Green Hill School

Green Hill School currently uses no-contact visitation—physical contact during visits isn't permitted. The facility has also reduced how many visitors can attend a single visit, so confirm the current guest limit before making plans. Expect more thorough screening when you arrive; staff report an increase in visitor searches. Before visiting, you'll need to complete Washington's visitor-approval process: submit the visitor application, wait for approval, and make sure you're on the Approved Visitor List. Once approved, check the facility's visit page for scheduling details and any video options. Keep in mind that visits can be canceled due to lockdowns or housing moves.

Green Hill School gives young people copies of incoming non-legal mail rather than the originals. Legal mail is different—it's delivered as originals. Like many Washington facilities, incoming letters are screened and may be scanned; digital copies go to the recipient while originals may be kept or destroyed. To avoid delays, address the envelope with the recipient's full name and any facility-required identifier. Include a complete USPS-style return address with an identifiable first and last name. Sending attorney-related correspondence? Mark it clearly as legal mail so it receives proper handling. Don't put cash, personal checks, or stamps inside the envelope.

Start by matching your question to the right contact. DCYF has identified Nancy Gutierrez as the press contact for Green Hill School, with phone and email provided in a DCYF release. For family and administrative needs—visitation questions, records requests, or general help—check the facility or county website to find the correct office and its listed phone, email, or online form. Call 911 for urgent emergencies. Recent reporting describes operational changes affecting what staff can handle by phone, including a shift to no-contact visitation and increased searches amid contraband incidents. Reports also highlight overcrowding, with the population around 239 (roughly 60 over capacity). When you call, have the youth's full name, any booking or housing identifiers, your relationship (and documents if needed), and a clear description of the issue.

Green Hill School's population climbed to about 231 in March 2024 and hit 239 on Dec. 17—roughly 60 residents over capacity. DCYF leadership has warned that overcrowding makes it harder for staff to safely monitor residents and increases contraband risk. In response, Green Hill has ramped up searches across campus and added new restrictions: a clear-bag policy, limits on additional food brought by staff and contractors, and rules preventing residents from accessing units they aren't assigned to. Staff reported eight recent medical emergencies tied to contraband. Synthetic drugs that mimic overdose symptoms may not respond to Narcan, and officials are looking for additional treatment options for youth with substance use challenges.