Goals:
- Make sure parents and infants stay safe and healthy.
- Work with the family to identify needs.
- Connect the family to resources in the community. Follow-up over time to make sure needs are met.
A Plan of Safe Care (POSC) is a family-centered prevention plan designed for birthing parents and their infants with prenatal substance exposure.
A POSC can:
- Strengthen protective factors
- Promote healthy development
- Prevent child welfare involvement or out-of-home placement
This is done by connecting parents with education opportunities, safety guidance, early intervention, and wraparound resources and services.
Federal legislation changes increased the number of infants requiring a POSC. In addition to illegal substances, it now includes infants experiencing prenatal substance exposure to any substance with abuse potential. This includes some prescribed medications.
A family who meets this new eligibility and does not need a referral to Child Protective Services, will be referred to community supports by hospital social workers and nurses through an online portal. Referring families to Help Me Grow gives them a community-based response that provides wraparound services and supports.
Workgroup History
In September 2019, DCYF began receiving in-depth technical assistance (IDTA) through the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW). This included working with impacted parties to:
- Decide who qualified for a POSC in Washington state
- Create goals
- Figure out how to introduce POSC in Washington.
The workgroup identified a set of criteria to determine when a family must be reported to Child Protective Services. Child welfare intake screening policy was updated to align with these criteria in August 2023.
