Applies To: This policy applies to child welfare employees.
Policy Number & Title: 4535. Receiving Care
Effective Date: November 6, 2025
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the placement of children or youth in receiving care (RC) to:
- Allow for stabilization of children and youth.
- Provide sufficient time for the development of a placement plan.
Authority
RCW 13.34.020 Legislative declaration of family unit as resource to be nurtured-Rights of child
RCW 13.34.030 Definitions
RCW 13.34.050 Court Order to take a child into custody, when-Hearing
RCW 13.34.130 Order of disposition for a dependent child, alternatives-Placement with relatives, foster family home, group care facility, or other suitable persons
Chapter 13.38 RCW Indian Child Welfare Act
Chapter 26.44 RCW Abuse of Children
RCW 74.13.031 Duties of Department-Child Welfare Services-Children’s services advisory committee
RCW 74.13.080 Group Care Placement-Prerequisites for payments
RCW 74.13.280 Client Information
RCW 74.14A.020 Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict
RCW 74.15.090 Licenses required for agencies
WAC 110-50-0110 What are the standards for use and reimbursement of receiving home care?
WAC 110-50-0120 What are the types of receiving homes and what children are served in them?
WAC 110-50-0130 Who decides on the number of receiving homes needed in an area?
WAC 110-50-0140 How long may a child stay in a receiving home?
Chapter 110-145 WAC Licensing Requirements for Group Care Facilities
Policy
- Caseworkers must complete the following when accessing RC for children or youth:
- Collaborate with their regional RC gatekeeper to obtain temporary, emergent, or short-term care for children and youth when no long-term placements are available to:
- Allow for stabilization.
- Provide sufficient time for the development of a placement plan.
- Maintain decision making and case management for children and youth placed in RC.
- Collaborate with their regional RC gatekeeper to obtain temporary, emergent, or short-term care for children and youth when no long-term placements are available to:
- Regional RC gatekeepers must complete the following when accessing RC for children or youth:
- Use RC to provide temporary, emergent, or short-term care for them not exceeding 15 calendar nights, unless an extension is approved.
- Contact RC providers within their region for placement availability.
- Be the liaison between other regional RC gatekeepers, their regional providers, and their regional caseworkers.
- Collaborate with the regional program gatekeepers to access RC programs out of their region.
- Regional RC program gatekeepers must review extension requests for children’s or youth’s placements in RC for 16 calendar nights up to 60 calendar nights for approval.
- The statewide program managers must review extension requests for children’s or youth’s placements in RC for 61 calendar nights or more for approval.
- Regional administrators must identify regional RC gatekeepers.
Resources
Receiving Care Procedures (Located in the Child Welfare intranet)
Original Date: September 27, 1995
Revised Date: November 6, 2025
Review Date: November 30, 2029
Approved by: Vickie Ybarra, Assistant Secretary of Partnership, Prevention, and Services Division
