Public policy

We bring the experience of local child advocacy to statewide decisions.

WACAP works with local programs and statewide partners to help Washington’s policy and budget decisions reflect what children, families, courts, volunteers, and child advocate programs need.

Our role is practical and nonpartisan: listen to the field, understand the consequences of proposed changes, and make useful information available to decision-makers and communities.

What guides us

Policy should help children be safe—and safely remain with or return to family whenever possible.

Strong local programs

Reliable public investment helps local programs recruit, train, and support enough qualified volunteers to serve children well.

Children’s safety and stability

Policy should help children be safe, maintain important relationships, and experience as few unnecessary disruptions as possible.

Family and belonging

We support approaches that strengthen families and preserve safe connections to parents, relatives, siblings, culture, Tribes, and community.

An informed child-welfare system

Decisions are stronger when lawmakers hear practical, nonpartisan information from advocates, program leaders, courts, families, and communities.

How the work happens

A statewide voice built from local knowledge.

WACAP’s positions and communications are informed by the people closest to the work. We focus on the effect a proposal may have in practice—not just how it reads on paper.

Listen

We gather concerns, ideas, and field experience from local programs across Washington.

Understand

We review proposals for their likely effects on children, families, volunteers, courts, and local programs.

Inform

We share clear information with policymakers and help our network understand consequential policy and budget decisions.

Mobilize

When a coordinated voice is useful, we give advocates and program partners practical ways to participate.

WACAP Advocacy Day

Firsthand experience matters in Olympia.

During the legislative session, WACAP brings child advocates, program staff, and partners together to learn about current issues and speak with policymakers. Participants receive a briefing, practical materials, and support preparing for legislative meetings.

You do not need to be a policy expert. Thoughtful, respectful stories about how policy works in real communities help lawmakers understand what is at stake.

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Stay informed

Need the latest WACAP policy update?

Legislative priorities change as bills and budgets move. Contact WACAP for the current update, questions about an issue, or help sharing your program’s experience.

Email WACAP