Seeking Qualified Expert Witnesses for Indian Child Welfare Cases
DCYF is looking for Qualified Expert Witnesses (QEW) to support tribes in providing designated QEW’s in state Indian child custody proceedings. Our priority is to engage QEWs directly named or approved by tribes to ensure culturally appropriate and knowledgeable testimony.
Why QEW Matters
Under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), QEW testimony is required in child custody proceedings to assess whether continued custody by a parent or Indian custodian may cause serious emotional or physical harm to the child. Recent Washington State Supreme Court rulings have reinforced the need for knowledgeable and culturally competent QEW testimony in ICW cases.
Who Can Be a QEW?
- Tribal designees, elders, members, and descendants
- Tribal community members with cultural knowledge
- Professionals with deep understanding of the child’s Tribe’s culture and parenting practices
- Approved DCYF staff
What to Expect
QEW’s may provide testimony on:
- Placement decisions & case planning
- Active efforts to reunify families
- Cultural and social norms of the child’s Tribe
QEW’s may contract individually with DCYF or through a Tribe and may testify only with Tribal approval for their own Tribe or similar tribes in their region.
Where & How
- Testimony is needed in state and county courts across Washington (in-person or virtual).
- Ideally, QEW testimony is provided at the 30-day shelter care hearing, but it is required by dependency, guardianship, or termination hearings.
- Training is required (or proof of completion within the last five years).
Get Involved
If you're interested in ensuring compliance with ICWA and supporting Indian families, consider becoming a QEW! Join our upcoming virtual training.
Virtual QEW Training
June 11 & June 12, 2025
Register Here
For more information, email Sally Nahsonhoya, QEW Coordinator, at DCYFOTRQEWRequest@dcyf.wa.gov.
DCYF Community Outreach
Article by Christine Sannon, Region 3 ICW Consultant/Tribal Liaison
The Nooksack Tribal Resource Fair was held on March 15 at the Mi’sq’eq’o Community Building in Everson, WA.
The Tribal Resource Fair connects individuals and families with unique needs to a variety of local activities, programs, and resources. The event featured local organizations offering information, support, and services.
Montaine Healy-Green, Nooksack Youth and Family Services Director, wanted to promote education and information about Foster Care Licensing for Nooksack Tribal members. DCYF Targeted Recruitment was able to provide information bags and swag materials for the community event.
It was nice to be in a community with our Tribal partners!
Pictured from left to right: Montaine Healy-Green, Youth and Family Services Director, and Sativa Robertson, Nooksack Social Services Director.
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Early Childhood Equity Grant
DCYF is pleased to announce that the Early Childhood Equity Grant application is now available. This grant is intended to serve as a step toward expanding access to early learning statewide and transforming Washington's early learning system to make it more inclusive and equitable. The grant will support inclusive and culturally and linguistically specific early learning and early childhood and parent support programs across the state.
For more information, including frequently asked questions and contact information for technical assistance, please visit the DCYF Early Childhood Equity Grant webpage.
Adoption Program Support Consultant (SHPC2) - Olympia/DCYF
Position closes: April 18, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Apply online: Adoption Program Support Consultant | Career Pages
Early Support for Infants & Toddlers (ESIT) Senior Administrator (WMS03) Olympia/DCYF
Position closes: April 21, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Apply online: ESIT Senior Administrator | Career Pages
Statewide Active Efforts Virtual Resource Fair
DCYF’s Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) invites you to the Statewide Active Efforts Virtual Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. REGISTER HERE
Learn about services and supports from around Washington state that are available to Tribal children, youth, and families. Presenters will include tribal programs, tribal-serving organizations, and many more. For questions, please email betsy.tulee@dcyf.wa.gov.
Wichoni Wašté 2025 Indigenous Wellness Retreat
April 18-19, 2025
North Seattle College – The Grove
This two-day gathering is all about healing, connection, and empowerment. FREE & open to the community! Visit Wichoni Wašté 2025 Indigenous Wellness Retreat - Unkitawa for information.
Family Success Parenting Conference
May 2 - 4, 2025
Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound, WA
Family Success NW proudly presents their inaugural conference—a gathering of parents, caregivers, and allies dedicated to supporting trauma-impacted children. Pre-register for the conference and visit Family Success Northwest for more information.
2025 Infant and Early Childhood Conference
May 5-9, 2025
Virtual conference
Keynote presentations will be presented in English with ASL and Spanish language interpretation. In addition to these two wonderful presentations we have almost 50 breakout sessions over the course of the five day virtual conference. There is still time to register! 2025 Registration is free of charge!
2025 Trauma Informed Care Conference
Aug. 19-21, 2025
Toppenish, WA
Save the date for the 2025 Trauma Informed Care Conference, which will be held at Yakama Nation Legends Casino. This year’s conference will include a special Youth Track on Aug. 22. Be sure to register online to reserve your spot.
Child Abuse Prevention Month | Digital Media Kit
Every April, Child Abuse Prevention Month focuses on the importance of ensuring children feel safe and protected, families are supported, and efforts to end child abuse and neglect are ongoing.
To give recognition to this important work, DCYF has developed the Child Abuse Prevention Month Digital Media Kit that includes resources, materials, and social media posts for individuals and community organizations to use. View or download the full digital media kit.
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Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAM). This year’s theme, “Step Forward. Prevent. Report. Advocate” calls on the power of collective and individual action by standing together to honor survivors and empower communities.
Education is the first step forward toward action and empowerment. By working together, we can all play a role in creating safer and healthier communities.
- Start by believing. False reports are rare (2-10%).
- Use-trauma informed language.
- Avoid victim blaming.
- Most survivors know their perpetrator, which can make reporting difficult.
- Educate others about consent.
- SEE something, SAY something, DO something. A technique aimed to prevent violence with the help of bystanders. Small actions. Big Impact.
Below are upcoming events and opportunities to learn, connect, and show support.
In-person Community Events:
Virtual Events:
National Events:
Community Support and TANF Fair
April 30, 2025 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Quileute Human Services is asking you to save the date for the Community Support and TANF Fair. Contact Brittany Hutton at qdhs.director@quileutetribe.com to reserve a booth.
Chief Kitsap Academy: Decolonizing Education Coastal Jam
May 10, 2025
House of Awakened Culture, Suquamish, WA
Contact Angelina Sosa or Bearon OldCoyote with questions.
Updates from the Family Separation Response Task Force
The Family Separation Response Task Force continued to make progress throughout the month of March. Check out DCYF's What's New blog to read about recent updates and Task Force next steps.
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Puyallup Tribe, local school districts sign historic curriculum MOU
"For over 20 years, The Puyallup Tribe of Indians has supported efforts in local classrooms to educate students about the history of the Tribe and this land. Today, 13 local school districts signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tribe to coordinate, engage in and support meaningful consultation on education about Tribal culture and history."
Read more: Puyallup Tribe, local school districts sign historic curriculum MOU | Puyallup Tribe
Celebrating International Children's Book Day
Join Lushootseed Language Teacher David Turnipseed as he reads "Changer and Blue Heron," a beautiful book created by the Language Department. Link: Changer and Blue Heron (YouTube)
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