Children and Youth Justice Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH JUSTICE WAS FOUNDED IN 2006 WITH ONE MISSION: REFORM THE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN WASHINGTON STATE. OUR FOCUS IS LARGE-SCALE, LASTING SYSTEMIC CHANGE. WE CARRY OUT THE CAPACITY BUILDING, RESEARCH, PILOT PROJECTS, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENTS THAT MAKE CHANGE POSSIBLE. WE BUILD DIVERSE PARTNERSHIPS, PIONEER, AND PILOT INNOVATIVE REFORMS THAT SUPPORT KIDS, STABILIZE FAMILIES, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES. NO ONE ELSE IS DOING THIS CRITICAL WORK.
- Income
- $7.6 million
- Spending
- $7.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 90%
- Employees
- 32
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $230,112, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 174% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $5.9 million spent. CCYJ MANAGES SIX PROJECTS TARGETING YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM:THE WASHINGTON STATE BECCA TASK FORCE WAS FOUNDED IN 2002 TO HELP SUPPORT SCHOOLS, COURTS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CARRYING OUT THE INTENT AND GOALS OF THE MANDATORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES (CHINS), AND AT-RISK YOUTH (ARY) LAWS, COLLECTIVELY. KNOWN AS THE "BECCA LAWS." STAFFED BY CCYJ SINCE 2008, THE TASK FORCE PROVIDES A FORUM TO FOSTER STATEWIDE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COURTS, SCHOOLS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS FACILITATE THE INITIATION OF RESEARCH AND TRAINING ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF PROVEN PRACTICE MODELS TO MEET THE NEEDS AND ENSURE SUCCESS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER A CRISIS AND LEAD EFFORTS IN WASHINGTON STATE TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUNDING, ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS, AND EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESSES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INTENT AND GOALS OF THE BECCA LAWS ARE IN PLACE. THE BECCA TASK FORCE MEETS MONTHLY TO REVIEW CURRENT RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES EXAMINE SYSTEM OUTCOMES AND IDENTIFY GAPS IN CARRYING OUT THE BECCA LAWS IDENTIFY ISSUES REQUIRING REFORM OF THE STATE'S BECCA LAWS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES AND STRATEGIZE AND COORDINATE EFFORTS AMONG ITS MEMBERS TO PROMOTE THE INTENT, GOALS, AND OUTCOMES OF THE WASHINGTON STATE BECCA LAWS. SINCE 2004, THE BECCA TASK FORCE ALSO HAS CO-HOSTED AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN COLLABORATION WITH A JUVENILE COURT AND/OR EDUCATION PARTNER. CONFERENCE ATTENDEES LEARN ABOUT CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN BECCA-RELATED RESEARCH, LAW, AND POLICY RECEIVE INFORMATION AND TRAINING ON MODEL PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES USED IN WASHINGTON AND NATIONALLY AND NETWORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVING AGENCIES. THE LINC (LEADERSHIP, INTERVENTION & CHANGE) STEERING COMMITTEE (FORMERLY THE SUBURBAN KING COUNTY COORDINATING COUNCIL ON GANGS (SKCCCG)) WAS CONVENED BY CCYJ IN 2011. THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS A GROUP OF HIGH-LEVEL DECISION MAKERS FROM ACROSS KING COUNTY INCLUDING COUNTY OFFICIALS, MAYORS, POLICE CHIEFS, SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE STEERING COMMITTEE WAS DESIGNED TO BREAK DOWN THE SYSTEMIC AND PROCEDURAL BARRIERS THAT DISSUADE CROSS-SYSTEM COLLABORATION, COORDINATION, AND INTEGRATION. MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS COME TOGETHER TO PROMOTE A REGIONAL SOLUTION TO THE GROWING PROBLEM OF YOUTH VIOLENCE IN KING COUNTY'S COMMUNITIES. IN 2013, THE STEERING COMMITTEE FINALIZED AND ADOPTED ITS FIRST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REDUCE GANG AND GROUP VIOLENCE, AND FUNDING WAS OBTAINED TO ADVANCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION. WITH A MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CONTINUED, AND BEGINNING IN 2015, INCLUDED A MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTION TEAM FACILITATED BY CCYJ. THE INTERVENTION TEAM WAS LAUNCHED AS A MODEL THAT COULD BE REPLICATED THROUGHOUT THE KING COUNTY REGION. IN 2016, THIS WORK WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE CITY OF SEATTLE. TODAY, TWO GEOGRAPHICALLY BASED INTERVENTION TEAMS PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO COORDINATE EXISTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT SERVE SHARED CLIENTS. THESE TEAMS INCLUDE REPRESENTATION FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COURT STAFF, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM STAFF, STREET OUTREACH WORKERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE LINC INTERVENTION TEAMS ACCEPT REFERRALS FROM PROBATION, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATE COORDINATED SERVICE PLANS FOR GANG/GROUP INVOLVED