An audit released by the Washington State Auditor's Office on August 20, 2026, identified significant weaknesses in the state's childcare licensing and abuse investigation processes. The audit found that the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) did not always complete background checks or inspections in a timely manner, and that some abuse allegations were not investigated promptly.
According to the audit, DCYF failed to meet its own timelines for initial licensing inspections in 40% of cases reviewed. Additionally, the agency did not always document the reasons for closing an investigation, and in some instances, it did not notify law enforcement of serious allegations as required.
The audit reviewed a sample of 100 licensing files and 50 abuse investigation files from 2024 and 2025. It found that in 12% of abuse cases, the initial assessment was not completed within the required 24-hour period for high-risk allegations.
DCYF officials acknowledged the findings and said they have already begun implementing corrective actions, including hiring more licensing staff and improving training for investigators. The agency also stated that it is working to update its data systems to better track compliance.
State Auditor Pat McCarthy said in a statement that the weaknesses 'put children at risk' and urged the legislature to provide additional resources to DCYF to address the issues.
