by Laurel Demkovich, Washington State Standard
December 18, 2024
State Rep. Tana Senn will be the new head of the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Wednesday announced Senn’s appointment to lead the agency, which manages a host of early learning and child welfare programs. It is also responsible for the state’s juvenile detention centers.
Senn takes over for director Ross Hunter who has been under fire in the past year over his management of the agency. Lawmakers called for Hunter to step down in July. Around that time, the department faced criticism over its decision to suspend intakes at two state juvenile detention facilities due to overcrowding.
Senn, a Democrat from Mercer Island, has served in the state Legislature since 2013. Her work has focused on improving education and increasing access to child care and youth mental health services. She helped craft the Fair Start for Kids Act, which passed in 2021 and made record investments into child care and early learning.
“Supporting kids and families has been a longstanding priority of mine,” Senn said in a statement. “After more than a decade of shaping policy in this critical space, I am honored to be asked to serve as secretary of the Department of Children, Youth and Families and look forward to creating direct, meaningful impact for our most vulnerable communities.”
In the Legislature, Senn has also worked on laws to close gender wage gaps and require zero-emissions school buses in districts across the state.
Before joining the Legislature, Senn worked in government relations and communications for 15 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s in public policy and administration from Columbia University. She currently serves as the co-president of the National Association of Jewish Legislators.
“Tana Senn is a well-respected, innovative leader on issues related to supporting Washington children and families,” Ferguson said in a statement. “I am thrilled that she will serve as Director at DCYF and confident she will ensure this critical state agency works better for the kids and the families of our great state.”
Senn’s appointment starts Jan. 15. Her resignation from the Legislature will trigger a replacement process, with the King County Council giving final approval for another Democrat to take her seat. The 41st Legislative District, which she represents, is a safe Democratic seat. She won reelection in November with 67% of the vote.
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