4315. Using Audio or Video to Electronically Monitor Children

Applies To:  This policy applies to Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) child welfare employees and Licensing Division (LD) foster home licensors and relative and adoption home study workers.

Policy Number & Title:  4315. Using Audio or Video to Electronically Monitor Children

Effective Date:  March 24, 2020

Purpose 

To purpose of this policy is to provide direction on the requirements for the use of electronic monitoring of children and youth placed in out-of-home care. This includes children or youth placed in:

  • Licensed foster care
  • Unlicensed kinship care
  • Out-of-State group care facilities

Electronic monitoring does not include the use of audio or video monitoring for any of the following:

  • Infants or children through four years of age.
  • Medically fragile or sick children, when it relates to their health.
  • Actions of a child or youth as directed in writing by the child or youth's physician.
  • Special events such as birthday parties or vacations.
  • Use of door or window alarms or motion detectors. 

Authority 

RCW 9.73.030  Intercepting, recording or divulging private communication - Consent required – Exceptions

WAC 110-145-1625  What are the requirements for the use of electronic monitors to monitor children? 

WAC 110-148-1540  What privacy must I provide for children in my care?

Policy 

  1. DCYF will only use electronic monitoring when it is necessary to monitor the health, safety, or well-being of children and youth in out-of-home care.
  2. DCYF allows the use of electronic monitoring of children or youth in:
    1. Washington State unlicensed placements or out-of-state group care facilities when recommended as a result of a shared planning meeting (SPM) and approval is received from both the:
      1. Assistant secretary of field operations or designee
      2. Courts
    2. Licensed foster homes or group care facilities in Washington State when recommended as a result of an SPM and approval is received from the:
      1. LD senior administrator or designee
      2. Courts

Resources 

Using Audio or Video to Electronically Monitor Children procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

Shared Planning Meeting (SPM) policy

Original Date:  January 1, 2003

Revised Date:  March 24, 2020  

Review Date:  March 31, 2023

Approved by:  Jody Becker, Deputy Secretary of Children and Families