AND AT-RISK YOUNG PEOPLE. THE LINC STEERING COMMITTEE AND LINC INTERVENTION TEAMS ALSO WORK TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF GANG/GROUP VIOLENCE AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. IN 2023, CCYJ WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT WITH KING COUNTY OFFICE OF REGIONAL GUN VIOLENCE TO SERVE AS AN INTERMEDIARY FOR THE REGIONAL PEACEKEEPERS INITIATIVE PILOT TO PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING TO FIVE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN KING COUNTY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE. THIS WORK CONTINUED IN 2024. WASHINGTON STATE CONTINUES TO FEATURE A SYSTEM OF LEGAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, LAWS, AND PRACTICES THAT NEGATIVELY AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT YOUTH AND THE FAMILIES OF YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEMS. CCYJ IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MULTIPLE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CONVENED MEETINGS, CONDUCTED RESEARCH, HOSTED LISTENING SESSIONS, AND PREPARED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE RELATED FINES AND FEES ON SYSTEM-INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES. FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL ELIMINATION OF JUVENILE FINES AND FEES IN 2023, THE FOCUS ON CCYJ'S ACTIVITIES IN 2024 WAS ON CHAMPIONING THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF A NEW LAW THAT REQUIRES COURT CLERKS IN WASHINGTON TO DEVELOP A PROCESS TO WAIVE THE OUTSTANDING $43 MILLION IN JUVENILE FINES AND FEES OWED ON 143,000 CASES. THIS NEW LAW WAS SIGNED ON MARCH 13, 2024, BY WASHINGTON GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE. CCYJ CONVENES AND FACILITATES THE JUSTICE FOR WASHINGTON YOUTH (J-WAY) COALITION. J-WAY IS A STRATEGIC ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION COALITION DEDICATED TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF WASHINGTON'S JUVENILE LEGAL SYSTEM TOWARDS A JUST, EQUITABLE, AND YOUTH-FOCUSED APPROACH TO COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELLBEING THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT OF POLICIES THAT: PREVENT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE ENTRY INTO THE SYSTEM (E.G. DIVERSION) IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE FOR YOUTH WHO DO END UP IN THE SYSTEM, MAKING IT TRULY REHABILITATIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED AND KEEPING YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXITED FROM THE STATUS QUO SYSTEM (E.G. RECORD SEALING, ELIMINATING RESTITUTION). IN 2023, CCYJ WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE U.S. BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO UP TO FIVE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 12 TO 24 YEARS AT HIGHEST RISK OF VICTIMIZATION OR PERPETRATION OF GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON. THIS WORKED CONTINUED IN 2024.
- $995,793 spent. CCYJ MANAGES ONE PROJECT SPECIFIC TO CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM REFORM: EARLY CHILDHOOD COURTS IS A PORTFOLIO THAT MANAGES THE STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF THE SAFE BABIES COURT TEAM (SBCT) APPROACH IN WASHINGTON. THIS APPROACH WAS IMPLEMENTED IN FIVE COUNTIES, AND PLANNING IS UNDERWAY TO EXPAND TO ADDITIONAL SITES IN THE NEXT YEAR. THE SBCT APPROACH IS A THERAPEUTIC COURT MODEL THAT UTILIZES A COMMUNITY WIDE, SYSTEMS-CHANGE APPROACH THAT LEVERAGES COLLABORATION AMONG COURTS, CHILD WELFARE, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THIS APPROACH HAS A STRONG FOCUS ON REDUCING TRAUMA AND PROVIDING MORE EQUITABLE AND HOLISTIC SUPPORTS TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF THREE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN, OR AT RISK OF ENTERING, THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. MORE FREQUENT ENGAGEMENT OCCURS WITH FAMILIES TO ELEVATE THEIR VOICES, IDENTIFY NEEDS, TRACK GOALS AND PROGRESS, AND PROBLEM-SOLVE THROUGHOUT THE CASE. THE SBCT APPROACH ALSO FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTING THEM TO APPROPRIATE, TIMELY SERVICES. CCYJ SUPPORTS THIS WORK THROUGH SUBCONTRACTS WITH MULTIPLE COURT SITES WHO UTILIZE THIS APPROACH IN THEIR COURT SYSTEM, AND PROVIDES ONGOING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO EACH COURT SITE, AS WELL AS PEER LEARNING AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. CCYJ MAINTAINS CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT DEVELOPED THE MODEL, ENSURING FIDELITY TO THE APPROACH. CCYJ ALSO FACILITATES A STATEWIDE ADVISORY BOARD THAT ADDRESSES ONGOING, SYSTEMIC NEEDS IDENTIFIED AT THE COURT SITES, AND WORKS TO DEVELOP POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO IMPROVE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE IN DEPENDENCY SYSTEMS, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF REUNIFICATION FOR FAMILIES.
