Fostering Change WA

05/25/2026

05/25/2026

Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families has agreed to a permanent injunction that will bar state officials from forcing foster families to embrace gender ideology for children in their care.

Wednesday's injunction from District Court Judge David Estudillo said that the agency was not allowed to impose restrictions on foster family licenses based on religious beliefs.

"DCYF is prohibited from denying foster family home license applicants, or licensed foster parents seeking renewal of their license, a full license consistent with the requests of the applicant/licensee or attaching any conditions or restrictions to the license solely because of their religious beliefs, including speech and actions pertaining to marriage, gender, or sexual relationships," reads the injunction.

As previously reported by The Center Square, DCYF lost a bid to have a lawsuit against the agency dismissed, with a federal district court ruling in late April that a rule requiring foster parents to socially “transition” foster children plausibly violates the First Amendment.

The lawsuit was filed in March of 2024 by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys on behalf of Shane and Jennifer DeGross.

The couple cared for many foster children in their home over a nine-year period, but in 2022 were told their foster license would not be renewed unless they agreed to embrace gender transition language and policies for any children in their care.

The DeGrosses lawsuit centered on religious discrimination.

Full story from The Center Square: https://tinyurl.com/2sczs7vm

05/24/2026

Seattle residents rage over flyers teaching drug users how to revive overdosing dogs with naloxone.

The flyer, created by a harm reduction group, tells users 'If your furry friend ODs, it does NOT make you a bad person.'

King County has recorded 191 human overdose deaths through April 2026 alone.

05/24/2026

HUGE WIN: To settle an Alliance Defending Freedom lawsuit, Washington state has agreed to stop discriminating against religious foster parents, dropping its requirement that they use wrong-sex pronouns. This is a win for foster families of faith across WA—and for kids who need good homes.

As part of the settlement in DeGross v. Senn, Washington has agreed to a permanent injunction and will remove its current regulation on “chosen pronouns.” The state will also pay $250,000 in attorneys’ fees.

This outcome would not have been possible without our clients, Shane & Jennifer DeGross. These longtime Christian foster parents stood firm on their convictions, even when it cost them their foster license.

Now, countless children and families will benefit from their courage.

05/24/2026

We are called to care for one another. We are called to be a good neighbor. And part of that is alerting others when you see a child in a dangerous situation.

05/21/2026

What keeps a person from making a call?

Is it thinking there will be more trauma if a child is removed?
Is it wanting to keep the peace and not be “nosy neighbors”?
Is it feeling it won’t make a difference?

Whatever the case may be, there are so many children just like Stephanie, who are waiting for people to see the situation they are in and do what they cannot— help.

Make the call.
It could help save a life.
💚

05/18/2026

Foster care and adoption was not the end of the story 💚

05/18/2026

Before Stephanie was placed in foster care, and later on adopted, she lived with her mother in a house without running water and without electricity. Even so, her mother wanted to help others and would often invite people to stay who were not suitable people to have around a young girl.

While Stephanie’s mother tried her best and Stephanie has a good relationship with her, being removed from the home allowed her to grow up in a safer environment.

💚

05/08/2026

Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families has lost a bid to have a lawsuit against the agency dismissed, and is moving this month to amend the policy that got them sued.

A federal district court ruled late last month that a Washington state licensing rule requiring foster parents to socially “transition” foster children plausibly violates the First Amendment.

The lawsuit was filed in March of 2024 by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys on behalf of Shane and Jennifer DeGross.

The couple cared for many foster children in their home over a nine-year period, but in 2022 were told their foster license would not be renewed unless they agreed to embrace gender transition language and policies for any children in their care.

“The DCYF policy explicitly said that foster parents had to agree to use the child's chosen name and pronouns, no matter what. Otherwise, they couldn't qualify as foster parents," said ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse in a Tuesday interview with The Center Square.

“They told DCYF they would lovingly care for any child, but they didn't want to use inaccurate pronouns,” he said.

Full story from The Center Square: https://tinyurl.com/ybuj7jw3