the best predictors of whether the child will function competently in school and in life.

Math - Research shows that math is the number one predictor of future success in reading and math.*

*Duncan, Greg. University of California, 2007. Early Childhood Longitudinal studies. "The strongest predictors of later achievement are school-entry math, reading, and attention skills. Early math skills have the greatest predictive power."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Research has shown that children who are able to participate in early learning programs perform better throughout their years of schooling. Early learning programs focus on six areas of kindergarten readiness: Social-Emotional - Children do better in school when they can regulate their emotions, establish positive relationships with others, and constructively participate in group settings.

# data[].attributes.headline
National Equity Project: Liberatory Design Training

# data[].attributes.subject
National Equity Project: Liberatory Design Training

# data[].attributes.body
Claudette Lindquist, Director of Early Learning (Heritage University)
Alternate: Angelica Hernandez, ESD 105

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

# data[].attributes.headline
Liberatory Design - National Equity Project

# data[].attributes.subject
Liberatory Design - National Equity Project

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Why Liberatory Design?
We are all living in challenging times that our past experience and training has not sufficiently prepared us for. Too often, well intentioned equity efforts do not succeed-and even produce unintended consequences. This can lead to frustration, hopelessness and cynicism.
It's important to consider why so many equity efforts stall or fail to achieve intended outcomes:

They do not employ a deep enough equity lens-for example, a diversity and inclusion focus as opposed to interrogating deeper causes produced by systemic oppression.

They take the form of traditional linear, hierarchical plans that focus on strategies, goals, timelines, metrics and accountability. These efforts don't recognize the messiness and complexity of the challenge, so they often are ineffective and, sometimes, even backfire.

They are created in the context of dominant white culture, in traditional structures (e.g. committees, task forces), or in teams that don't have an effective approach to the work. Common problems include:

group members unable to engage in authentic critical dialogue;

lack of trust, especially across role/power and identity difference, that undermines team efficacy;

the process doesn't bring forward sufficiently creative thinking;

urgency leads to hasty, misguided decisions;

creative and potentially powerful solutions are not accepted by leadership.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Liberatory Design - National Equity Project

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Addressing equity challenges and change efforts in complex systems with liberatory design. Learn more about this process or register for an upcoming course.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007.

ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

Governor Jay Inslee holds final authority for policy decisions.

The council has adopted a Racial Equity Framework through which it conducts its business as an advisory board to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Members

The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) members are a diverse group of people whose role is to provide DCYF with input and recommendations to inform DCYF's work.

ELAC includes parents, child care providers, health and safety experts, legislators, representatives of Tribal Nations, independent schools, K-12 and higher education, and others who are interested in creating a statewide early learning system that helps all children realize their full potential.

Some ELAC members are appointed by the Governor. Others are appointed by various entities as required in the legislation that created ELAC.

Meetings

The Early Learning Advisory Council has six regular meetings each year, held on the first Tuesday of odd months. At each meeting, ELAC members get updates on DCYF's work and provide input and recommendations to DCYF.

Members of the public are welcome to attend ELAC meetings. Public comment periods are offered throughout each meeting. The locations and times vary for each meeting.

2022
December 6, 2022 August 2, 2022 October 4, 2022 June 7, 2022 April 12, 2022 February 1, 2022
At the time of the meeting, please join the Zoom meeting via the link below.

9:00am-3:00pm

Meeting number (access code): 824 9183 1069
Meeting password: 904723

Join by phone: 1 253 215 8782 US Toll
Passcode: 904723

2021
December 7, 2021 October 5, 2021 - Joint Early Learning Advisory Council, Provider Supports Subcommittee, and Parent Advisory Group Meeting August 3, 2021 June 1, 2021 - Joint Provider Supports Subcommittee Meeting March 30, 2021 - Joint PAG Meeting February 2, 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Department of Children, Youth & Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007. Read the statutory language ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

# data[].attributes.headline
2023 Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) representative(s)

# data[].attributes.subject
2023 Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) representative(s)

# data[].attributes.body
Primary: Claudette Lindquist, KCELC
Alternate: Angelica Hernandez, ESD 105

# data[].attributes.body
@forthekidswa

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Headspace | Mini Meditation | Let Go of Stress