WA Child Welfare Deaths Rise to 35 in 2025

Legacy automated check: the original source text was not preserved. These earlier verdicts have not passed the current publication checks and may contain errors. Source: original document ↗

• ✓
  New data from the Washington State Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds reveals 35 children died and 49 others nearly died in 2025“In 2025, 35 children died and 49 more nearly died either from abuse, neglect and other maltreatment, or amid these concerns, after having some connection to the child welfare system in the past year.”
• ✓
  The data includes cases of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment involving the child welfare system“In 2025, 35 children died and 49 more nearly died either from abuse, neglect and other maltreatment, or amid these concerns, after having some connection to the child welfare system in the past year.”
• ✓
  The data surpasses the previous record“This is according to a report from the state’s Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds presented to an oversight board Thursday.”
• ⚠
  The report was presented to an oversight board on August 21, 2026No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
• ✓
  The figures include 23% accidental deaths“Of the 35 fatalities, a quarter were determined to be homicide, while another 23% were accidental, with many others with unknown manners of death, according to the ombuds.”
• ⚠
  The figures include 25% homicidesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
• ✓
  The figures include 3 deaths after reunification with families“Three died after being reunified with their families following a previous removal, according to the ombuds report.”
• ✓
  The ombuds office noted that 167 children died or nearly died in 2025“When including cases not explicitly connected to maltreatment, 167 children died or nearly died in 2025, far more than previous years, according to the ombuds. This includes deaths from medical issues without clear links to abuse or neglect, if the family had involvement with child welfare.”
• ✓
  The count includes cases not directly linked to maltreatment but with prior child welfare involvement“When including cases not explicitly connected to maltreatment, 167 children died or nearly died in 2025, far more than previous years, according to the ombuds. This includes deaths from medical issues without clear links to abuse or neglect, if the family had involvement with child welfare.”
• ✓
  State Rep. Tom Dent serves on the Department of Children, Youth and Families oversight board“State Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, who sits on the Department of Children, Youth and Families oversight board, said it’s time for action.”
• ✓
  State Rep. Tom Dent called for action“State Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, who sits on the Department of Children, Youth and Families oversight board, said it’s time for action.”
• ✓
  State Rep. Tom Dent said, 'How do we put this data to use and make it happen?'“State Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, who sits on the Department of Children, Youth and Families oversight board, said it’s time for action.“How do we put this data to use and make it happen?” he said. “We need to move forward and start finding some things. Take a risk. Let’s do something because I struggle with these deaths.”
• ✓
  The ombuds recommended creating a specialized roving unit“Gebreamlak recommended the department install a specialized roving unit that can travel around the state when certain regions are beset with limited child welfare staff.”
• ✓
  The recommendation is to address staffing shortages in regions with limited child welfare staff“Gebreamlak recommended the department install a specialized roving unit that can travel around the state when certain regions are beset with limited child welfare staff.”