In the Community | DCYF's Office of Tribal Relations
On Nov. 22, 2025, the DCYF Office of Tribal Relations was honored to participate in the Puyallup Tribal Wellness Powwow. Representing the office were Mandy Morlin (Cherokee Nation) and Shannel Squally-Janzen (Puyallup Tribe of Indians), who hosted an informational booth throughout the event.
The Powwow provided a meaningful opportunity to connect with families, youth, and community members. Mandy and Shannel shared a variety of resources designed to support Tribal communities and strengthen relationships between DCYF and Tribal partners. Materials included information on Positive Indian Parenting Train-the-Trainer sessions, Extended Foster Care, Local Indian Child Welfare Advisory Committees (LICWACs), Juvenile Rehabilitation Community Facilities, and substance-use prevention facts. Coloring sheets featuring Indigenous designs, along with a little candy, were also shared with children and families, offering a fun and inviting way to spark conversations and build rapport.
Participation in the Wellness Powwow supports our ongoing commitment to culturally responsive outreach and collaboration. We extend our gratitude to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians for welcoming us and for hosting an event that uplifts wellness, community connection, and cultural celebration. We look forward to continuing this important work together!
Green Hill School Hosts Annual Powwow
Young people from Green Hill School celebrated Native American heritage during their annual Powwow, a cultural celebration filled with music and dance.
Tribal members from across the state led the event with joy and excitement encouraging all those in attendance to join in the celebration and dance. As part of the event, which took place on Nov. 29, young people had the chance to witness traditional dances and learn about their origin.
“I felt like it allowed me to be myself and deeply connect with my ancestors. Pride, representation, and community is what I got out of it,” said one young man.
Green Hill School has provided Native American programming to young men for the past 10 years, including the Native Circle group, regular sweat lodges, and the annual Powwow. The Powwow event gave the young men in the Native Circle group a chance to practice their traditions and share their beautiful culture with family, peers, and staff.
“Not only is the event beautiful to watch but it helps young people make community connections and build positive relationships.” said Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Rehabilitation Jennifer Redman. “This was a perfect example of how culturally centered experiences are therapeutic and help young people reach their potential.”
DCYF would like to thank Unkitawa for making this event possible.
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2026 Governor’s Budget Webinar
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is hosting a webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, to discuss the agency's 2026 budget investments.
Join the webinar to hear about DCYF's investments in the Governor’s budget and learn about proposed funding levels for DCYF, including our 2026 Legislative session requests. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions.
Join Here
Webinar ID: 862 6060 7615
Passcode: 571374
Call in Number: 253 215 8782
If you cannot attend the live webinar, slides from the presentation will be available on the DCYF Government Affairs Webpage a few days following the presentation.
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Foster Care Negotiated Rule Making Updates
As we celebrate this season of gratitude, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our amazing Tribal partners and caregivers who joined us in the negotiated rulemaking (NRM) process. Your voices, insights, and dedication have been essential in shaping the draft of WAC Chapter 110-148. We deeply value the time you’ve given and the thoughtful input you’ve shared.
Our Tribal Child Placing Agency partners and caregivers have played a vital role every step of the way, helping guide meaningful changes that reflect real experiences and needs. We’re excited to continue this collaboration and look forward to welcoming more participation during the public comment period in early 2026.
If you have questions about this project, contact the Foster Care NRM team at dcyf.fostercarenrm@dcyf.wa.gov, or you can check out the NRM webpage for project updates.
2025-26 Child Care Complex Needs Fund
DCYF is pleased to announce that the 2025-26 Child Care Complex Needs Fund application is now available. The application period will close at 5 p.m. PST on Jan. 20 , 2026.
Eligible licensed, certified, and certified-for-payment-only child care providers and eligible license-exempt Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) providers can apply in the WA Compass Provider Portal.
The Child Care Complex Needs Fund may be used toward:
- Adding staff members to support children with complex needs, increasing staff hours to support children with complex needs, and up to a $5,000 hiring bonus for new staff that support children with complex needs.
- Facility improvements to comply with ADA accessibility requirements.
- Therapeutic services. Therapeutic services means services offered by skilled professionals, that focus on curative, rehabilitative, preventative or healing practices.
- Supportive and adaptive materials and equipment.
For technical assistance contact information, visit the Child Care Complex Needs Fund webpage. For all other questions, email dcyf.childcaregrants@dcyf.wa.gov.
Positive Indian Parenting Funding
DCYF is excited to announce a funding opportunity to provide Positive Indian Parenting (PIP) services. This opportunity aims to honor and uplift the strengths, cultural traditions, and parenting practices of American Indian and Alaska Native families by expanding access to culturally responsive parenting supports.
The Request for Qualifications and Quotations (RFQQ) was posted on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, and will be open until Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time.
View a copy of the RFQQ.
To apply, please visit the Washington’s Electronic Business Solution website.
For more information about Positive Indian Parenting, view the PIP Flyer from the National Indian Child Welfare Association.
Assess Needs of Survivors | Office of Crime Victims Advocacy
The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) is seeking contractors to plan and conduct a needs assessment for Washington residents who have experienced hurt, harm or crime.
The findings will guide future program funding and help evaluate program effectiveness.
Candidates should have experience in community-based research and either established relationships or the ability to quickly build connections with priority communities statewide. Candidates should also have experience in working with Tribes or Nations.
Proposals are due Jan. 14, 2026.
Visit the Washington State Department of Commerce website for information and to apply.
Director of Community Programs (Olympia) Juvenile Rehabilitation/DCYF
Position closes: Jan. 16, 2025 at 12 a.m.
