4260. Placement Moves

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

Policy Number & Title:  4260. Placement Moves

Effective Date:  July 1, 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on:  

  • Identifying when it is necessary for children and youth placed in out-of-home care to move to a different out-of-home placement.
  • Notifying current relatives, suitable persons, licensed caregivers, and licensed group care and child placing agencies (CPAs), as applicable about children’s and youth’s prospective moves.

Authority

42 U.S.C. 671  State plan for foster care and adoption assistance

RCW 13.34.050  Court order to take child into custody, when-Hearing

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 13.34.150  Modification of orders

RCW 26.44.056   Protective detention or custody of abused child-Reasonable cause-Notice-Time limits-Monitoring plan-Liability

RCW 74.13.300  Notification of proposed placement changes

RCW 74.15.030  Powers and duties of secretary

Policy

  1. Caseworkers must:
    1. Attempt to minimize placement moves for children or youth in out-of-home care.
    2. Consider the children’s and youth’s safety, best interest, and stability when determining if they should be moved.
    3. Notify the following when unlicensed caregiver’s home studies are not approved and children or youth are placed in their home or are planning to be placed in their home, per the Placing with and Supporting Unlicensed Relatives or Suitable Persons policy:
      1. Assistant attorney general (AAG)
      2. Court
    4. Not move children or youth placed with relatives or suitable persons, unless:
      1. Their health, safety, and well-being cannot be protected adequately in their current placement or they are hindering the child’s or youth’s return home, per RCW 13.34.130.
      2. The court orders the placement change.
  2. Licensing Division workers may make placement recommendations for removing children and youth.

Resources

Placement Moves procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

Placing with and Supporting Unlicensed Relatives and Suitable Persons policy

Original Date:  September 27, 1995   

Revised Date:  July 1, 2024

Review Date:  July 31, 2024

Approved by:  Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Division