Communication with people in custody of department of children, youth, and families or part of a fatality investigation by the department of children, youth, and families — Access to information in possession or control of department of children, youth, and families or state institutions — Limitation on duty of office.
RCW 43.06A.100
in effect(1) The department of children, youth, and families shall: (a) Allow the ombuds or the ombuds's designee to communicate privately with any child or person in the custody of the department of children, youth, and families, or any child or person who is part of a near fatality investigation by the department of children, youth, and families, for the purposes of carrying out its duties under this chapter; (b) Permit the ombuds or the ombuds designee physical access to state institutions serving children, youth, and families, including juvenile rehabilitation facilities and state licensed facilities or residences, for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter; (c) Upon the ombuds's request, grant the ombuds or the ombuds's designee the right to access, inspect, and copy all relevant information, records, or documents in the possession or control of the department of children, youth, and families that the ombuds considers necessary in an investigation; and (d) Grant the office of the family and children's ombuds unrestricted online access to the child welfare case management information system, the juvenile rehabilitation case management system, and the department of children, youth, and families data information system for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter. (2) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Near fatality" means an act that, as certified by a physician, places the child or person in serious or critical condition. (b) "Child, youth, or individual" includes any person in the state's care or in state-licensed facilities or residences and juvenile rehabilitation facilities who is receiving services from the department of children, youth, and families. (3) Nothing in this section creates a duty for the office of the family and children's ombuds under RCW 43.06A.030 as related to children in the care of an early learning program described in RCW 43.216.500 through 43.216.550 , a licensed child care center, or a licensed child care home.
(1) The department of children, youth, and families shall:
(a) Allow the ombuds or the ombuds's designee to communicate privately with any child or person in the custody of the department of children, youth, and families, or any child or person who is part of a near fatality investigation by the department of children, youth, and families, for the purposes of carrying out its duties under this chapter;
(b) Permit the ombuds or the ombuds designee physical access to state institutions serving children, youth, and families, including juvenile rehabilitation facilities and state licensed facilities or residences, for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter;
(c) Upon the ombuds's request, grant the ombuds or the ombuds's designee the right to access, inspect, and copy all relevant information, records, or documents in the possession or control of the department of children, youth, and families that the ombuds considers necessary in an investigation; and
(d) Grant the office of the family and children's ombuds unrestricted online access to the child welfare case management information system, the juvenile rehabilitation case management system, and the department of children, youth, and families data information system for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this chapter.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Near fatality" means an act that, as certified by a physician, places the child or person in serious or critical condition.
(b) "Child, youth, or individual" includes any person in the state's care or in state-licensed facilities or residences and juvenile rehabilitation facilities who is receiving services from the department of children, youth, and families.
(3) Nothing in this section creates a duty for the office of the family and children's ombuds under RCW 43.06A.030 as related to children in the care of an early learning program described in RCW 43.216.500 through 43.216.550 , a licensed child care center, or a licensed child care home.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.06A&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026