More than half of the children and youth in foster care are being placed with relatives in Washington State as the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) continues to embrace a kin-first culture.
This month, DCYF joins the nation to celebrate Kinship Month, a time dedicated to recognizing relatives and suitable others who provide a safe and loving home to children in out-of-home care.
Research shows that placing children and youth with kin not only reduces trauma but is significantly better for their behavioral and mental health long-term.
Over the last six years, DCYF increased the number of children placed with kinship caregivers from 46% to 57%. Additionally, the number of kinship caregivers that were licensed and receiving supports increased from 228 to 1,836.
Licensing caregivers is significant to addressing existing inequities because it allows agencies to connect caregivers with important resources like financial assistance.
DCYF’s Kinship Standards project was established to make it easier for kin to get licensed and access critical resources for caring for children and youth. The goal for the agency and the project is to have 80% of kinship caregivers licensed by the end of 2025, including those who care for Tribal children.
Some of the improvements made to better support kinship caregivers include:
- Issuing Initial Licenses for kinship caregivers beginning July 2023, allowing kin to begin to receive foster care maintenance payments.
- Launching the Kinship Connection newsletter in June 2024.
- Creating New Kinship WACs available for public review in December 2024.
- Updating reimbursement levels for all licensed caregivers as of January 2024.
- Launching a new, streamlined Kinship Home Study Update later this month.
“DCYF wants to make sure that these caregivers are supported all year round,” explained DCYF Assistant Secretary of Licensing Ruben Reeves. “The moves DCYF is making now are allowing kinship caregivers to be properly compensated and I can’t wait to see how things improve as we continue to streamline our processes and increase supports.”