Re: “Surge in deaths of children on WA’s watch demands action” (July 27, Opinion):
The rise in child deaths and near-deaths under Washington’s watch is heartbreaking — and demands action.
Behind the statistics are families under immense strain. Rising costs, housing loss, food insecurity and gaps in health care deepen stress and make it harder for caregivers to provide safe, stable homes. When basic needs go unmet, children pay the price.
The state Legislature has an important role to play. In 2024, lawmakers passed ESSB 6109, requiring courts to give great weight to the presence of opioids when deciding child removal. The law promised to pair this intervention with supportive services — home visiting, public health nurses and child care — to strengthen families and reduce harm. But those services never materialized, and budget cuts ended the funding the very next year, leaving a promising framework abandoned.
If we truly want to protect children, we must move beyond reactive policies and invest in supports that stabilize families. Safe housing and immediate access to substance use treatment programs where parents can remain with their children are among the most critical. Prevention works — but only if we follow through.
Emiko Tajima, executive director, and Kim Justice, director of public policy, Partners for Our Children, Seattle
