Rehabilitation facilities in Western Washington stop admitting patients

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

According to a press release from DCYF, the suspension was made to stabilize the increasing number of young people admitted to youth rehabilitation facilities.

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

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

“Having too many young people crammed into a small space can cause behavioral problems and limit the opportunity for therapeutic rehabilitation,” Hunter explained. “This was unsustainable. Our facilities must be safe, therapeutic and functional.”

This does not mean that juvenile offenders will be released. Rather, those sentenced to a juvenile sentence will not be sent to one of these juvenile correctional facilities, but will be sent to a county correctional facility until the juvenile correctional facilities reach a more sustainable capacity.

DCYF states in a press release that they will provide financial resources to the districts where inmates awaiting release are housed.

The DCYF reports in a press release that the Green Hill site experienced an influx of young people entering JR last year that exceeded the number of discharges each week. The population at Green Hill increased from 150 in January 2023 to 240 in June 2024, which is 30% above its capacity.

DCYF seeks to address concerns about increasing population numbers through the use of other community facilities and community transition services, both of which involve moving young people into minimum security facilities.

Due to staffing constraints, DCYF has deployed contracted security personnel at both facilities as well as additional staff at Green Hill to support the young people and maintain the program.

The suspension will remain in place until the JR population reaches sustainable levels, which is estimated to take several months, according to a DCYF press release.

While the suspensions are active, DCYF will maintain a waitlist to prioritize and manage admissions after the suspension is lifted.

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