Juvenile & Family Court Division

Important Updates as of 08/11/21 - COVID-19

Significant changes are currently impacting all our lives because of the COVID-19 outbreak. in order to keep the safety and health of your family and Jefferson County citizens at the forefront of our thoughts, and in light of the recommendations of the CDC, requirements implemented by Governor Inslee, county administration, and the local public health department, we will be modifying our practices in the following ways:

  • All parents and reporting youth must wear a face mask or face covering before entering the courthouse. Extra masks are provided by security if you do not have a mask. All Juvenile Services staff are required to wear a mask when meeting with youth and families. 
  • Youth will now report in person to their Juvenile Probation Counselor (JPC). This reporting can be done through home visits, Courthouse County Park visits, or scheduled courthouse visits. Your child’s JPC will be in touch with your child by telephone or text and arrange a reporting schedule. 
  • Our group programs will be in person, online, or postponed until further notice. Functional Family Therapy will continue on a modified basis, using teletherapy when feasible. Marcus Farley will be in touch with your family about these arrangements if you are currently involved in FFT. CONNECT (COS) will continue by way of ZOOM. Kelli Parcher and Meagan Ryan will be in touch regarding this program. Educational Employment Training (EET) will be going through some internal changes but youth will be informed as the changes happen. I-Act will continue to function in person, Shannon Burns and Kelli Parcher will be in touch regarding this program.
  • Our JPC(s) will discuss with you how we can continue to support certain service needs your child may have, such as treatment, counseling, drug testing, and so on. 
  • Court hearings will continue as normal but are subject to change as the impact of the virus changes. Court hearings are currently held in person with the option for remote appearances.  
  • We will be available by telephone to discuss any issues related to your child’s case plan. Additionally, if you have questions about situations that might come up during this time involving the behavior of your child, we are available to talk those through with you!

GAL Updates

  • GALs may appear for dependency court in person or may attend remotely via Zoom.
  • If you are attending in person, please bring a mask.  Masks are required to be worn in the courthouse at all times regardless of vaccination status.
  • If you are attending remotely, please use the following for Zoom:

Health and Safety Reminders

  • Explain to your child what a pandemic is and how important it is for them to abide by our country’s and community’s rules to reduce the spread of the disease. 
  • Limit the contact you and your children have with neighbors, relatives, and friends (very touch of teenagers!), staying a minimum of 6 feet apart and not being amongst groups of 10 or more people. 
  • Stay in tune with local, state, and federal changes in policies related to COVID-19.
  • If you are feeling sick or are getting sick, stay home. Cover mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, throw the tissue away afterward. 
  • Wash your hands frequently - washing for 20 seconds with soap and warm water. If you are not near water, use hand sanitizer. 
  • Clean frequently touched objects like door handles, keyboards, those cell phones, iPads, remotes, tables, desks, etc. 
  • If staying at home makes your child feel "trapped" and you feel you are constantly hounding them to wash, come up with a place that your child (or you!) can go either in your house or yard to create some separate time and/or space.
  • Vaccinations are widely available and are proven to help prevent and reduce severe symptoms of COVID-19. If this is something that families are interested in you may contact our office for information on where they are available. If you have any questions regarding the vaccines please consult with your medical provider.
  • Wearing a mask is still required in the courthouse regardless of vaccination status. 


Character Trait of the Week

Responsibility - the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.

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Purpose


The Jefferson County Juvenile and Family Court is a Division of the Superior Court and serves youth and their families in a variety of ways. Most often, contact with this Department is a significant experience in the lives of those involved. In this context, it is our goal to do that which is within our power to see this experience as constructive in nature. The Juvenile and Family Court strives to reflect a climate that encourages positive change, creativity in problem solving, open sharing of ideas, and a general appreciation for children.

Core Values:

Contact with the Jefferson County Juvenile & Family Court Division is usually a significant experience for youth and families ( or, for all those) involved. It is our intention to ensure that this experience is constructive and positive in nature. Our department acknowledges the inherent worth of all individuals with whom we interact and we envision a departmental culture committed to:

  • Unbiased advocacy, hope and resilience
  • Collaboration, accountability and support
  • Respect, integrity and excellence
  • Innovation, research and responsiveness
  • Prevention, restoration and rehabilitation