Department of Children, Youth & Families

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

Chapter Number & Title: 3.20 Foster Care

Policy Number & Title: 3.20.70 Licensing Child Placing Agencies (CPA) and CPA Foster and Kinship Homes

Effective Date: July 1, 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on:

Assessing Child Placing Agencies (CPAs).
Issuing CPA and CPA foster and kinship home licenses.
Monitoring:
- CPAs compliance with minimum licensing requirements.
- The care provided by CPAs and their foster parents or licensed kinship caregivers to children and youth placed in their certified foster or kinship homes.

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 110-147 WAC Licensing requirements for child placing agency and adoption services.
Chapter 110-148 WAC Licensing requirements for child foster homes.
Chapter 110-149 WAC Licensing requirements for kinship homes

Policy

Regional licensors must complete the following:
1. When individuals apply to receive a CPA:
  1. License, foster home license, or kinship license:
    1. Verify new license and renewals are:
      1. Issued for a maximum of three years minus one day.
      2. Approved, withdrawn, or denied in writing.
    2. Follow the DCYF Administrative 6.03 Access to Services for Individuals with Disabilities policy to provide the following:
      1. Public Notice of Nondiscrimination DCYF HR_0012 publication.
      2. Services to individuals with disabilities, if applicable.
  2. Licenses, confirm:
    1. All application materials have been received and are complete.
    2. Employees, interns, subcontractors, and volunteers that have access to the children and youth pass a background check, per:
      1. Chapter 110-04 WAC.
      2. WAC 110-147-1325.
    3. The Chapter 110-147 WAC requirements are:
      1. Met before CPA licenses are issued.
      2. Maintained throughout the duration of CPA licenses.
    4. CPAs have an adequate number of employees to provide services to their families, foster parents, kinship caregivers, children, and youth they serve.
  3. Foster home or Kinship licenses:
    1. Follow for:
      1. Foster parents, the Completing Foster Parent Home Studies policy to verify CPA licensors confirmed the foster parents met the requirements for the home study.
      2. Licensed kinship caregivers, the Completing Foster Parent Home Studies policy to verify CPA licensors confirmed the kinship caregivers met the requirements for the home study.
    2. Discuss the importance of supporting and affirming children’s and youth’s social and cultural needs with the CPA licensors to discuss with their families.
    3. Confirm that applicants and household members pass a background check, per:
      1. Chapter 110-04 WAC.
      2. WAC 110-148-1320 for foster parents.
      3. WAC 110-149-0340 for licensed kinship caregivers.
    4. Allow CPA licensors to certify homes in more than one geographic region if they provide supervision and support to the home.
2. When waivers are needed to waive WAC requirements:
  1. Complete the applicable form:
    1. Licensing Waiver (Foster Home) DCYF 15-411A when waiving WAC requirements for foster homes.
    2. Licensing Waiver (Kinship) DCYF 15-411B when waiving WAC requirements for kinship homes.
    3. Administrative Approval & Waiver for Child Placing Agency (CPA) DCYF 10-047 when CPAs are unable to meet licensing requirements when the WAC permits discretion by LD.
    4. Administrative Approval (Kinship) DCYF 15-411E when kinship homes are unable to meet licensing requirements when the WAC permits discretion by LD
  2. Submit the forms to LD Administrators or designee for approval.
3. Health and safety visits every six months on CPAs with a Behavior Rehabilitation Services contract.
4. Verify CPAs maintain an adequate number of employees to provide services to their foster parents, licensed kinship caregivers, and children and youth placed in their certified homes throughout the duration of their license.
5. When CPAs request moves for:
  1. Agencies:
    1. Assess the new CPA location.
    2. Amend their current license if the new location meets the licensing requirements.
  2. Foster homes, follow the Updating Foster Home Licenses for Amendments, Modifications, and Changes in Circumstances policy.
  3. Licensed kinship homes, follow Updating Kinship Licenses for Amendments and Changes in Circumstances policy.
6. For no referrals:
  1. Place CPAs or a CPA certified foster or kinship homes on a voluntary no referral when either:
    1. It is agreed to or requested by CPA supervisors or licensors.
    2. There is an LD CPS investigation or WAC violation, and the investigation determines a no referral is needed.
  2. Send the following applicable form to the CPAs:
    1. Notice of No Referral Letter DCYF 10-801 when an involuntary no referral is placed on a CPA or their certified foster or kinship home.
    2. Notice of Lifted/Rescinded No Referral Status Letter DCYF 10-800 when determined a no referral is no longer needed.
Supervisors must approve or deny the following licenses in FamLink:
1. CPAs.
2. CPA foster or licensed kinship homes.
Administrators or designees must:
1. Approve or deny WAC waiver request forms.
2. Deny licenses following the:
  1. Adverse Actions on Foster Home Licenses and Group Care Facility Licenses policy for foster homes.
  2. Adverse Actions on Kinship Licenses policy for licensed kinship homes.