Caregiver Supports Phase Two

Background

Phase two of the Caregiver Supports Project is the implementation of a new Caregiver Supports Contract to provide Placement Supports to both licensed and unlicensed caregivers, including relative and kin caregivers. The Caregiver Supports Contracts will be awarded to contractors through a bidding process and the contracts will be executed by catchment areas with implementations starting in mid-2024 and all catchment area contracts executed statewide in 2026. The contracts will roll out according to an implementation plan that is based on capacity to provide services and allowed Legislative project funding for the next few years. 

Behavioral Case Aide Hours

DCYF Caregivers who accept placement of children and youth who’s support level are between 3 and 7, will have access to pre-authorized (automatic referral) Behavioral Case Aide hours based on the caregiver support level determined through an assessment process by the regional Placement Resource Specialist. The breakdown of Behavioral Case Aide hours per month is depicted in the table:

​What Supports will be Provided to Caregivers?

• Education advocacy
• Health and well-being coordination
• Child care support
• Culturally and developmentally appropriate care
• Transition to adulthood
• Developing specific behavioral strategies
• Crisis supports
• Case Aide Hours: Pre-authorized Case Aide hours up to a certain amount will also be available to caregivers who have placement of a child whose support level falls between 3 and 7.

When will Caregiver Supports Be Available in My Area?

DCYF will award one Caregiver Supports Contract per catchment area. Tribes have the option to serve their own Tribal jurisdiction children, have the area provider serve their children and caregivers, or opt out of services. Please see the current Caregiver Support Services implementation schedule below.

Catchment Area Providers and Timeline

Providers are currently available for the following counties, with more to come in Jan. 2025: 

Clark, Cowlitz, King, Klickitat, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Lincoln, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima

What are Contractors Required to Do?

The Caregiver Supports contract will require contractors to provide the following caregiver support services to the caregivers they serve:

• Outreach and introduction to voluntary caregiver support services by an area contract provider within 72 hours of the provider being notified of the DCYF placement (excluding weekends and holidays). 
• In-person creation of the Caregiver Support Plan (CSP) within 14 days of outreach that includes collaboration with people the caregiver identified as support persons. The CSP is updated quarterly (every three months). 

Note: the contractor in your area is required to provide the completed CSP to the assigned DCYF Caseworker to file in case records. Contractor and caseworker collaboration is highly encouraged for the benefit of the caregiver and child/youth within their care.