child welfare Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Case Of Missing Washington 5-Year-Old Highlights Secrecy Around CPS Cases

By Austin Jenkins May 12, 2022

Missing 5-year-old Oakley Carlson, left, next to an image of her former foster parents Erik and Jamie Jo Hiles of Elma, Washington. The couple has concerns about how Washington's Department of Children Youth and Families handled Oakley's child welfare case and the decision to return the girl to her biological parents.

There are more questions than answers in the case of a missing former foster child from Grays Harbor County. Five-year-old Oakley Carlson has been unaccounted for since February of last year. Police say her parents aren’t cooperating with the investigation. Oakley’s former foster mom questions why Oakley was sent back to live with her parents after more than two years in Read More

Hotel Stays Up, Abuse Reports Down: Report Highlights COVID’s Affect On Washington Child Welfare

By Austin Jenkins December 8, 2020

A poster for reporting child abuse and neglect in Washington State

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in Washington foster youth spending more nights in hotel rooms while overall reports of child abuse and neglect have declined precipitously. Those are among the pandemic-related findings of an annual report from the state’s Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds (OFCO) released Monday. Read More

Montana Court Reverses $35 Million Child Abuse Verdict Against Jehovah’s Witnesses

By NPR News January 9, 2020

Two women who were sexually abused as children say the Jehovah's Witnesses failed to report their abuser to authorities in Montana and instead expelled him from the congregation as punishment until he repented. Pictured, in 2015, is a sign atop the then-world headquarters of the Jehovah's Witnesses in New York. CREDIT: Seth Wenig/AP

The unanimous Montana Supreme Court decision found that religious institutions are not always obligated to report child sexual abuse to authorities due to an exemption in Montana state law.Read More

Advocacy Group Alleges Oregon’s Foster Care System ‘Revictimizes Children’

By Lauren Dake April 17, 2019

The Oregon Department of Human Services building in Salem, Ore. Bradley W. Parks/OPB

A national advocacy group filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday against the Oregon Department of Human Services, alleging the agency revictimizes children in its foster care system and has failed to address documented problems for at least a decade.Read More

Infections May Raise The Risk Of Mental Illness In Children

By NPR News December 5, 2018

Childhood infections may increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses in childhood and adolescence. CREDIT: KATHLEEN FINLAY/GETTY IMAGES

A large study of Danish kids finds that childhood infections are linked with a higher risk of developing some mental illnesses. The risk is highest in the months immediately following the infection.Read More

New Report Sounds Alarm Over State Of Washington’s Foster Care System

By Austin Jenkins November 27, 2018

The report, released late Monday, sounds the alarm over the rising use of hotels to temporarily house foster youth. CREDIT: FLICKR PHOTO/RICH UCHYTIL (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)/HTTPS://BIT.LY/2KEV8GW

Washington's child welfare system is failing to adequately serve foster youth with the most vexing needs, resulting in hotel stays and out-of-state placements, according to a new report by the state's Office of the Family and Children's Ombudsman (OFCO).Read More

Report Describes ‘Abusive Restraint Practices’ For Washington Foster Youth Sent Out Of State

By Austin Jenkins October 18, 2018

Washington's Department of Children Youth and Families removed youth from Clarinda Academy in Iowa following an investigation by Disability Rights Washington. CREDIT: DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON

The state of Washington sent high-needs foster youth to a residential facility in Iowa where they were isolated, held in a restrictive setting and at times subject to “abusive restraint practices," according to a scathing report released Wednesday by the advocacy group Disability Rights Washington.Read More

Washington Lawmaker Pays $35K For Child Care, Vows Help For Other Parents

By Austin Jenkins July 11, 2018

File photo. A task force created by the Washington Legislature is set to tackle the issue of affordable childcare. CREDIT: KIDSWORKCHICAGO.COM / TINYURL.COM/YCUAZQF4

It’s the agony of modern day parents: how to find and afford decent child care. This has become such a problem, the Washington Legislature has created a task force to tackle the issue.Read More

Child Under 2? GOP Plan Would Let Parents On Welfare Delay Work Requirement

By Austin Jenkins March 22, 2017

Washington Senate Republicans are looking for ways to save money on state subsidized child care for low-income families. And they think they’ve found a way.Read More