Priorities

2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

SESSION PRIORITIES

In 2024, our priority is to maintain previous policy advancements and sustainably fund services and programs for children, youth and families through progressive revenue reform that increase equitable treatment and outcomes.

BASIC NEEDS: Ensure basic needs are met through equitable, holistic, and sustainable investments in the behavioral and physical health, housing, safety, economic security, and well-being of children, youth, and families.
CHILD WELFARE: Prioritize the safety and well-being of children, youth, and families impacted by the child welfare system through investments that: (1) aim to eliminate racial disproportionality; (2) provide services and supports to safely help keep families together and prevent placements in out of home care by strengthening provision of basic needs, behavioral health and substance disorder treatments; (3) provide comprehensive and culturally responsive services delivered by adequately trained staff to children and youth placed in the child welfare system; and (4) support positive and healthy transitions of youth exiting the child welfare system.
EARLY LEARNING, CHILDCARE, AND FAMILY SUPPORT: Invest in culturally responsive, affordable, accessible, and quality childcare, universal pre-K, and family support programs that equitably and sustainably support children and caregivers.
JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM: Prioritize community-based interventions, diversion, restorative alternatives, and wraparound supports that prevent children and youth involvement in juvenile court systems and eliminate racial disparities while adequately serving youth currently in and transitioning out of the juvenile court system.
IDD/DISABILITY ADVOCACY: Create sustainable funding streams for programs that provide accessible, equitable, and comprehensive support for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and other disabilities.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: Sustainably fund programs and resources that equitably provide developmentally appropriate, wraparound supports young people need to learn, grow, and successfully transition to adulthood.

To view a full list of the children’s champions we endorsed in the 2022 election cycle, please click here.

For media inquiries or questions about our legislative priorities,

please contact: info@childrenscampaignfund.org

LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD: 2021-2022

We believe that Washington's children, youth, and families deserve a state legislature that prioritizes and votes for them 100% of the time. We are heartened to report that, on average, CCF-endorsed legislators vote in favor of policies impacting children, youth, and families more often than non-endorsed legislators. We recognize there is much work ahead to hold our leaders accountable and retain and elect champions.

CCF staff have tracked and analyzed every legislator's votes across CCF's priority bills during the 2021 and 2022 sessions; for the first time in CCF's history, we are eager to offer details about how different groups of legislators voted overall as well as by individual issue area, including scoring the Washington State Legislature as a whole, to present a comprehensive picture of the policy landscape for children, youth, and families in Washington State.