Children’s Representation Program Evaluation

In Washington state, prior to the 2021 passage of Second Substitute House Bill 1219 (2SHB 1219), children and youth had the right to counsel only if they remained dependent six months after termination of parental rights. 2SHB 1219 amended the policy and procedure of assigning attorneys to youths in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings. In 2021, 2SHB 1219 was signed into law, amending RCW 13.34.212. The RCW’s new provisions expanded legal representation to include children below eight years of age when filing a termination of parental rights petition and to include all children ages eight to seventeen years, who are or are alleged to be dependent and those in extended foster care (EFC). The Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) was assigned the task of implementing the children’s legal representation program throughout the state. 

RCW 13.34.435 directed the Administrative Office of the Court’s (AOC) Washington State Center for Court Research (WSCCR) to evaluate the impact of the Children’s Representation Program (CRP). The AOC contracted with Partners for Our Children (P4C) to lead the preliminary evaluation of the statewide implementation of the CRP. 

This 2025 report describes the CRP structure, provides updates on the implementation of the program to date, summarizes efforts to engage stakeholders and gather input to strengthen the program as it is expanded statewide, describes program enhancements, and outlines planned process and outcomes evaluation activities.