Rep. Deb Manjarrez: State must do better to protect Washington’s children
My legislative colleagues and I were heartbroken to learn of the recent tragic death of a seven-month-old baby found in a bassinet in a Yakima home. Her severely neglected toddler sister was also found abandoned in the house. She was airlifted to a Seattle hospital. The mother was found near a campground, trying to leave town, but her car ran out of gas. Tips from the public led police to her whereabouts, and she was arrested on various charges.
The children were living in squalor—nightmarish conditions that, as a mother myself, I cannot fathom. Many details remain unknown about this case as investigators seek to discover how this happened. Still, there is one thing from this and many other documented cases of young children in our state dying that is very clear: We must do more in our community and as a state to protect Washington’s children!
In 2023, 85 children died under the supervision of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. As many as another 62 children were reported as “near fatalities.” The Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds found 39 of 85 deaths resulted from “mistreatment.” More than a quarter of those deaths and more than half of the near fatalities involved accidental ingestion or overdose, with at least 67% involving fentanyl.
Just last month, a two-year-old boy was found dead in a Spokane motel, accidentally ingesting fentanyl from a spoon his addicted mother dropped containing residue. A new report states that fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among kids under DCYF supervision.
In 2021, the Legislature passed a law to decrease the number of children going into foster care. The intent was to help keep children with their parents whenever possible. The previous law allowed children to be removed in cases of neglect or abuse, including cases where babies were born addicted to fentanyl. Under the new law, Child Protective Services may remove a child from a home only if there is evidence of imminent physical harm.
According to a report by KING 5 News in Seattle, since the law’s passage, the number of children entering foster care has dropped by 28%, but the shift has had serious consequences. Deaths and near deaths of children have risen by 114% since the law was passed, with most of the victims being babies and toddlers, many dying of fentanyl exposure. Despite its good intentions, this new law is failing our children.
In January, my legislative colleague, Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, introduced House Bill 1092 to reverse this trend. The bill would require children to be removed from dangerous homes with fentanyl or other hard drug abuse until parents get treatment for their addiction. This is not about punishing parents but saving kids’ lives. Unfortunately, Democrats refused even to give this bill a hearing.
How many more children must die before we change the law to protect them? Even one death is an enormous tragedy. Eighty-five deaths in 2023 and a rising number of child fatalities each year since are inexcusable and an utter failure of our state’s child welfare system.
Nearly three months on the job as your newest 14th District state representative, I’m learning many things and mapping out legislative priorities. This latest case in Yakima has sealed my commitment to do everything possible legislatively to protect and save Washington’s children. We can and must do better!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rep. Deb Manjarrez, R-Wapato, is serving her first term representing Washington’s 14th District. She and her husband, Mark, have two daughters and three grandchildren. Contact Rep. Manjarrez through her website: www.representativedebmanjarrez.com.
