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Many of you may have heard the news, but our own Rene Toolson is ending her career with the end of the year!
Rene started with then Department of Early Learning in 2016 and since then has overseen 12 employees, nine home visiting procurements, signed thousands of invoices and made connections with home visiting programs across the state. You will be greatly missed Rene!
While we are sad to be saying farewell to Rene, we are very excited to introduce Nicole Parker as the Home Visiting Manager of Practice and Implementation. Nicole has a long career as an early learning professional, starting with family engagement and pre-k home visiting. She has also worked with ECEAP, Head Start, and Early Head Start programs around Washington state, including south central Washington, in her hometown of Spokane, and King and Pierce counties.
"What I love most about a state-level job is being able to work hard to influence systems-level change for programs and services that you are passionate about, in service to and with communities," Nicole said.
Nicole is a happily partnered mother of two (kids ages are 20 and 11), and stepmom to one (almost 17 years old). When not working, she loves to swim, play computer games with her family, and try and beat anyone at cribbage.
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.
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
Establishing parentage is a complex and misunderstood process that is vital to establishing parental rights for fathers and their children. Experts from the Division of Child Support and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office show how we can work together to help families establish parentage for their children. They will provide technical knowledge and insights into how parentage is established in Washington State and how fathers can engage in the process.
Maternal deaths in Washington rose between 2021-2022, and most pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, according to the Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) new Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP) Report. Behavioral health-related deaths – including suicide, homicide, and accidental overdose – accounted for nearly half of all pregnancy-related deaths. COVID-19 was the second leading cause. The report includes recommendations to address the root causes and systemic gaps behind these deaths.
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 2026 Unsung Hero Award Nominations Now Open!
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is now accepting Unsung Hero Award nominations for 2026!
Do you know a parent, caregiver, guardian, or community member you’d like to recognize? Send us your nomination to strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov.
Nominations must be received by Jan. 6, 2026. Nomination forms are available in English, Spanish, and Somali.
Twenty-eight new Unsung Hero Award recipients (one for each day of the month) will be honored at an in-person “Parent Recognition Month” dinner event in February.
Since 2011, nearly 400 parents and caregivers across Washington have received the Unsung Hero award.
Please share this message with your Washington networks. DCYF appreciates your ongoing support. Let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.
To read this message in Spanish and Somali, visit DCYF's What's New blog.
OIAA Need and Supply Data Dashboard Suite: The Child Care and Early Learning: Need and Supply Dashboard Suite was updated with data from July 2025. You can view the dashboard on our website and download the underlying data from data.wa.gov. Please note, numerous ECEAP sites do not operate during the summer. This creates a drop in ECEAP program served counts in the Need & Supply Dashboard.
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Home Visit Readiness Training
When: Jan. 29 (1-3 p.m.)
Register Here *Note: This training is recommended for all home visitors and supervisors.
After completing this training, participants will:
- Have strategies to address unique field related concerns around physical well-being while providing home visits.
- Know field-readiness procedures that should be in place before and during a home visit.
- Understand how other agencies handle emergency field concerns and the policies they have in place to support staff and families’ well-being.
- Understand how to reflect on cultural norms and biases embedded in field-related concerns.
Guiding Growth: Introduction to Ages and Stages for Home Visitors and Supervisors
When: March 3 and 4 (10 a.m. to noon)
Register Here *Note: This training is designed for new home visiting staff as well as experienced home visiting staff seeking a refresher on using the ASQ-3 screening tool in partnership with families.
After completing this training, participants will:
- Understand the ASQ-3’s purpose and process for families receiving home visiting services.
- Adapt the ASQ-3 questionnaire items to align with families’ beliefs and settings.
- Be able to score and discuss results with families in an empowering way.
- Facilitate referrals for further evaluation and developmental resources.
PICCOLO in Practice
When: March 25 – April 8 (1-3 p.m.)
Register Here *Note: This training is intended for new or experienced home visiting staff, new to using the PICCOLO screening tool in their program.
After completing this training, participants will:
- Identify positive interactions between caregivers and children.
- Connect positive interactions to positive child development, socio-emotional growth and school readiness skills.
- Communicate with parents about their strengths and ways to build on successes.
Foundational Perinatal Mental Health for Home Visitors
When: April 23 – May 7 (1-4 p.m.)
Register Here *Note: This three-part training is designed for new home visiting staff who administer the PHQ-9 screening tool.
After completing this training, participants will:
- Understand the biological, individual, social and societal impacts that parenthood has on mental health.
- Feel comfortable talking with parents and caregivers about their mental health, including using screening tools such as the PHQ-9.
- Connect families to resources that can provide additional support within the context of family values and culture.
- Be equipped to provide non-clinical mental health supports that are within the scope of home visiting, such as active listening and wellness planning.
Strengthening the Foundation: Elevating Mental Health Support in Home Visiting
When: May 14 – 28 (1-4 p.m.)
Register Here *Note: This three-part training is designed for home visitors who have had at least six months of experience working with children and families and administering the PHQ-9 Questionnaire.
After completing this training, participants will:
- Develop culturally specific wellness plans and activities in partnership with clients.
