Foster parents and kinship caregivers may be eligible to claim a tax deduction on certain foster care payments for children who have been placed in their care for more than half of the tax year.

Exceptions apply for a foster child who was born within the tax year; caregivers will need to check with their tax advisor for assistance in claiming these potential deductions.

The Infant and Early Childhood 2024 Conference (IECC) will be held May 6-10, 2024, hosted on Zoom for the third consecutive year. 

Jan. 4, 2024 — Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), which became a member of The National Partnership for Child Safety (NPCS) in 2021, today released its year-end updates on the work of the NPCS, a quality improvement collaborative with a mission to improve child safety and prevent child maltreatment fatalities.

DCYF has updated its Agency Performance page with the latest available data for 2023. The page displays key indicators representing agency work across child welfare, early learning, and juvenile rehabilitation programs and demonstrates progress in DCYF’s strategic priority areas:

The new year brings a handful of changes that will increase supports to families and protect children and youth. Here is a roundup of changes you will see in 2024:

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, patients, students, and families with loved ones at behavioral health facilities, residential private schools, and host homes can now report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is accepting nominations for its Unsung Hero Awards, which will recognize 29 exceptional parents, caregivers, and guardians in February during Parent Recognition Month.

Dear Director Dowd,

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has released the recordings from the 4th annual Indigenous Children, Youth, and Families (ICYF) Conference, which brought together caregivers, judicial personnel, caseworkers, and tribal partners to discuss state tribal resources.

As part of the agency’s commitment to keeping residents and staff safe, staff at Echo Glen Children's Center, Green Hill School, and Community facilities are getting trained in Advanced Crisis Intervention Training (ACIT).