This page is organized alphabetically and provides resources for children from newborns to youth who may be experiencing extended foster care.
Adolescent Programs
DCYF’s adolescent program works hard to build and share resources for all adolescents in care. Visit the DCYF web pages learn more about programs that support adolescents:
Alliance CaRES
CaRES is available to foster parents throughout their fostering journey. Visit the CaRES website for resources, information about support groups, and special events. They can connect you to a peer mentor, too, who is available to listen, problem solve, and help identify local resources.
This webpage identifies just a few of the groups or trainings that CaRES offers. Visit the CaRES Support Groups webpage to see all of their groups, events, and trainings.
Caregiver's Guides
DCYF is guided by five agency values, one of which is inclusion. DCYF caregivers are encouraged to live this value by keeping children in their care connected to their family’s beliefs and culture. This can be done through a variety of ways including national observances and holidays. DCYF is proud to publish its first Caregiver’s Guide that shares history, terminology notable figures and books for 13 different celebrations throughout the year from Three King’s Day to Native American History month, caregivers and their children/youth can learn and appreciate diversity all year long.
Child Care
Child care is available to kinship caregivers if there is not a caregiver at home due to employment or continuing education. Talk with your child’s caseworker to access child care.
To find a child care near you, contact Child Care Aware of Washington for a list of licensed providers that match your needs, which may include locations, hours, rates, or types of care. You can visit the Child Care Aware of Washington website at or call 1-800-446-1114.
Contact Information
We want all caregivers to feel empowered while children and youth are in their homes. See the communication guide on when you should contact your caseworker and who you should call or email if you need additional assistance:
- Caregivers Communication Guide
- DCYF employee directory
- Who to Contact Guide
- Licensing Division
Questions about licensing including renewals- Region 1 | dcyf.fostercarelicensingregion1@dcyf.wa.gov
- Region 2 | dcyf.fostercarelicensingregion2@dcyf.wa.gov
- Region 3 | dcyf.fostercarelicensingregion3@dcyf.wa.gov
- Region 4 | dcyf.fostercarelicensingregion4@dcyf.wa.gov
- Region 5 | dcyf.fostercarelicensingregion5@dcyf.wa.gov
- Region 6 | dcyf.fostercarelicensingregion6@dcyf.wa.gov
- Learn how to find your licensor in WA CAP
- CaRES
Evidence-Based Programs
Foster families are able to access a variety of evidence-based to help foster children. These are provided at no cost to the foster family but have limited availability. If you are experiencing issues with placement and an in-home service may be helpful, contact your caseworker for more information.
Forms and Guides
Forms Caregivers Complete
- 15-313 Caregivers Report to the Court
- 07-090 Caregiver Monthly Mileage Transportation Reimbursement
- 10-455 Medical Log
Forms Caregivers Receive
Guides
- Foster Parent Rights and Responsibilities
- Reporting Responsibilities for Foster Parents
- Understanding the Dependency Court Process for Caregivers
- Prudent Parenting Guide - caregiver guidelines for supporting normal childhood activities
- