Fewer foster youth in Western Washington are going missing than in previous years thanks to a focus on family placements, according to the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families.
“Kids are able to stay connected to their community, their culture and their families, stay at the same schools, oftentimes see their siblings, see their bio(logical) parents regularly,” said Nancy Gutierrez, a spokeswoman for the agency. “So it leads to just better outcomes.”
In 2022, Western Washington had the highest percentage of missing foster youth — 5.3 percent or 133 youth. Just two years later, that percentage fell to the lowest in the state — 2.8 percent or 63 youth.
Agency staff attribute the drop to House Bill 1227, or the Keeping Families Together Act, which aimed to reduce the number of children in Washington’s foster care system. The law, which went into effect in 2023, poured resources into prevention and required courts to place youth with a relative or another suitable person unless placement into foster care is necessary for the youth’s safety.
Between July 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2023, the state recorded a 30 percent reduction in the number of children coming into care. Now, about 60 percent of all placements are “kinship placements,” Gutierrez said.
It’s unclear why Western Washington has experienced a larger percentage drop in missing foster youth than other regions.
However, agency staff said a focus on kinship placements has resulted in a drop across the state. Locators, staff who spend their days looking for youth who go missing from foster care, are also helping to reduce the number of missing youth, said Cameron Norton, manager of the state’s program for missing and exploited youth.
“We know that young people need adults to help them get their needs met, and having a locator be a presence in their life ensures that they know at least one safe adult,” Norton said.
Youth are more at risk for exploitation and human trafficking once they run, Norton said.
Often, agency staff know where youth who have run away from homes are, Gutierrez said. The state cannot force a youth to stay with a foster family, she said, so staff will try and maintain contact with youth who leave homes.
Judy Lazok, a locator who has been working in Clark County for a year and a half, said the same youth often go missing multiple times. Usually, she knows where they are.
“The mall. The skate park. Oftentimes, with their friends,” Lazok said.
Youth can leave for many reasons, she said. Foster care can be a difficult time in their lives.
“It’s their way to control a situation,” Lazok said.
The state Department of Children, Youth and Families cannot make someone in foster care return, but staff can be there for whatever they need, Lazok said. Sometimes, that’s talking with foster parents to fix issues so the youth feels ready to come home, and other times, it’s just lending an ear.
“I want this young person to understand that there is someone in the world who he can call no matter what. You need something? Call me,” Lazok said. “I mean, we all need that.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct Judy Lazok’s last name.