3.20.10 Completing Home Studies

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

Chapter Number & Title:  20. Foster care

Policy Number & Title: DCYF Policy 3.20.10. Completing Home Studies 

Effective Date: October 15, 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on how LD employees will:

• Assess the applicants’ abilities to provide a safe and healthy environment for every child and youth placed in out-of-home care. 
• Complete the home study.

Authority

RCW 26.33.180  Preplacement report required before placement with adoptive parent, exception
RCW 26.33.190  Placement report, requirements, fees
RCW 43.20A.205  Denial, suspension, revocation, or modification of license
RCW 74.14A.020  Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially    dependent children, and families in conflict
Chapter 74.13 RCW  Child Welfare Services
Chapter 74.15 RCW  Care of children, expectant mothers, persons with developmental disabilities

Policy

1. LD workers must:
   1. Complete the following when new home study applications are received:
      1. The home study process for individuals applying to care for children or youth placed in out-of-home care. Home studies are required for all placements including:
         1. Licensed Foster care 
         2. Licensed Kinship care 
         3. Unlicensed kinship care 
      2. An assessment of the competence and suitability of the applicants as well as the physical conditions of the placement setting.
      3. A determination if additional home studies are needed for children or youth who are currently placed in kinship care.
   2. Not complete home studies for youth participating in the extended foster care program or on a Voluntary Placement Agreement DCYF 09-004B form. 
   3. Inform:
      1. Denied foster home and kinship licensing applicants they have a due process right to an administrative hearing to challenge the denial of a license. 
      2. Unlicensed caregivers:
         1. They do not have an appeal process or a due process right to an administrative hearing to challenge the outcome of the home study. 
         2. A denied unlicensed home study or home study update does not prevent an applicant from reapplying in the future. 
      3. Applicants requesting to receive an adoption only home study for children or youth not in the DCYF care and authority may choose to receive services through a Child Placing Agency that specializes in adoption services, instead of through DCYF. 
   4. For home study updates:
      1. Request approval from their area administrator or supervisor to complete the home study update when either the:
         1. Reason for the home study update meets the requirements in the Updating Licenses, Amendments, Modifications, and Changes in Circumstances policy.
         2. The court requires and home study update.
      2. Complete them when approved by LD administrators or supervisors.
2. LD area administrators or supervisors must approve or deny home study update requests. 
3. LD workers must:
   1.  Complete adoption home study updates, when: 
      1. There are changes within the family, e.g., divorce, someone new moving into the home, a medical condition, or significant change affecting the caregiver’s ability to care for the children or youth. 
      2. The needs or characteristics of a child or youth considered for adoption are significantly different than when the family was assessed in a previously approved home study.
      3. Families have previously adopted a child or youth and are adopting another child or youth that is outside the recommendations of the previous home study. 
      4. The local court requires an update. 
      5. The original home study did not include a recommendation for adoption. 
   2. Verify new home studies and home study updates, including adoption:
      1. Are approved or denied in writing.
      2. Applications are withdrawn in writing.
      3. Have been partially completed when additional information is needed prior to making a recommendation for approval or denial. 

Forms

Voluntary Placement Agreement DCYF 09-004B (located in the Forms repository on the DCYF intranet)

Resources

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

Original Date:  August 25, 1998           

Revised Date:  October 15, 2024

Review Date:  October 31, 2028          

Approved by:  Ruben Reeves, Assistant Secretary of Licensing Division