4550. Children and Youth Missing from Care (MFC)

Applies to: This policy applies to child welfare employees.

Policy Number & Title: 4550. Children and Youth Missing from Care (MFC)

Effective Date: May 20, 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on working with children and youth who:

• Are and return from missing from care (MFC).
• The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is responsible for the placement, care, or supervision.

Authority

PL 106-386  Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protections Act of 2000 
PL 113-183  Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act 
PL 117-348  Trafficking Victims Prevention & Protection Reauthorization Act of 2020 
Chapter 13.24 RCW  Interstate Compact for Juveniles 
RCW 74.13.031  Duties of department-Child welfare services-Children's services advisory committee

Policy

1. Caseworkers must complete the following when children and youth:
   1. Are MFC:
      1. Inform law enforcement (LE) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 within 24 hours of notification, if caregivers have not already done so.
      2. Inform caregivers they must:
         1. File a run report immediately, but no later than 24 hours, when children or youth run while in their care by contacting the following:
            1. LE.
            2. NCMEC.
            3. Tribal LE for Indian children.
         2. Not provide NCMEC consent to release the child’s or youth’s information in 1.a.iii.C.
         3. Contact:
            1. The child’s or youth’s caseworker.
            2. Intake, if the child’s or youth’s caseworker cannot be contacted directly or it is after normal business hours.
      3. Provide NCMEC and LE with the following, when reasonably possible, but no later than 24 hours of notification and not already provided by the caregiver:
         1. A recent photo of the child or youth.
         2. Description of the child’s or youth’s physical features, including:
            1. Height
            2. Weight
            3. Gender
            4. Ethnicity
            5. Race
            6. Hair color
            7. Eye color
         3. Endangerment information, if applicable, including the child’s or youth’s:
            1. Pregnancy status.
            2. Prescription medications.
            3. Suicidal tendencies.
            4. Vulnerability to being sex trafficked.
            5. Other health or risk factors.
      4. Notify the following within 24 hours:
         1. The parents or guardians for non-legally free children or youth.
         2. Regional MFC employees.
      5. Complete active and ongoing efforts to locate children and youth:
         1. Within 24 hours of notification.
         2. Until they return.
      6. Continue their dependency until their 18th birthday.
      7. After their 18th birthday:
         1. Request to dismiss their dependency, unless they enroll in Extended Foster Care (EFC).
         2. Inform NCMEC and LE the youths’ dependency is dismissed and that the youth is now considered a missing person if their whereabouts remain unknown.
   2. Return to out-of-home care from MFC:
      1. Identify any health or safety concerns and assist them in accessing appropriate care within 24 hours of their return.
      2. Notify:
         1. The following within 24 hours of the children’s or youth’s return to out-of-home care:
            1. LE
            2. NCMEC
            3. Individuals or agencies involved with the children or youth.
         2. The Washington Interstate Compact for Juveniles if they have been located and detained out of state.
      3. Conduct a debriefing interview with the children or youth within two calendar days, excluding weekends and holidays, of their return.
      4. Complete or verify the following forms are current in FamLink:
         1. Youth Run Prevention Plan DCYF 10-484
            1. Returning Child Debriefing DCYF 15-309
            2. Follow the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) policy when there is suspicion of CSEC for screening requirements.
2. Supervisors must assign a MFC locator as secondary assignment in the FamLink case when children or youth are MFC.
3. Regional MFC employees must complete the following when co-assigned and children and youth:
   1. Are MFC:
      1. Make active and ongoing efforts in collaboration with the caseworkers to locate children or youth MFC.
         1. Conduct extensive search efforts including, but not limited to:
            1. Access to Not Safe for Work websites.
            2. On-going field search efforts to locate the child and youth.
         2. Staff with the supervisor and AAG to determine if a pick-up order is needed, if applicable. If so, complete the declaration and file with the court.
      2. Return to out-of-home care, verify the debriefing process is complete.
4. Caseworkers or regional MFC employees must complete the following when children or youth return to out-of-home care:
   1. Return the children and youth to an approved placement.
   2. Conduct an MFC internal staffing with the caseworker and their supervisor when children and youth were MFC overnight or longer.
   3. Document contacts and active efforts, per the Documentation policy, when children or youth are:
      1. MFC.
      2. Returned to out-of-home care from MFC.

Forms

Returning Child Debriefing DCYF 15-309
Youth Run Prevention Plan DCYF 10-484

Resources

Active, Diligent, and Reasonable Efforts policy
Children and Youth Missing from Care procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)
Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) policy
Documentation policy
Extended Foster Care (EFC) Program policy
Missing from Care Leads and Locator Staff Directory 
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

Original Date:  August 2004
Revised Date:  May 20, 2025
Review Date:  May 31, 2029
Approved by:  Vickie Ybarra, Assistant Secretary of Partnership, Prevention, and Services Division