{"id":2330644,"date":"2024-08-25T13:49:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-25T17:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-dcyf-secretary-resignation-calls-mount-over-green-hill-safety-lapses-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-25T13:55:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-25T17:55:29","slug":"washington-dcyf-secretary-resignation-calls-mount-over-green-hill-safety-lapses-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-dcyf-secretary-resignation-calls-mount-over-green-hill-safety-lapses-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington DCYF secretary resignation calls mount over Green Hill safety lapses &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwashington-dcyf-secretary-resignation-calls-mount-over-green-hill-safety-lapses-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2330644&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Calls for the resignation of Ross \u200cHunter, the director of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth &#038; Families (DCYF), are intensifying due to escalating safety concerns at the Green Hill School, a teen detention center. Criticisms center around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alabama-ag-ketanji-brown-jackson-wants-fundamental-redesign-of-criminal-justice-system\/\" title=\"Alabama AG: Ketanji Brown Jackson Wants &#039;Fundamental Redesign&#039; of Criminal Justice System\">violent incidents involving<\/a> both staff and inmates, inadequate staffing, insufficient training, and failures to enforce safety protocols. Senator John Braun has been a vocal critic, attributing the crisis to policies favoring ideological reforms over the\u200b safety of young people. One such policy, House Bill 6160, allows young offenders in adult court to remain in the juvenile system until age 25, a decision that has sparked chaos within the facility. Recently, the Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children&#8217;s\u2063 Center stopped accepting new intakes due to rising population pressures impacting safety, but following a lawsuit by Washington&#8217;s counties, they agreed to resume intake, raising\u200b further concerns. Inslee&#8217;s office has defended the administration&#8217;s efforts, urging for constructive dialogue on the \u200dongoing challenges facing Green Hill School.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Washington DCYF secretary resignation calls mount over Green Hill safety lapses<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1736997\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Calls are growing louder for the resignation of Ross Hunter, the director of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth &amp; Families who was appointed to the position by Gov. Jay Inslee.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Pressure has been mounting for months over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-units-to-send-you-woman-terrified-after-911-call-goes-south-leaves-her-with-no-help-during-home-invasion\/\" title=\"Woman Left Terrified as 911 Call Fails During Home Invasion\">critical safety issues<\/a> and violence directed at staff and inmates at the Green Hill School teen detention facility in Chehalis, which falls under the direction of DCYF.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. John Braun, R-Chehalis, is among the lawmakers calling for Hunter&rsquo;s resignation. He is also blasting majority Democrats for policies that he said have caused the crisis.<\/p>\n<p>In February, Braun called for an investigation into the facility &ldquo;after it was discovered staff failed to turn over to the police drug paraphernalia that was confiscated from inmates. Housing adults with juveniles, inadequate staffing, poor training, lack of enforcement of safety and security procedures, and illegal handling of contraband has created a volatile environment for inmates and staff.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;People who say they care deeply about the young people at Green Hill don&rsquo;t have the foresight to see what their own policies are doing to these young people,&rdquo; Braun told The Center Square Friday. &ldquo;Our Democratic majorities in the Legislature are focused on ideologies and be damned with the safety of others.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He was referring to Washington House Bill 6160, known as JR to 25, which was celebrated by Inslee as a significant step to reform criminal justice. HB 6160 allows young people convicted in adult court to remain in the juvenile corrections system until they turn 25.<\/p>\n<p>The change was based on research showing youth transferred to adult prison populations before their brains had fully developed were more likely to end up reoffending. But, having adult males inside juvenile facilities has created chaos at times for younger inmates and staff, in addition to overcrowding.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, The Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children&rsquo;s Center in Snoqualmie announced they were no longer accepting new intakes &ldquo;in an effort to stabilize a rising population that is compromising the safety of staff and young people served at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-colleges-required-to-stock-fentanyl-tests-under-new-law\/\" title=\"New law mandates California colleges to have Fentanyl tests in stock.\">juvenile rehabilitation facilities<\/a>,&rdquo; according to DCYF in a statement as previously reported by The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>Washington&rsquo;s 39 counties filed a lawsuit against the state, and less than a week later DCYF and the Washington State Association of Counties announced an agreement to end the freeze and immediately resume new intakes.<\/p>\n<p>Inslee spokesperson Mike Faulk took issue with Braun&rsquo;s comments.