This petition originates from a tragic event personal to the Yakima community where a 7-month-old baby girl was found dead, and her 2-year-old sister was discovered extremely malnourished after they had been living in deplorable conditions. This occurred in spite of reports having been made to Child Protective Services against their mother. Every child deserves the basic right to a safe and nurturing environment. Our current legislation, the HB1227 law has failed grievously in its mission to protect our most vulnerable constituents. House Bill 1227 (HB 1227), also known as the Keeping Families Together Act, has led to a decrease in the number of children entering foster care in Washington state. However, there has also been an increase in child deaths and near-deaths. 

Since HB 1227 was passed, there has been an increase in child deaths and near-deaths. Most of the victims have been babies and toddlers. https://ofco.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/2024_OFCO_Critical_Incident_Report.pdf 

For the love we hold for all children and the respect for their right to a secure childhood, we need you to join hands with us. We need to convince our lawmakers to revise the law HB1227. Current regulations are insufficient to ensure the safety of our children and need immediate improvement.

We seek your support to bring about this change. Stand with us to protect our children and save innocent lives. Please sign this petition and make a difference today.