The Washington State Legislature created the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Task Force as part of the effort to coordinate a statewide response to the urgent crisis of Indigenous people who go missing, are the victims of homicide or experience other types of gender-based violence in urban and tribal communities.

In the 2022 Interim report by the Task Force, the Executive Committee Letter opens with the following: “The Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force was brought together in order to address a painful history of violence. Since settlers arrived in the Pacific Northwest, violence against Indigenous people has been a constant and pervasive threat to safety, sovereignty and traditional ways of life. In 1855, the rape and murder of a Yakama woman, her teenage daughter and young baby became the first official recorded instance of an MMIW case. We have been fighting for justice ever since.”

Tribes, community members and grassroots activists have done substantial work to identify current challenges regarding data, reporting practices, causes of violence, investigations, prosecutions and direct services, that directly impact the rates of violence against tribal and urban Indigenous communities. The Task Force will build on these efforts to address barriers and provide recommendations to the Legislature to close these gaps.

The Task Force formed five subcommittees that meet separately, covering everything from MMIWP families, to data and research, criminal justice, to community services. Beginning in March 2022, the Task Force has hosted family talking circles to provide a space for survivors, family members and impacted community members to gather to share their experiences, find support and build community.

To learn more about the work of the Washington State MMIWP Task Force and read the 2022 report, please visit the following sources:

• Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force | Washington State
• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force issues first report | Washington State
• 2022 Interim Report of the Washington State MMIWP Task Force

The Caregiver Supports Project (previously known as the Foster Care Continuum Project or the Placement Supports for Caregivers Project) team is hosting a webinar for agency staff on Wednesday, May 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. During the webinar, the team will provide a refresher on the project vision and goals, review changes that can be expected in Phase 1 of the project, and take questions.

If you cannot attend the live webinar, slides and a recording from the presentation will be available in the Caregiver Supports section of the Thriving Families Campaign intranet page a few days after the webinar.

• Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | Caregiver Supports Project Staff Webinar | 10 – 11 a.m. | Join Webinar

Webinar ID (access code): 823 5017 4831

Webinar password: 168576

Join by phone:  1 253 215 8782 US Toll

Passcode: 168576

Please contact dcyf.communityengagement@dcyf.wa.gov with any questions about the webinar.

April is National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month, which also coincides with the start of DCYF’s Dual Language Designation program.   

What is a Dual Language Designation Award and Who is Eligible?

As part of the Fair Start for Kids Act, DCYF established a Dual Language Designation which provides funding for eligible providers to build and/or enhance linguistic support in learning environments.

Dual Language Learning is when children learn literacy, content, and culture in two languages, typically English and a partner language spoken in the community.

The Early Achievers Dual Language Designation recognizes programs supporting multilingual children and families in dual language learning environments to meet their specific strengths and needs. Learn more about the dual language designation, by visiting the Dual Language Learning webpage.

Who Can Receive a Dual Language Designation?

• All programs participating in Early Achievers can receive a Dual Language Designation.
• In this first step, programs that are interested will commit to meeting the Dual Language Standards & Best Practices.
• Programs that indicate their commitment will demonstrate their practices during the Early Achievers Quality Recognition Cycle.

As funding is available, the following are eligible for an award:

• Licensed or certified providers accepting state childcare subsidy. This means the program has claimed a payment in the past 12 months.
• Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Early ECEAP contractors.
• Prioritization will be based on the Child Care Stabilization Zip Code Factors.

When will the Dual Language Designation be Available?

Starting in April, providers can request a Dual Language Designation in CECI, Washington’s Coach and Educator Community Interface (formerly known as Coaching Companion). 

How will I receive my Dual Language Designation Award?

DCYF will review applications monthly and providers can expect to receive their award up to 60 days after submitting their application. Please note, programs must have an active statewide vendor number in order to receive payment. To learn more about how to apply for a statewide vendor number, visit DCYF's Apply for a Statewide Vendor Number webpage.

