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In This Issue:
 Dear Strengthen Families Locally Community,
When we talk about national movements like Alia and the CSSP that seek to “end child welfare as we know it,” we may get funny looks. But we’re in good company! DCYF’s secretary Ross Hunter shared this article, “WA is not abolishing foster care, but it may be moving that way” from Crosscut. The author (and some Washington locals you might recognize) point to poor outcomes for children involved in state care and disproportionate impacts on racial minorities as good reasons to re-think child protective services. The ultimate goal of this re-imagining is the same as SFL and other DCYF initiatives: get families the support they need to stay together, stay safe, and thrive before state intervention is needed. Family Voices United collected ideas about how to better support parent’s mental and behavioral health and help families remain together. If you have ideas about how to improve supports and services in Washington State that are based on experience, please share your story now!
“We believe in co-creating, improving, and supporting systems of community-based support that provide a child allowance, safe and affordable housing, jobs that pay sustainable wages, mental health services, food, domestic violence supports, and substance use programs.”
– Center for the Study of Social Policy, UpEND movement
All the best,
Dr. Joy Lile
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2021 Priority Project Funds Increased: For the 2021 grant year, Priority Project funds for SFL have been increased from $20,000 to $40,000. These projects (two per community) are being designed and developed in partnership with local parents, community members, and partners in SFL communities.
Links to our online Box folder, as well as all project documents, can be found in the SFL Onboarding Packet.
 Here’s a wordle form recent stories shared in Washington. What’s your story? How has a family met their needs recently, or how can we improve services? Please click the link below, and take 5-10 minutes to share right now!
To share more stories and help improve supports for families, see the flyer here.
Use a QR code with your post to increase engagement:
| Washington |
Bremerton |
Port Angeles & Sequim |
Spokane |
DCYF is recruiting individuals with lived experiences in Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) programs
DCYF is excited to announce the recruitment of interested and qualified individuals with lived experience to serve on the temporary Community Transition Services (CTS) Stakeholder Group, established by HB 1186-S2-SL. We are accepting applications from individuals interested in improving outcomes for individuals exiting JR facilities. More information can be found on the Community Engagement webpage.
If you are interested and qualify to serve on this group, we encourage you to apply by July 22. If you know someone who also might be interested, feel free to share this opportunity! We look forward to partnering with you and bettering the lives of children, youth, and families. If you have questions about this recruitment or would like to request translation, please email dcyf.communityengagement@dcyf.wa.gov.
Resources to Support Families and Prevent Child Abuse
Connect (Events)
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New 7/16: Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) Prevention Fellowship – Informational Sessions. The DBHR Prevention Fellowship is a paid 10-month experience that offers unparalleled access to Washington State's leaders in behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery. Fellows play a pivotal role in the DBHR team, helping solve real world problems in prevention science, substance use prevention, and mental health promotion. (7/21)
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Dads "Dyad" Differently: Fathers in the First Year from First Steps Maternity Support Services (MSS) and Infant Case Management (ICM). “Topics will include the father-infant relationship, the culture of fatherhood, provider assumptions, paternal postpartum mood disorders, communication style, occupational deprivation, ghosts in the nursery, and parallel process.” (7/20)
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The Power, Authority, and Governance of Native Nations: Understanding United States Federal Indian Policies. “This free, three-part webinar series is for education professionals looking for a content-rich professional development experience that provides foundational knowledge about U.S. federal Indian policies and their impact on Native Americans.” (7/20-7/22
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From longhouse to schoolhouse: American Indian/Alaska Native communities coming together in partnership to learn, collaborate, and share experiences and knowledge. Hosted by the National American Indian & Alaska Native Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network. (7/23)
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Foundational Community Supports presents: Practical ways to work with people with Substance Use Disorder from Washington Healthcare Authority. “This webinar will focus on engaging people with SUD based on the person’s level of readiness and how to use harm reduction.” (7/29)
- 2021 Region 10 Opioid Summit - Future Directions in the Opioid Crisis: Improving Systems to Better Serve Individuals and Families. “Join us for a three-day Opioid Summit including multiple breakout sessions focused around Prevention, Intervention and Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Recovery and Plenary Sessions you don’t want to miss!” (8/3-8/5)
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2021 Indigenous Children, Youth, and Families Conference: "Together Toward Tomorrow." Join us for our Second Annual Virtual Indigenous Children, Youth, and Families (ICYF) conference. ICYF is a unique opportunity to gather with DCYF staff, child welfare professionals, caregivers, tribal staff, alumni, parents, and youth to discuss our common thread of children, youth, and families. (8/10-12)
- NICWA Training Institute presents Positive Indian Parenting. “Positive Indian Parenting prepares tribal and non-tribal child welfare personnel to train American Indian and Alaska Native parents using a culturally specific approach.” (8/9-12, 9/20-23, 11/1-4)
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Live at the Virtual Barbershop: Supporting Black Students in the Classroom. “Join African-American male leaders from the sector as they explore the relevance of the U.S. education system to the needs of the Black community. Discuss the challenges and opportunities to creating an inclusive system that builds on all students’ capabilities, resilience, and dreams.” (8/27)
- Considerations on Racism, Implicit Bias, and Improving Care for Maternal and Infant Health Providers presented by Dr. Sayida Peprah, Parent-Child Relationship Programs, UW Barnard Center. October 12, 9 - 11 a.m. or October 13, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Click here for more info and to register.
Learn (Educational Resources)
- Building Community Resilience through Adverse Community Experiences and Resilience (ACE|R) & Community Organizing Approaches. Presentation from the Colorado School of Public Health. View the webinar and read the slides.
Innovate (News and New Insights)
Grow (Funding and Resources)
- COVID-19 Response and Relief Substance Abuse Block Grants and Mental Health Block Grants Funding for Tribes and Urban Indian Health Programs - Funds will be evenly divided among all Tribes and Urban Indian Health Programs (UIHPs). The SABG is designed to provide States with funds to address substance use disorders (SUDs) through planning, implementing, and evaluating activities to prevent and treat SUDs, including providing prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services. The MHBG is designed to provide comprehensive community mental health services to adults with serious mental illness (SMI) or children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). Additionally, these COVID-19 relief funds can be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to SMI and SED needs and gaps due to the ongoing pandemic. For more information, view the Dear Tribal Leader letter. To receive these funds, please send a complete planning template to tribalaffairs@hca.wa.gov by July 23.
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Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects (RCIP) funding announcement from The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). This new FOA will support progress toward the goal of adapting current eligible entity service models to effectively respond to immediate community needs while also preparing for a future model that realigns local service based on those needs. Grantees will be responsible for implementing community-based projects focused on priority areas to be specified by OCS. Examples include two-generation and family service models; community safety nets; addressing disrupted school/childcare services; job training. (Due 7/26)
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New funding opportunity for rapid development of affordable housing: The Department of Commerce Housing Finance Unit is pleased to announce a new solicitation for projects seeking capital funding from the state Housing Trust Fund to acquire or rent real property in Washington state for rapid conversion to enhanced emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, permanent housing, youth housing, drop-in center, or shelter for people with extremely low incomes, and people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. Please download and carefully review the 2021 Rapid Capital Housing Acquisition Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for detailed information regarding funding requirements and priorities, the process for submitting an application and dates of significance. The NOFA and application materials are available here. (Due 8/5)
If you have suggestions for what to include in this newsletter, email Joy Lile.
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