Non Offender Youth
The Law: RCW 13.34 | Video Introduction 
Dependency
Juvenile Court Act - Dependency and Termination of Parent-Child Relationship
The Dependency proceedings include coordination and overseeing the legal and social processing of abused, neglected and/or dependent children as mandated by state and federal laws.
The Dependency process aids abused and neglected children to either be reunited with their families or find an alternative safe, permanent home.
Last year Juvenile Court held a myriad of hearings for over 1000 dependent children in Spokane County.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)
CASA or Court Appointed Special Advocates, advocate for children who have been abused and or neglected.
GAL or Guardian Ad Litems are paid staff who do the same work as CASA volunteers.
CASA volunteers make recommendations, provide testimony and speak for the best interest of abused and neglected children both in judicial and non-judicial Dependency forums.
Spokane County currently has 200 Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates, who advocate for 363 children.
- GAL, or Guardian Ad Litems, are paid staff who do the same work as
CASA volunteers.
- Spokane County currently has 5 Dependency Guardian Ad Litems who advocate for 473 children.
In 2005, there was a monthly average of 882 Dependent Children in Spokane County. The number of children went up considerably in 2006 to a monthly average of 1004.
BECCA (The Becca Bill)
[ Video Introduction ]
The Becca Bill, passed by state legislature in 1995, was designed for parents to gain assistance from the courts to support their at-risk teenagers.
The youth involved are often using or abusing substances, chronically run from the home, present mental health concerns, or are involved in other activities which directly endanger themselves or others. Parents, children, courts, law enforcement and DCFS can use this legislation to respond to family conflicts and assist families in crisis management and reconciliation.
The Becca Bill consists of three petitions*, At Risk Youth (ARY), Child in Need of Services (CHINS), and Truancy (TRU).
* In ALL petitions all parties are capable of being in contempt of court for violating the court order or failure to participate in court ordered services and can face sanctions if found in contempt by the court.
At Risk Youth (ARY)
Download ARY Petition
Through this process parents may petition the courts for assistance with their teen while the teen resides in their home. Court orders mandate the youth attend school, remain at home, abstain from all drug/alcohol use, follow a curfew, and potentially a list of other case by case directives. For a child to meet the requirements of an ARY petition they must meet at least one of three criteria:
- An individual who is under 18 and remains absent from the home for a period of more than 72 hours without parental consent
- Is beyond parental control such that behavior endangers the health, safety or welfare of the child or another person
- Has a serious substance abuse problem
Child in Need of Services (CHINS)
Download CHINS Petition
The purpose of a CHINS petition is to temporarily place a child outside of the home in an attempt to repair family relationships and ensure child safety. This temporary placement is only able to last 9 months and the petitioning party must provide a placement. CHINS petitions can be filed by a parent, youth, or DSHS. Under a CHINS petition, the parent and the child are required to attend counseling which includes family and individual counseling. Visitation between the parents and child occurs, along with a host of other possible services, to seek family reconciliation at the end of the 9 month period.
Truancy (TRU)
These petitions are typically filed by school officials and schools are mandated to file if a youth had seven unexcused absences in a month or ten in one year. These petitions require the youth to attend school every day, every period, on time and can also hold the parent responsible for chronic truancy.