Protect Washington’s Children Before More Lives Are Lost
The Issue
Washington’s child welfare system is failing the very children it exists to protect. Through the first nine months of 2025, our state saw 15 child deaths and 30 near deaths among children who were already known to the system. Many were infants and toddlers. Many of the cases involved opioids, especially fentanyl. And several involved families who had been flagged again and again with no meaningful intervention.
These numbers are not abstract. They represent babies and young children who should still be alive. They represent caseworkers overwhelmed by impossible caseloads. They represent missed warnings, delayed services, and families in crisis who never got the help they needed.
One heartbreaking case involved a six month old baby whose family had been reported 85 times over a dozen years. Allegations included drug use, physical abuse, dangerous living conditions, and even concerns about trafficking. Yet each time, investigations found no evidence that met the legal threshold for removal. The child died in May. Three older siblings remain affected by a system that could not protect them.
This is not the fault of one law or one agency. It is the result of a system stretched far beyond its capacity. The Department of Children, Youth and Families is asking for more staff and more support so parents can receive treatment and services before a crisis becomes fatal. But without strong action from state leaders, the numbers will keep climbing.
We are calling on Governor Bob Ferguson, the Washington State Legislature, and the Department of Children, Youth and Families to prioritize child safety during the 2026 session by:
- Fully funding the request for expanded staffing and family support
- Investing in drug treatment access for parents involved in child welfare cases
- Strengthening oversight in cases involving repeated reports
- Ensuring that high risk infants and toddlers receive immediate protective attention
Every child in Washington deserves a safe start in life. Every parent struggling with addiction deserves real help. And no family should experience a tragedy that could have been prevented with timely action.
Sign this petition to demand stronger protections, better support, and urgent investment in the safety of Washington’s most vulnerable children.
Photo: (Jennifer Luxton / The Seattle Times)
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The Issue
Washington’s child welfare system is failing the very children it exists to protect. Through the first nine months of 2025, our state saw 15 child deaths and 30 near deaths among children who were already known to the system. Many were infants and toddlers. Many of the cases involved opioids, especially fentanyl. And several involved families who had been flagged again and again with no meaningful intervention.
These numbers are not abstract. They represent babies and young children who should still be alive. They represent caseworkers overwhelmed by impossible caseloads. They represent missed warnings, delayed services, and families in crisis who never got the help they needed.
One heartbreaking case involved a six month old baby whose family had been reported 85 times over a dozen years. Allegations included drug use, physical abuse, dangerous living conditions, and even concerns about trafficking. Yet each time, investigations found no evidence that met the legal threshold for removal. The child died in May. Three older siblings remain affected by a system that could not protect them.
This is not the fault of one law or one agency. It is the result of a system stretched far beyond its capacity. The Department of Children, Youth and Families is asking for more staff and more support so parents can receive treatment and services before a crisis becomes fatal. But without strong action from state leaders, the numbers will keep climbing.
We are calling on Governor Bob Ferguson, the Washington State Legislature, and the Department of Children, Youth and Families to prioritize child safety during the 2026 session by:
- Fully funding the request for expanded staffing and family support
- Investing in drug treatment access for parents involved in child welfare cases
- Strengthening oversight in cases involving repeated reports
- Ensuring that high risk infants and toddlers receive immediate protective attention
Every child in Washington deserves a safe start in life. Every parent struggling with addiction deserves real help. And no family should experience a tragedy that could have been prevented with timely action.
Sign this petition to demand stronger protections, better support, and urgent investment in the safety of Washington’s most vulnerable children.
Photo: (Jennifer Luxton / The Seattle Times)
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Petition created on December 1, 2025