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It would be nice if John Braun&rsquo;s engagement on this issue went beyond mere political broadsides every couple months,&rdquo; he emailed The Center Square. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re engaged in these issues daily and welcome productive conversations about resolving the challenges faced at Green Hill School right now.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The ongoing issues at Green Hill are coming up as part of contract negotiations with the Washington Federation of State Employees that represents workers at the facility.<\/p>\n<p>A union spokesperson sent The Center Square the following email: &ldquo;With insufficient staff to provide youth with therapeutic and recreational activities, workers at Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children&rsquo;s Center have experienced an alarming rise in assaults.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The union has made &ldquo;numerous unsuccessful attempts&rdquo; to resolve safety issues at Green Hill School informally with management. The union filed a group grievance in July over violations of their collective bargaining agreement after a July 16 assault.<\/p>\n<p>The union claims the Office of Financial Management is proposing pay reductions at facilities like Green Hill.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Braun said he&rsquo;s not at all shocked the union is making pay increase demands for its members.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They do a valuable job and a difficult job, and yet we continue to put them into an unworkable situation,&rdquo; Braun said. &ldquo;If they demand more money for trying to make the impossible possible, that&rsquo;s not at all surprising to me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1736997\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1736997\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Demands for the resignation of Ross Hunter, the head of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth &amp; Families (DCYF), are intensifying. Appointed by Governor Jay Inslee, Hunter has faced increasing scrutiny due to serious safety concerns and incidents of violence involving staff and inmates at the Green Hill School juvenile detention facility in Chehalis, which is managed by DCYF. Senator John Braun, a Republican from Chehalis, is among those advocating for Hunter&#8217;s resignation and criticizing Democratic lawmakers for policies he believes have contributed to the ongoing crisis. In February, Braun called for an investigation after it was revealed that staff did not report drug paraphernalia confiscated from inmates to law enforcement. He highlighted issues such as housing adults with juveniles, insufficient staffing levels, inadequate training, poor enforcement of safety protocols, and mishandling of contraband as factors creating a dangerous environment for both inmates and staff.<\/p>\n<p>Braun expressed his frustration with those who claim to care about the youth at Green Hill but fail to recognize how their policies negatively impact these individuals. He accused Democratic majorities in the Legislature of prioritizing ideology over safety concerns. This criticism was directed at Washington House Bill 6160 (JR to 25), which allows young offenders convicted in adult court to remain within juvenile facilities until they turn 25\u2014a change based on research indicating that transferring youths to adult prisons before full brain development increases recidivism rates. However, this policy has led to chaos within juvenile facilities due to overcrowding and challenges posed by housing adult males alongside younger inmates.<\/p>\n<p>Recently announced measures included halting new intakes at Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children\u2019s Center in Snoqualmie due to rising populations threatening safety; however, following a lawsuit filed by Washington\u2019s 39 counties against the state regarding this issue\u2014an agreement was reached allowing new intakes again shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n<p>Mike Faulk, a spokesperson for Inslee&#8217;s office responded critically towards Braun&#8217;s remarks suggesting that more constructive engagement would be beneficial rather than sporadic political attacks. The ongoing problems at Green Hill are also part of contract negotiations with workers represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees union who reported an alarming increase in assaults due largely to insufficient staffing preventing adequate therapeutic activities for youth.<\/p>\n<p>The union has attempted multiple times without success to address these safety concerns informally with management but ultimately filed a grievance over violations related after an assault incident on July 16th while claiming proposed pay cuts were being discussed affecting facilities like Green Hill. Braun noted he wasn&#8217;t surprised that union members were demanding higher wages given their challenging work conditions stating they deserve fair compensation despite being placed into untenable situations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2330645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-109719062-1024x668.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[39226,6522,39227,39225,32076],"class_list":["post-2330644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-green-hill","tag-resignation","tag-safety-lapses","tag-washington-dcyf","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-109719062-1024x668.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2330644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2330645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2330644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2330644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2330644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}