4526. Placement and Support for Licensed Relatives, Licensed Suitable Persons, and Foster Parents

Applies To:  This policy applies to Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) employees.

Policy Number & Title:  4526. Placement and Support for Licensed Relatives, Licensed Suitable Persons, and Foster Parents

Effective Date:  July 1, 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on placing with and supporting licensed caregivers, including relatives, suitable persons, and foster parents.  

Authority 

RCW 13.34.065  Shelter care-Hearing-Recommendation as to further need-Release

RCW 13.34.096  Right to be heard-Notice.

RCW 13.34.130  Order of disposition for a dependent child, alternatives-Petition seeking termination of parent-child relationship-Placement with relatives, foster family home, group care facility, or other suitable persons-Placement of an Indian child in out-of-home care-Contact with siblings.

RCW 13.34.260  Foster home placement-Parental preferences-Foster parent contact with birth parents encouraged.

RCW 74.13.031  Duties of Department

RCW 74.13.290  Fewest Possible Placements for children-Preferred Placements

RCW 74.13.332  Rights of Foster Parents

RCW 74.13.335  Reimbursement-Property Damage

RCW 74.13.710  Prudent Parent Standards

RCW 74.14A.020  Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict

RCW 74.15.020  Definitions

Policy

  1. Caseworkers must:
    1. Place children or youth with foster parents only if one of the following is met:
      1. No licensed or unlicensed relatives or suitable persons are available or approved prior to establishing dependency, and it is necessary to prevent imminent physical harm to a child or youth due to child abuse or neglect.
      2. If the efforts to reunite the parent and child or youth will be hindered by placement with the relative or suitable person.
    2. Follow the:
      1. Placing with and Supporting Unlicensed Relatives and Suitable Persons policy to initiate initial licenses for unlicensed relatives and suitable persons.
      2. Out-of-Home Placements policy to document placements with licensed caregivers in the FamLink Child Locator to initiate the foster care reimbursement payment.
    3. Provide services and supports to both licensed and unlicensed relatives and suitable persons to maintain and stabilize placements.
  2. Fiduciaries must authorize payments for licensed:
    1. Relatives
    2. Suitable persons
    3. Foster parents 

Resources

Concrete Goods policy

Out-of-Home Placements policy

Placement and Support for Licensed Relatives, Licensed Suitable Persons, and Foster Parents procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

Placing with and Supporting Unlicensed Relatives and Suitable Persons policy

Original Date:  September 1, 1995

Revised Date:   July 1, 2024

Review Date:   July 31, 2028

Approved by:  Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Division