Rep. Ruth Kagi on Governor Inslee’s announcement to create a separate agency for children and families

Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-32, on February 19 in Olympia with Gov. Inslee
and other advocates for children and families

Statement from Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-32

Gov. Jay Inslee issued an Executive Order on February 19 to create the Washington State Blue Ribbon Commission on the Delivery of Services to Children and Families.

I was honored to join Governor Inslee as he announced the Blue Ribbon Commission to create a Children and Families Department. Over the next nine months the Commission will identify what existing agencies and programs should be included in a new department to improve outcomes for children and families in Washington. Promising work!

Our children and families deserve an agency dedicated to improving outcomes for the youngest Washingtonians. Since the 2006 creation of the Department of Early Learning, access and quality of early learning in Washington state has grown by leaps and bounds and we are recognized as a leader in the country on early learning. This same dedication to children and families will reduce barriers to success and improve outcomes for young people today and future generations to come.

Too often, the focus of policies is on addressing problems instead of preventing them in the first place. Providing appropriate and robust services to children and families can do much more than solve immediate problems, it can reduce the need for assistance far into the future.

The legislature and state agencies have already created many policies and programs to help give children the best start in life. However, these programs are dispersed under many different agencies. If we are serious about providing all children with an equal opportunity to succeed, a dedicated agency for children and family programs makes sense.

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The 32nd legislative district includes a portion of NW Seattle, all of Shoreline, most of Edmonds, and Lynnwood.