Re: “Surge in deaths of children on WA’s watch demands action” (July 27, Opinion):
The rise in youngster deaths and near-deaths beneath Washington’s watch is heartbreaking — and calls for motion.
Behind the statistics are households beneath immense pressure. Rising prices, housing loss, meals insecurity and gaps in well being care deepen stress and make it tougher for caregivers to offer protected, secure houses. When primary wants go unmet, kids pay the value.
The state Legislature has an vital function to play. In 2024, lawmakers handed ESSB 6109, requiring courts to offer nice weight to the presence of opioids when deciding youngster removing. The regulation promised to pair this intervention with supportive providers — house visiting, public well being nurses and youngster care — to strengthen households and scale back hurt. However these providers by no means materialized, and price range cuts ended the funding the very subsequent 12 months, leaving a promising framework deserted.
If we really need to defend kids, we should transfer past reactive insurance policies and spend money on helps that stabilize households. Secure housing and quick entry to substance use therapy applications the place dad and mom can stay with their kids are among the many most important. Prevention works — however provided that we comply with via.
Emiko Tajima, govt director, and Kim Justice, director of public coverage, Companions for Our Youngsters, Seattle
