Caregiver Supports Project

Background

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families will replace the current four-level rate assessment system with a new, seven-level caregiver supports model beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Each Caregiver Supports Level is associated with foster care payment rates for licensed caregivers and placement support services available to all licensed and unlicensed caregivers.

When children and youth enter care, DCYF staff will gather information from multiple sources such as the youth, parent, other significant people in the child’s or youth’s life etc., to determine the support needs of the child or youth.

Review the FAQ document for more information about the project:

New Caregiver Supports Rate Assessment (Effective Jan. 1, 2024)

The chart shows the seven new caregiver support levels, the support needs that are part of each level, and the rates for each level. The rates listed for levels 2-7 are inclusive of the Basic Foster Care rates. Caregiver Support Level 1 is for Basic Maintenance Foster Care and the monthly rate is $722 for ages 0-5, $846 for ages 6-11 and $860 for ages 12 and up. Caregiver Support Level 2 is for adolescents with low support needs and the monthly rates are not applicable for ages 0-5, not applicable for ages 6-11, and $1,202.50 for ages 12 and up. Caregiver Support Level 3 is for children and youth with chronic physical health needs and the monthly rates are $1,407 for ages 0-5, $1,531 for ages 6-11, and $1,545 for ages 12 and up. Caregiver Support Level 4 is for children and youth with Development Disabilities and the monthly rates are $1,749.50 for ages 0-5, $1,873.50 for ages 6-11, and $1,887.50 for ages 12 and up. Caregiver Support Level 5 is for children and youth with Development Disability and Chronic Physical Health needs and the monthly rates are $2,092 for ages 0-5, $2,216 for ages 6-11, and $2,230 for ages 12 and up. Caregiver Support Level 6 is for children and youth with Moderate Mental Health needs and the monthly rates are $2,434.50 for ages 0-5, $2,558,50 for ages 6-11, and $2,572.50 for ages 12 and up. Caregiver Support Level 7 is for children and youth with Complex Mental Health needs and the monthly rates are $2,777 for ages 0-5, $2,901 for ages 6-11, and $2,915 for ages 12 and up.

The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) will be updated to reflect the new seven level system and process. There are upcoming opportunities to review the changes and comment on them.

Rate Assessment Timelines

The timelines for completing rate assessments will also be changing. DCYF staff will make an initial assessment within the first seven days. Next, we will validate that level using information about the youth that we will get from Health Care Authority information.

  • If a caregiver believes information about the child's needs was not considered in a level determination, they can appeal to make sure that information is reviewed and considered.

Caregivers can request rate determination review at any time there is a change in circumstances or a new diagnosis.

Payments

Please note: DCYF is working to resolve a technical issue with the Provider Portal. If you claim an invoice in the Provider Portal and the status comes back as Rejected, please use Invoice Express to claim the invoice instead of the Provider Portal. To claim an invoice via Invoice Express, follow the directions starting on page 8 in the Provider Payments Training document.

Caregivers licensed by a child placing agency (CPA) will be paid directly by DCYF. 

Find information about signing up for Direct Deposit or the Provider Portal in the Provider Payments Training document. The following presentations provide step-by-step directions:

Additional Provider Portal Information:

If you have questions about signing up for Direct Deposit or the Provider Portal or about claiming payments from DCYF, you may attend a Zoom session where a DCYF staff member will be available in real-time to answer questions.

Review the FAQ document for more information about provider payments:

Why are changes being made?

Our current rate assessment tool assesses the amount of time and energy caregivers spend parenting young people placed in their care, and it does not provide corresponding services or supports. DCYF is replacing the current 4-level rate assessment system with a new, 7-level caregiver supports model that aligns supports with known information about the child or youth. The Caregiver Supports Project will implement a continuum of new placement support resources that will:

  • Increase access to caregiver supports and align supports to the diverse needs of children and youth in out-of-home placement.
  • Increase resources for kinship caregivers, as all licensed and unlicensed caregivers will have access to standard supports.
  • Increase placement stability by enhancing caregivers' preparedness to support children and youth placed in their care.

Address bias and racial inequality in the current system by implementing a data-informed, objective, and standard process to ensure caregivers have the resources and supports needed to care for a child based on the child's needs.

Tribal Engagement

DCYF is engaging with Tribal partners to understand the impacts of the Caregiver Supports Project for each Tribe and ensure a successful transition that best serves Tribal children and families. Efforts to engage and inform Tribes of the development of this project began at the ICW Sub-Committee meeting on Feb. 10, 2021, with subsequent presentations occurring on December 2022, July 2023, and September 2023.

Tribes have the option to do their own rate assessments on tribally dependent children and to provide placement supports to their own members instead of using a contracted provider in their catchment area. DCYF will engage in a formal consultation with Tribes to determine project impacts and engage Tribes in project implementation. There will be roundtables on Nov. 14, 2023 from 2 - 4 p.m. and Nov. 28, 2023 from 1 - 3 p.m. followed by the consultation on Dec. 12, 2023 from 2 - 4 p.m. For more information about this Tribal Consultation, email the Office of Tribal Relations at tribalrelations@dcyf.wa.gov.

If you would like to meet with DCYF to discuss the Caregiver Supports Project and impacts to your Tribe, email Mandy Morlin at mandy.morlin@dcyf.wa.gov.

Review the Tribal presentations available in the Previous Communications section below for additional information.

Previous Communication

February 2024 Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides

January 2024 Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides

November Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides

October Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides

September Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides

August Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides

Caregiver Supports Project Presentation for Tribes

Tribal Consultation Presentation