Our new report offers an updated look at opportunities for breakthrough progress in Washington's adolescent mental health crisis.

As part of our work to address the youth mental health crisis, we recently sent a letter to Senator Cantwell in support of legislation to empower parents to make decisions about how their children use social media and the internet.

In this post, we’ll discuss what is contributing to those leading rankings, and we’ll share some of the advocacy we’re doing to continue pushing for progress in in these areas, particularly for children furthest from opportunity.

Washington is making progress in terms of overall child wellbeing. However, our state still has plenty of room to improve, especially in terms of education and economic well-being.

Every legislative session, Children’s Alliance works with advocates from across the state to advance policies that support Washington’s kids and families. On June 6, many of the bills we advocated for during the 2024 legislative session will go into effect.

We made important steps forward this legislative session, particularly in the areas of youth behavioral health and child care affordability. Read our full report to learn about the progress of all of our top priority legislation.

Session is wrapping up, and bills are starting to reach the finish line. We are excited to highlight some of the significant bills that passed the Legislature in 2024.

We are midway through the 2024 legislative session! Our policy team provide an update on the status of our priority bills.

Week two of the 2024 legislative session is at an end. Here’s a quick recap of the progress some of our top priority bills have made so far.

At Children’s Alliance, we see a future in which all of Washington's children have an abundance of what they need to grow up to be the people they dream of becoming.  Our 2024 legislative agenda highlights our policy priorities in our three primary issue areas: early learning, health equity, and economic justice.

Absa Samba, MPA candidate at the UW Evans School and advocate for survivors of, and those at risk from, female genital mutilation/cutting, reflects on her experience working to pass Senate Bill 5453.

Last month, Children’s Alliance conducted our annual member survey. It was a chance for community members, partners, and advocates that support the work of Children’s Alliance to weigh in on the issues that matter most to them, and for us to gather vital community input.

By expanding successful local, state, and international initiatives, we estimate that Washington could address the majority of its youth care gap within a year or so, at an estimated cost of $25 million.

We have much to celebrate at the close of the 2023 legislative session. Together with our members and partners, we achieved significant wins on youth mental health, oral health care, child care and much more.

Over the weekend, the Washington legislature unveiled a new, two-year state budget that boosts funding for a variety of programs that will positively impact Washington’s children and families.

State lawmakers have passed House Bill 1678 and authorized the expansion of dental therapy in Washington state. This legislation will increase dental access for kids in communities where care is most out of reach.

Washington is making strong headway to enact comprehensive FGM/C legislation that is long overdue.

The state House and Senate released their budget proposals for the 2023-25 biennium and Children’s Alliance was pleased to see positive investments in kids, families and racial equity in each of them.

Passing HB 1678 will add dental therapists to the health care team in more areas of the state, bringing care to more children who historically have lacked access to routine oral health care due to their race, family income, or rural location.

When the public health emergency ends, families using Medicaid will have to prove their eligibility, and thousands of people in Washington, including children on Apple Health for Kids, could lose coverage if they are no longer eligible - or face administrative barriers during the process.