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Family accuses state of not doing enough to help Charleena Lyles' children

Charleena Lyles' children are back in the care of family, but state limitations are making childcare difficult for their guardians.

The police shooting of Charleena Lyles in June 2017 left four children without a mother and they became wards of Washington state. Now, their caregiver accuses the state of dragging its feet, making it almost financially impossible to take care of her children, despite the $65,000 raised by the community to help them.

Last year in what was most likely a moment of crisis, police said the 30-year-old mother pulled a knife on two police officers, who then shot and killed her.

Lyles' kids, ranging from age 2 to 13, became wards of the state. After living a year in different homes, last month Lyles' cousin, Tonya Isabell, took all four children into her home at the state's request.

"One day I was at work got a phone call that I was going to get two, Jazzy and Quan," said Isabell. "The next day I got the other two. It was not expected. It just happened."

In a blink of an eye, Isabell had four new kids in the home who arrived basically with the clothes on their backs.

"That means we have to get clothes, shoes, diapers, wipes, beds, dressers, sippy cups, high chairs. You name it, we have to buy it," said another cousin, Katrina Johnson, who is helping Isabell care for the kids.

Despite generous donations from friends, expenses pile up. Both women said the state promised funds for clothes, food, and daycare, but seven weeks later nothing has happened.

A spokesperson from Department of Children, Youth and Families could not comment on the case directly, but issued this statement:

"Unlicensed kinship caregivers cannot receive foster care payments, but can apply for Non-Needy Child Only TANF grants at their local community services office. Clothing vouchers, mileage reimbursement, and resource referrals are available through the assigned DCYF caseworker. Child care for working caregivers is available via referral from the assigned DCYF caseworker as well. Relative Support and Service Funds (RSSF) are also available through the assigned DCYF caseworker; these funds are designed to purchase concrete good to meet temporary needs that are not on-going. We encourage all kinship caregivers to become licensed."

"Unfortunately I'm not eligible for TANF. I have a job," said Isabell. "They gave me the resource 211, for us to go to the food bank and go to a clothing closet and get clothes for the children. I'm not eligible for any of those programs. I have a job."

To add to their frustrations, the state placed heavy restrictions on who can watch the kids, making it difficult for Isabell to find childcare when she returns to work next week.

"I need to go back to work next week," Isabell said. "My neighbor says she'll watch the kids. Nobody I get they will approve."

The cousins said a guardian ad litem has control over the $65,000 raised for the kids in a GoFundMe account, so those funds aren't easily accessible either.

The kids' guardian ad litem did not return calls requesting to talk about the case.

Isabell and Johnson said they want to do what's right, give their cousin's kids a home under one roof. The children are not the burden -- they said the burden is the state's unwillingness to act.

"Either the kids are going to be wards of the state or you need to remove yourself and turn it over to the families," said Johnson. "You can't have it both ways."

Isabell has used up all of her leave and needs to return to work on Monday. She hopes the state will address the issue by then.

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