If you have questions about the Dual Language Designation, please contact our MERIT Team. 

The Contracts, Procurement and Purchasing Office is excited to share the new contract request process for Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) staff that will significantly reduce the time and effort required to request a new contract by using Smartsheet’s forms, workflows and automation processes. Starting Monday, April 17, all JR-related contracts will need to be processed using the new method, as described below. 

To submit a new contract, visit the DCYF Contracts and Procurement page on the DCYF Intranet. This new process uses Smartsheet, so anyone submitting requests for contracts will need to set up Single Sign On (SSO) to access the Smartsheet form. Find instructions to set up SSO for Smartsheet listed above the link to request a contract. Once you have set up your SSO to Smartsheet, you will sign in with Microsoft using your work email address.

To request a JR contract, click on the Request a Contract link and follow the directions. Once finished, click submit and your request will be processed.

If you have any contract or procurement questions, please reach out to your assigned Contract, Procurement and Purchasing office staff.  

Shawn Ginwright Ph.D. is a leader in Healing Centered Engagement. He believes that in order for us to improve our work and society, we must first focus on healing ourselves. In his book The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves, he posits that many of our deeply engrained beliefs hold us back from achieving sustainable change. He believes that focusing on awareness, connection, vision, and presence allow us to make stronger impacts. He believes that a sense of belonging is critical in our society today.

Ginwright also addresses an area that many of us struggle with: frenzy. We live in a constant state of frenzy, doing everything and nothing at the same time. We are pushing in many directions and not understanding why our efforts aren’t changing our circumstances. He writes, “Frenzy is the desperate state of constant unfocused effort and random behavior that consistently fails to produce desired results.”

We feel frenzy but we can’t see it. Many of us are addicted to frenzy, like a compulsive disease that’s invisible to us. “Our addiction to frenzy is based on an insatiable need that fills our lives with tasks and things to do, which never allows us to slow down enough to focus on what really matters.” We almost brag about how busy we are (I matter because I’m busy), while desperately seeking authentic connection and missing out on the important things in our lives. It’s a slow and insidious effect that can lead us to break down. Our desire for productivity leads us to a deep sense of emptiness, isolation, and inadequacy.

But we were made for so much more. We must first recognize that frenzy holds our joy, meaning, and human connectedness captive. We combat this with flow. This is a state where we stop judging ourselves. It encourages us to seek our collective wellbeing by creating a culture of care and relationship. Ginwright quotes Howard Thurman, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

It isn’t easy to create but it starts with finding small windows during our daily lives to exhale and flow. It’s all about five-minute, micro-habits that grow into a lifestyle. Today, we encourage you to build your micro-habits and join this collective movement for social change. Take five minutes and do something that matters to you. And then keep doing it.

If you’d like to request a confidential 1:1 session or receive additional information, please email dcyf.peersupport@dcyf.wa.gov.

Mary Barker, Public Benefit Specialist 4 based out of the Bremerton Office received some recognition from one of her co-workers.

Recently, we were down a team lead and many of the other child care team leads stepped up to help.

“While in the process of replacing the Child Care Team 4 lead, all of the other child care team leads helped out my team. Mary Barker has been not only handling her normal duties but also helping Child Care Team 4 answer questions. In addition, Mary has also been helping conduct audits for new hires. Thank you so much for your help,” said Toby Wills, Public Benefit Specialist Supervisor based out of the Chehalis Office. 

Jennifer Westling, Public Benefits Specialist 3 based out of the Aberdeen Office, received some recognition from one of her co-workers.

Recently Jennifer contacted one of her co-workers after they incorrectly submitted a form.

“Jennifer reached out and helped me after I had sent some forms incorrectly. She kindly showed me the correct way to send forms. Agents like Jennifer make this a great organization to work with,” shared Antoine (Tony) Tahkeal, Public Benefits Specialist 3 based out of the Yakima Office.