- Use evidence-based mental health strategies for non-mental health providers.
- Understand and discuss medication during the childbearing period
- Develop strategies to support clients not engaged in mental health therapy
- Implement a crisis assessment and intervention plan within the home visitor’s scope.
- Recognize signs of vicarious trauma and strategies to support the professional self.
For more training information or questions, contact Adrienne Matthias at amatthias@startearly.org
Each month, DCYF ESIT Tribal Program Consultant Brian Frisina will provide a key topic to help support us all in getting to know our Tribal Nations partners better.
This month’s topic is:
Remembering the Life and Legacy of Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull (c. 1831-1890) was a Teton Dakota Native American chief who united the Sioux tribes of the American Great Plains against the white settlers taking their tribal land. The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty granted the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota to the Sioux, but when gold was discovered there in 1874, the U.S. government ignored the treaty and began to remove native tribes from their land by force.
The ensuing Great Sioux Wars culminated in the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, when Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led united tribes to victory against General George Armstrong Custer. Sitting Bull was shot and killed by Indian police officers on Standing Rock Indian Reservation in 1890, but is remembered for his courage in defending native lands. Read more about the resistance led by Sitting Bull, his life and legacy:
Sitting Bull
A Talk with Sitting Bull's Great-Great Grandson
Ernie Lapointe is currently the closest living relative to the great chief of the Lakota Sioux, Sitting Bull. Chief Sitting Bull was present at the battle of Little Bighorn and toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show for a season. Mr. Lapointe spoke at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in August of 2012. Watch the fill talk (1:03:17):
A Talk with Sitting Bull's Great-Great Grandson
Fifty years after Wounded Knee
Friday, March 3, 2023, marked the 50th anniversary of the Wounded Knee occupation by the American Indian Movement. Highlighting interviews with writer and director, Tazbah Chavez, talking about her latest work, and Clifford Kapono, professional surfer and assistant professor at Arizona State University, making it his life's work to care for the coral reefs (watch time 26:46):
Fifty years after Wounded Knee
Book Recommendation
Sitting Bull: His Life and Legacy by Ernie LaPointe: The only book on Sitting Bull written by a lineal descendant. Ernie LaPointe is the great -grandson of the famous Hunkpapa Lakota chief, and he presents the family tales and memories told to him about his great-grandfather. In many ways the oral history differs from what has become the standard and widely accepted biography of Sitting Bull. LaPointe explains the discrepancies, how they occurred, and why he wants to tell his story of Tatanka Iyotake.
Sources
- Photo: Tatonkaiyotonka, Sitting Bull, University of Michigan Library Digital Collections, Fort Randall, D.T. : Bailey, Dix & Mead, ©1882, This image is in the public domain in the US.
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Sitting Bull, HISTORY.com Editors, Published: Nov. 9, 2009, Last Updated: May 28, 2025, © 2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC.
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A Talk with Sitting Bull's Great-Great Grandson, posted to YouTube by Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Oct. 12, 2012.
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Fifty years after Wounded Knee, posted to YouTube by Indian Country Today, March 3, 2023.
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Sitting Bull: His Life and Legacy by Ernie LaPointe, first published Jan. 1, 2009, (this edition) published Sept. 1, 2009 by Gibbs Smith, 2025 Goodreads, Inc.
Prenatal Substance Exposure Report: This report summarizes recent trends in prenatal substance exposure among infants in Washington’s Medicaid program (Apple Health); in maternal substance use during pregnancy; and in access to treatment during pregnancy and postpartum.
Intensive Care Coordination Using the Wraparound Approach for Children with Complex Behavioral Health Needs: Intensive care coordination provides a high level of support to children, youth, and their families, helping them navigate health and social services to address complex behavioral health needs. This issue of the Evidence Roundup for the Center for Healthcare Strategies explores the Wraparound approach.
HV-REACH: ACF and HRSA worked with the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Mathematica, and Social Grove to create a new Family Engagement Toolkit to support home visiting programs with outreach, recruitment, and retention. The toolkit includes:
- A self-assessment
- A resource catalog
- An action plan and framework to help programs identify strengths and challenges, set priorities, and plan improvements
The toolkit is part of the HV-REACH project, which shares information and best practices for evidence-based home visiting.
Use the links below to access the toolkit and learn more about HV-REACH.
Study on Stopping GLP-1s Before Pregnancy
A recent study found that women who stop GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic or Zepbound) before or early in pregnancy may face higher risks of weight gain, diabetes, and hypertension. GLP-1s must be stopped when trying to conceive, but using them beforehand may still reduce risks. Experts recommend added support such as nutrition counseling during pregnancy.
Below are resources and opportunities to engage:
Positive Indian Parenting: Request for Qualifications and Quotations. This opportunity aims to honor and uplift the strengths, cultural traditions, and parenting practices of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) families by expanding access to culturally responsive parenting supports.
Post-Separation Resources for Families Impacted by Immigration Concerns: Many families in Washington state are facing challenges because of immigration-related detention or deportation. The new Resources for Families Impacted by Immigration-Related Separation Flyer is available for families who are dealing with separation or are worried it might happen.
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