Kids Need Roofs, Not Red Tape
Picture a family doing everything they can to stay together, except one giant problem keeps getting in the way: they do not have a safe place to live. The system looks at that mess and says, “Well, I guess the kids have to stay in foster care.” Washington’s Supreme Court said: not so fast. In […]
Tiny story, big rule: Washington says agencies have to check both parents before removing a child
Imagine a little boy’s world suddenly turning upside down. Something scary happens, adults rush in, and everyone agrees on one thing fast: the child needs to be safe. But then comes the next question: safe with whom? In Matter of Dependency of L.C.S., the Washington Supreme Court gave an important answer for parents: the state […]
Washington says “active efforts” means real help for Native parents
Imagine a mom standing in the middle of a storm, saying, “I don’t agree with what you’re saying about me, and I’m not signing up for everything you want.” The state hears that and seems to decide, “Well then, I guess we tried.” Washington’s Supreme Court said: not so fast. In In re Dependency of […]
You Can’t Hand Someone a Maze and Call It Help
Picture a parent being handed a giant pile of instructions, a tangle of programs, a bunch of fancy terms, and a ticking clock — and then being judged for not finding the exit fast enough. Washington’s Supreme Court said: that is not good enough. In In re Termination of Parental Rights to M.A.S.C., the court […]
A Little Heritage Is a Big Deal
Picture a courtroom at the very start of a child welfare case. People are moving fast, decisions are being made fast, and someone says, “The child may have tribal heritage.” The temptation is to treat that like a maybe-for-later detail. Washington’s Supreme Court said: nope, that is already enough to matter. In In re Dependency […]
Don’t Call It an Emergency and Forget to Try
Picture the State saying, “This child needs to be removed right now,” and everyone in the room nodding because safety matters. Fair enough. But then comes the next question: once that child is out of the home, does the State still have to do real work to keep the family from being broken apart? Washington’s […]
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