Apply online: Director of Community Programs | Career Pages
Research Associate II - Learning Opportunities Manager, National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement/University of Southern Maine
Position closes: Dec. 10, 2025
Apply online: UMS Careers
Director, National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement/University of Southern Maine
Position closes: Jan. 4, 2026
Apply online: UMS Careers
Healing Programs Coordinator/The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
Position closes: Jan. 4, 2026
Apply online: Careers – NABS
Positive Indian Parenting | Train-the-Trainer Courses
DCYF is offering Positive Indian Parenting (PIP) Train-the-Trainer courses at no cost. These courses prepare facilitators to educate and support Native parents using a culturally specific approach. Trainings provide participants with a manual that contains instructional materials for eight PIP sessions, each grounded in traditional Native teachings about child rearing.
Organizations interested in providing PIP to their community are encouraged to register. Registration preference will be given to Tribes, Native Serving Organizations, and Recognized American Indian Organizations in Washington state.
Please complete the Registration Form to sign up for a course listed below:
- Virtual: Jan. 12-15, 2026
- In-Person: March 3-5, 2026 | Port Angeles, WA
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In-Person: May 2026 (location and date to be announced)
For questions, please contact Shannel.Squally-Janzen@dcyf.wa.gov.
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2026 Children’s Justice Conference | Call for Proposals
We are thrilled to announce that the Call for Proposals is officially OPEN for the 2026 Children’s Justice Conference! We invite you to join us in shaping the premier child welfare and justice conference in the Pacific Northwest by sharing your expertise, best practices, and innovative research with a dedicated audience of professionals and advocates.
We are seeking submissions for workshops on topics related to the identification, investigation, prosecution, and prevention of child maltreatment.
Call for proposal submissions close on Feb. 1, 2026.
Visit Children's Justice Conference for information and to submit your proposal.
Stacy Williams: A Life of Advocacy, Healing, and Cultural Restoration
By Elsy Cruz, LICWAC Coordinator
From law school to traditional healing, from film sets to Tribal courts, Stacy Williams’ path has never been linear. Rooted in cultural discovery, resilience, and a commitment to children and families, her journey reflects a blend of legal skill, spiritual grounding, and lived experience.
For more than twenty years, Stacy has woven together legal advocacy, traditional medicine, and community service to support children across the Northwest. Inspired by her brother, Jan Goslin, one of NICWA’s first advocates, Stacy left a thriving film and television career to pursue public service. She earned a law degree from the University of Washington and an MSW from Pepperdine, guided by the belief that justice requires both legal expertise and human understanding.
Her early work included interning at the Northwest Justice Project’s Native American Clinic, completing two AmeriCorps terms, and building family and elder resources at NAYA. After experiencing a stroke, she deepened her focus on traditional healing practices, studying curanderismo, Apache medicine, and Cherokee ceremonial ways. She learned to blend plant medicine, earth-based healing, and seasonal teachings—wisdom she now shares with her community.
Since 2000, Stacy has served as a CASA/GAL and helped develop Oregon’s statewide ICWA training and judicial compliance efforts. She joined the R6 LICWAC Committee in 2018 and now serves as a Tribal representative on the DCYF Oversight Board.
Adopted at birth and later reunited with her Kansas relatives, Stacy carries one guiding flame: “Children deserve the full possibility of their lives.” She adds, “I don’t want the attention on me—I want it on the people, the children, the Tribes. This is my calling.”
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Support Indigenous Businesses this Holiday Season
Note: These are some examples; this is not an exhaustive list.
NDN Girls Book Club
501(c)3 literary organization run by and for Indigenous peoples that hosts free youth workshops, hosts author talks, uplifts Indigenous literature, supports Indigenous booksellers, and sends out free Native books.
Cookbooks by Indigenous Authors
Upcoming Local Events
Holiday Native Art Market | Native Action Network, Seattle, WA
Dec. 12, 2025 | 6 to 9 p.m.
For more information, contact info@nativeactionnetwork.org.
Family Christmas Experience | Puyallup Tribe, Tacoma, WA
Until Dec. 21, 2025
Visit Family Christmas Experience | Puyallup Tribe for information.
Native American Arts and Crafts Show | Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino
Dec. 18, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visit Upcoming Events - Spokane Tribe Casino for information.
Winter Pow wow | North Seattle College
Dec. 19, 2025
Visit Winter powwow | Facebook for information.
Clark County Winter Native Art Market | Vancouver, WA
Dec. 20, 2025 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit ClarkCountyToday for information.
NAYA Native Winter Marketplace | Portland, OR
Dec. 20-21, 2025
Visit NAYA Family Center Events for information.
You Don’t Need The Whole Plan | Puyallup Tribe
"Reflections from a Native, first-generation graduate student."
NDN Girls Book Club Drop Brings More Indigenous Literature to Southeast Alaska Students | Tlingit & Haida
"Tlingit & Haida partnered with the NDN Girls Book Club to host free book drops around Southeast Alaska to get more books by Indigenous authors into the hands of Indigenous kids."
Yakama Nation and Rock Creek Longhouse Celebrate CBRI Partnership | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
"The Yakama Nation and Rock Creek Longhouse invited them, along with allies of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative for a first foods dinner, songs, and words to celebrate of the collaborative work the four Columbia River treaty tribes, Oregon, Washington, and other organizations."
Yakama Nation Hatchery Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony at Ancient Fishing Site Topxatuxt | Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
"On October 3, 2025, Yakama Nation Fisheries hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a hatchery expansion next to the Yakima River at a site that has been used by tribal fishers since time immemorial."
Yakama Nation Tribal members gather in protest against current leadership | KIMATV
"Members of the Yakama Nation Tribe gathered in protest outside the Yakama Agency in Toppenish, expressing displeasure with current administration."
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