4527. Placing with and Supporting Unlicensed Relatives and Suitable Persons

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

Policy Number & Title: 4527. Placing with and Supporting Unlicensed Relatives and Suitable Persons

Effective Date: July 1, 2024

Purpose

This policy provides guidance when placing and supporting children or youth when they are placed in out-of-home care with relatives and suitable persons.

Authority

PL 110-351 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

RCW 13.34.060 Shelter care-Placement-Custody-Duties of parties

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 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 13.38.030 Findings and Intent

RCW 26.44.030 Reports-Duty and authority to make-Duty of receiving agency-Duty to notify-Case planning and consultation-Penalty for unauthorized exchange of information-Filing dependency petitions-Investigations-Interviews of children-Records-Risk assessment process

RCW 26.44.240 Out-of-Home care-Emergency Placement-Criminal history record check

RCW 74.13.031 Duties of department-Child welfare services-Children’s services advisory committee

RCW 74.13.280 Client information

RCW 74.13.290 Fewest possible placements for children-Preferred placements

RCW 74.13.332 Rights of foster parents

RCW 74.13.710 Out-of-home care-Childhood activities-Prudent parent standard

RCW 74.13.335 Foster care-Reimbursement-Property damage

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

Caseworkers must:
1. Give placement preference to relatives and suitable persons with whom the children or youth have a relationship with and are comfortable and when in the child’s or youth’s best interest.
  1. Absent good cause, shall follow the wishes of the natural parent regarding the placement of the child or youth with a relative or other suitable person pursuant RCW 13.34.130. If the parent’s preference is for the child or youth to not to be placed with a relative or suitable other, DCYF is not relieved of the responsibility of engaging the interested relative or suitable other for the purpose of evaluating placement.
  2. Reconsider relatives and other suitable persons previously evaluated and ruled out as placement options if their circumstances change.
  3. Place children or youth in licensed foster care only when relatives and suitable persons placements are not available or appropriate, per the Placement and Support for Licensed Relatives, Licensed Suitable Persons, and Foster Parents policy.
2. Follow these policies:
  1. Relative Search and Notification.
  2. Placement moves if considering a move for a child or youth.
  3. Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Tribal Inquiry if there is reason to know children are or may be Indian children to:
    1. Verify whether children are recognized as Indian children with the tribes.
    2. Learn if there are tribal relatives.
3. Inform relatives and suitable person placements of initial licenses.
4. Provide relatives or suitable persons financial information, available resources, and critical child or youth-specific information:
  1. At time of placement or within three calendar days of an emergent placement.
  2. During:
    1. Shared Planning Meetings (SPM)
    2. Monthly health and safety visits
  3. As needed throughout the children’s or youth’s placement.
5. Follow the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) policy if relatives or suitable persons’ placements reside outside of Washington State.
6. Notify the following within seven calendar days when initial licenses, home studies, or background checks for household members are not approved:
  1. Assistant attorney general (AAG)
  2. Court
LD workers must support relatives and suitable persons, during the:
1. Initial license
2. Home study
3. Foster care licensing process
4. Post-licensure
Tribal payment only (TPO) workers or designees must support tribes in their case management with their relatives and suitable persons with their children under tribal jurisdiction.