Mentors and peer counselors with lived experience are having a dramatic impact on services, supports, and community-building around the state and internationally. Young people and their families, especially in communities of color, are asking for support from people who have overcome similar challenges.
As part of DCYF’s Strategic and Racial Equity Plan, the agency forms strategic partnerships to successfully transition youth into adulthood. A successful transition prepares youth for independence through education, employment, life skills, strong relationships, and more.
January is National Mentoring Month – a month dedicated to celebrating mentors and their positive influence on young people. Youth who have mentors experience many benefits. They are more likely to enroll in college and less likely to drink or do drugs.
The outcomes on record for youth experiencing incarceration in Washington reflect the lowest graduation rates of any other student population. The needs of students in Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) are complex. They require more intensive services to achieve positive outcomes, making quality education a critical need for this group of students.
DCYF's incredible Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) staff are going above and beyond to infuse cheer and create a warm and festive environment for our young people this holiday season.
The Canine Connections program was established at Echo Glen Children’s Center more than 20 years ago. The program pairs rescue dogs with the young people in residence who train them in basic obedience over an eight-week session. At the end of the session, the dog goes home with its new adoptive family.
In November 2021, Naselle Youth Camp hosted its annual potlatch where community members, family, and DCYF staff gathered to share a meal and immerse themselves in the spirit of local potlatch tradition.
“The event is a chance to have our voices heard,” said Sage, a youth of the Cheyenne River Sioux and Lummi Tribes. “It brings us closer together.”
Echo Glen Children’s Center recently celebrated three significant high school graduations for youth in residence – the first it has seen since integrating with DCYF in 2019.
