Western Washington rehabilitation facilities suspend intake [Video]

OLYMPIA, Wash. — On July 5 the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) suspended new intakes at Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie and the Green Hill School in Chehalis. 

According to a press release from the DCYF, the suspension has been implemented to stabilize the rising population of incoming young people to juvenile rehabilitation (JR) facilities. 

The DCYF claims that these rising numbers threaten the safety of both staff and those already occupying the facilities. 

DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter notified juvenile, adult and tribal courts across Washington state of this decision. 

“When too many young people are concentrated in small spaces it can escalate behaviors and limit the ability for therapeutic rehabilitation,” explained Hunter. “This was not sustainable. Our facilities must be safe, therapeutic, and functional.”

This does not mean that juvenile offenders will be released. Rather, instead of entering one of these JR …