For third straight year, lawmaker working to break apart DSHS

Another story found by an AFRA NewsHawk

By Tracy Vedder
Story Published: Jan 17, 2011 at 5:32 PM PST
Story Updated: Jan 17, 2011 at 6:28 PM PST
KOMO

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A state lawmaker hopes the third time will be the charm for a bill that would break apart the state's Department of Social and Health Services.

Motivated in part by a Problem Solver investigation, Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, wants better protection for children and the elderly.

Armstrong began his fight more than three years ago, prompted by the faces and stories of child after child abused, neglected, killed and ultimately let down by the system.

Now, for the third year in a row, Armstrong is proposing breaking DSHS apart into smaller, more manageable agencies.

"It's about the safety and well-being of our citizens and our most vulnerable citizens. That's kids and that's seniors, and that's people that are under the care of DSHS," he said. "I really believe this is the right year for this bill."

Armstrong's bill is motivated in part by a KOMO investigation which revealed that an alarming number of children were dying while in state care.

The investigation found that on average from 2002 to 2009, more than one child was dying every single month. FULL STORY

The transformation I want is to shut it down completely and put the present employees in prison for their crimes against families