3.20.60 Licensing Group Care Facilities (GCF)

Applies to:  This policy applies to Licensing Division (LD) employees 

Chapter Number & Title:  3.20 Foster Care, Group Care Facilities (GCF), and Child Placing Agencies (CPA)

Policy Number & Title:  3.20.60 Licensing Group Care Facilities (GCF)

Effective Date:  May 1, 2026

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on:

  • Assessing Group Care Facilities (GCF).
  • Issuing GCF licenses. 
  • Monitoring:
    • GCFs compliance with minimum licensing requirements. 
    • The care provided by GCFs to children and youth placed in their facilities. 

Authority

RCW 43.20A.205  Denial, suspension, revocation, or modification of license.
Chapter 74.15 RCW  Care of children, expectant mothers, persons with developmental disabilities
Chapter 110-04 WAC  Background Check Requirements-Child Welfare
Chapter 110-145 WAC  Licensing requirements for group care facilities 

Policy

  1. Group care licensors:
    1.  Must complete the following: 
      1. When individuals apply to receive GCF licenses:
        1. Verify new licenses and renewals are:
          1. Issued for a maximum of three years minus one day. 
          2. Approved, withdrawn, or denied in writing. 
        2. Apply the Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) Framework and these DCYF Administrative policies:
          1. 6.01 Racial Equity and Social Justice.
          2. 6.02 Access to Services for Clients and Caregivers who are Limited English Proficient (LEP).
          3. 6.03 Access to Services for Individuals with Disabilities. 
          4. 6.04 Supporting LGBTQIA+ Individuals.
        3. Confirm all employees, interns, and volunteers that have access to the children and youth, pass a background check per:
          1. Chapter 110-04 WAC.
          2. WAC 110-145-2360.
        4. Verify:
          1. Applicants meet the requirements in chapter 110-145 WAC:
            1. Before the license is issued.
            2. Throughout the duration of the license.
          2. GCFs maintain an adequate number of employees to provide services to children and youth placed in their facilities throughout the duration of their license.
      2. When a request is received from a GCF for administrative approvals or waivers when they are unable to meet a requirement in chapter 110-145 WAC:
        1. Review the requests for the administrative approvals or waivers. 
        2. For administrative approvals and waivers:
          1. Verify the GCF will be able to become or remain licensed if the administrative approval or waiver is approved. 
          2. Gather the required information from the GCFs for their administrative approvals or waivers, and include:
            1. The specific WAC identified that the GCF is unable to meet.
            2. How the GCF will meet the health, safety, and well-being needs of the children and youth with the administrative approval or waiver in place. 
            3. Any mitigation plan.
            4. Information verifying that the requested administrative approval or waiver is not in conflict with other laws or rules.
        3. For administrative approvals:
          1. Complete the Administrative Approval and Waiver for Group Care DCYF 10-047B form when chapter 110-145 WAC allows the administrative approval and DCYF to receive or continue to receive federal funding for all children or youth placed in the GCF.
          2. Notify the LD supervisor the Administrative Approval and Waiver for Group Care DCYF 10-047B form is ready for their review. 
        4. For waivers:
          1. Complete the Administrative Approval and Waiver for Group Care DCYF 10-047B form when chapter 110-145 WAC does not allow DCYF the discretion to approve an exception to the licensing requirements or receive federal funding on any of the children or youth placed in the GCF. 
          2. Notify the LD supervisor the Administrative Approval and Waiver for Group Care DCYF 10-047B forms are ready for their review. 
      3. When applications are received for a GCF move: 
        1. Assess the new GC facility.
        2. Amend their current license when the new facility meets licensing requirements.
      4. For license modifications: 
        1. Assess the request or change in circumstance. 
        2. Determine if a license modification is appropriate.
        3. Modify their current license when the modification meets licensing requirements. 
      5. Health and safety visits on all DCYF LD licensed GCFs, once every six months with at least one of the visits unannounced each year licensed. 
      6. For no referrals:
        1. Place GCFs on no referrals when:
          1. It is agreed to or requested by GCF supervisors or designees.
          2. There is a WAC violation, and the investigation determines a no referral is needed. 
        2. Send the applicable forms to GCFs:
          1. Notice of No Referral Letter DCYF 10-801 when an involuntary no referral is placed on a GCF.
          2. Notice of Lifted/Rescinded No Referral Status Letter DCYF 10-800 when determined a no referral is no longer needed.
    2. May allow GCFs to have more than one type of license when WAC 110-145-2340 is met.   
  2. Group care licensing supervisors must: 
    1. Approve or deny licenses in FamLink.
    2. Review the Administrative Approval and Waiver for Group Care DCYF 10-047B form.
    3. Notify the LD senior administrator or designee that the Administrative Approval and Waiver for Group Care DCYF 10-047B form is ready for their review.
    4. Notify Financial Business Services Division (FBSD) IV-E specialists when waivers are: 
      1. Approved, as federal funding cannot be received for any of the children and youth placed in the GCF.
      2. No longer needed. 
  3. LD senior administrators or designee must:
    1. Review requests for administrative approvals and waivers for approval based on the GCFs ability to meet the health, safety, and well-being of the children and youth in care.
    2. Notify LD supervisors of their decision.

Forms

Administrative Approval & Waiver for Group Care DCYF 10-047B (located in the Forms repository on the DCYF intranet)  

Notice of Lifted/Rescinded No Referral Status Letter DCYF 10-800 (located in the Forms repository on the DCYF intranet)  

Notice of No Referral Letter DCYF 10-801 (located in the Forms repository on the DCYF intranet)

Resources

Child Welfare Background Checks policy

Completing Home Studies policy

DCYF Administrative 6.01 Racial and Social Justice policy 

DCYF Administrative 6.02 Access to Services for Clients and Caregivers who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) policy

DCYF Administrative 6.03 Racial Equity and Social Justice - Access to Services for Individuals with Disabilities policy

DCYF Administrative 6.04 Supporting LGBTQIA+ Individuals policy 

RESJ Framework (located on the intranet, under Racial Equity and Social Justice, Tools and Resources, and Racial Equity and Social Justice Framework)

Updating Licenses, Amendments, Modifications, and Changes in Circumstances policy

Original Date:  August 31, 2015

Revised Date:  May 1, 2026

Review Date:  May 31, 2030  

Approved by:  Ruben Reeves, Assistant Secretary of Licensing Division