Background
In January 2024, DCYF replaced their previous assessment system with a new, seven-level caregiver supports model.
When children and youth enter out-of-home care, DCYF staff gather information from several places including:
- The child or youth
- Parents
- Health Care Authority
- Other significant people in the child’s or youth’s life
All this information helps them in assigning a Caregiver Supports Level.
Each Caregiver Supports Level has its own foster care payment rates for licensed caregivers. Each level also has placement support services available to both licensed and unlicensed caregivers.
Read the Caregiver Supports Project FAQ for more information.
New Caregiver Supports Resource Assessment (Rate Assessment)
| New Support Levels | Level 1 Basic Maintenance Foster Care | Level 2 Support Needs: Adolescent Low Needs | Level 3 Support Needs: Chronic Physical Health | Level 4 Support Needs: Developmental Disability | Level 5 Support Needs: Developmental Disability & Chronic Physical Health | Level 6 Support Needs: Moderate Mental Health | Level 7 Support Needs: Complex Mental Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rates for Caregiver Support Levels Based on Age — Levels 2–7 rates include Basic | |||||||
| Age: 0–5 | $722 | N/A | $1,407 | $1,749.50 | $2,092 | $2,434.50 | $2,777 |
| Age: 6–11 | $846 | N/A | $1,531 | $1,873.50 | $2,216 | $2,558.50 | $2,901 |
| Age: 12+ | $860 | $1,202.50 | $1,545 | $1,887.50 | $2,230 | $2,572.50 | $2,915 |
Read a Foster Parent’s Guide: Caregiver Supports Resource Level Determination to learn who gets caregiver supports, what goes into deciding on a level, and what each level means.
Timelines
DCYF staff will make an initial assessment within the first seven days of placement. Next, we will finalize the level using information about the youth that we get from the Health Care Authority.
- If a caregiver believes information about the child's needs was missed or not considered in a level assessment, they can appeal.
- Caregivers can request a re-assessment of the caregiver resource level whenever there is a change in health-related circumstances or a new diagnosis.
Payments
For more payment information, visit All Families & Caregivers Supports & Resources
Why were Changes Made?
Our previous tool looked at the amount of time and energy caregivers spend parenting young people placed in their care. But it did not match caregivers with services and supports. The Caregiver Supports Project created a range of resources that:
- Increase access to caregiver supports
- Match supports to the various needs of children and youth in care
- Increase resources for kinship caregivers, allowing everyone access to standard supports
- Increase placement stability by preparing caregivers to support children and youth placed in their care
- Address unfairness by using data to inform the process