- $92,954 spent. CCYJ MANAGES THREE PROJECTS THAT COMBINE YOUTH JUSTICE AND CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS REFORM:CCYJ'S PROJECT RESPECT, LAUNCHED IN 2011, IS BUILDING AND SUSTAINING A STATEWIDE, COORDINATED, AND VICTIM/SURVIVOR CENTERED RESPONSE TO THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN WASHINGTON STATE. PROJECT RESPECT FULFILLS THIS GOAL BY SUPPORTING REGIONAL MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TASK FORCES AND COALITIONS THAT ADDRESS CSEC, PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE CSEC STATEWIDE COORDINATING COMMITTEE, AND EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICY CHANGE. IN 2024, THE CSEC STATEWIDE COORDINATING COMMITTEE BROUGHT TOGETHER HIGH-LEVEL LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON STATE AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE 10 REGIONAL TASK FORCES. WHILE REGIONAL TASK FORCES SUPPORTED CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THE CSEC STATEWIDE COORDINATING COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED TRENDS AND BEST PRACTICES ACROSS THE STATE, WORKED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATEWIDE AGENCIES SUCH AS DCYF, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEVELOPED POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESPONSES THAT WORK FOR CHILDREN AND REGIONS ACROSS THE STATE. CCYJ PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE LEADS, WHICH BENEFITS COMMUNITIES ACROSS WASHINGTON. EQUALITY WAS LAUNCHED BY CCYJ IN 2013 AS A MULTI-PHASE PROJECT AIMED AT CREATING LASTING SYSTEMS REFORM AND PATHWAYS TO HEALTHY STABLE ADULTHOOD FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE AND YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEMS. EQUALITY WORKS TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OF AND OUTCOMES FOR SYSTEMS INVOLVED YOUTH. EQUALITY DEVELOPED THE PROTOCOL FOR SAFE & AFFIRMING CARE, A GUIDE FOR YOUTH SERVING PROFESSIONALS IN THE FOSTER CARE AND YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO ENGAGE AND SERVE YOUTH WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY COLLECTING DATA ON THEIR NEEDS, EXPERIENCES, AND OUTCOMES. EQUALITY BEGAN PILOT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROTOCOL FOR SAFE & AFFIRMING CARE IN THREE SITES IN 2017, KING COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, SPOKANE COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, AND THE SPOKANE OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S ADMINISTRATION. IN 2020, EQUALITY EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION IN CLARK, WHATCOM, PIERCE, WALLA WALLA, PEND ORIELLE, KLICKITAT, AND SKAMANIA COUNTIES, AND BEGAN PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS AS WELL AS FOSTER CARE AND JUVENILE COURTS. IN 2024, CCYJ CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENTATION SITES BY FACILITATING PEER SHARING AND OFFERING FORMAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, AS WELL AS 2 REGIONAL, IN-PERSON COMMUNITY CONVENINGS. THE PROJECT CONTINUED TO HOST QUARTERLY CORE TEAM MEETINGS, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNTIES TO DISCUSS AND ADDRESS ISSUES IMPACTING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. A MONTHLY STATEWIDE NEWSLETTER ALSO KEEPS STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGED IN TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND UPDATED ON EVENTS OCCURRING ACROSS THE STATE. IN ITS HOLISTIC CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES EFFORTS, CCYJ IS COLLABORATING WITH WASHINGTON STATE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS WHO SERVE YOUTH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE AND IMPACT OF AVAILABLE LEGAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND TO DEVELOP A PRELIMINARY PLAN FOR EXPANDING HOLISTIC CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE. THE THEORY OF CHANGE IS THAT IN PROVIDING HOLISTIC LEGAL SERVICES THAT MEET ALL THE LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH, THE STATE OF WASHINGTON COULD PREVENT NEGATIVE OUTCOMES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS AND SYSTEMS INVOLVEMENT. IN 2024, CCYJ PARTNERED WITH STUDENTS FROM THE UW EVAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY & GOVERNANCE, TO CREATE AN INTERNAL REPORT ANALYZING THE AVAILABILITY OF HOLISTIC LEGAL SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OR 25 AND BARRIERS LEGAL PARTNERS FACE IN PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICES IN WASHINGTON STATE WITH DATA COLLECTION AND INPUT FROM 10+ ORGANIZATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.