In an effort to safely reduce the number of Black children and youth entering out-of-home care, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) to expand the array of culturally responsive and specific prevention services for Black and African American families in Washington state.
While all relevant entities can and should apply, priority will be given to bidders serving King, Pierce, and Spokane Counties — areas where we see the highest numbers of Black and African American children entering out-of-home care.
A webinar for potential applicants will be held on April 19, 2024, and technical assistance will be provided on May 1 and May 13. Applications are due June 10, 2024.
By expanding the number of culturally responsive and specific services offered, DCYF hopes to address service gaps such parent education, a lack of proximate providers providing in-home services, and other prevention-based interventions that may contribute to racial disproportionality in the child welfare system. Through this pilot, DCYF aims to serve as an effective and capable funder and partner to organizations serving Black and African American families.
In 2021, an analysis revealed that the placement rate for Black and African American children was 38% higher than what we would expect based on their representation in the general population.
If you have questions about this process, email Culturally Responsive Program Specialist, Tessa Velasco, at tessa.velasco@dcyf.wa.gov.
For more information about the RFP visit https://pr-webs-vendor.des.wa.gov/