State closes office that aided black children

The state Office of African-American Children's Services has been closed because the federal government says Washington can't treat children differently because they're black.

The Seattle office was opened in 2003 and shut down in March after a federal civil rights investigation called it "deeply flawed."

The state Department of Social and Health Services started the office to deal more effectively with African-American families. Most cases involving black children were transferred to the office, which once handled 800 cases.

The federal Office for Civil Rights warned the department last year that it appeared racial classification was the sole factor in determining which children were served.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com