WASHINGTON STATE — Lawmakers are working to address alarming new data regarding child mistreatment, specifically focusing on child deaths or near deaths that have significantly increased among families with active child welfare cases.
A new House bill seeks to strengthen support for families involved with Child Protective Services in response to a sharp increase in severe child welfare incidents. This legislative effort follows a 2021 law aimed at keeping children with other family members in cases of parental abuse or neglect.
According to the Washington State Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds’ Child Fatalities Report, there were 78 child deaths and 62 near-deaths in 2024 where family members had involvement with the child welfare system in the prior year. It is important to note that this incident report does not include data on children placed with relatives or other family members during ongoing cases.
Lawmakers are particularly concerned about young children. The bill aims to increase court oversight during the shelter care phase of child welfare cases for those under the age of four. This is a highly complex topic due to state involvement, existing laws and the overload of the foster care system.
There are also questions regarding the bill’s constitutionality and whether it allows parents their full rights. Republican lawmakers believe the current law may be keeping kids in unsafe situations. Democrats are questioning this as well and are open to adjustments.
