Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

At a glance

The Spokesman-Review

At the end of 2007, there were 1,015 children in out-of-home care in Spokane County, according to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. In the Idaho Panhandle, 394 children were living in foster care at the end of February 2008.

In 2006, the last year for which complete data is available, DSHS reviewed the unexpected deaths of 62 children. The department reviews the deaths of children who had contact with the Children’s Administration within a year or who died while in state licensed care.

Though Native Americans comprise less than 2 percent of the state’s population, 14.5 percent of such reviews involved the deaths of Native children. Idaho currently has no child death review system.

Coming Monday

A look at the challenges parents and children face with day-care facilities.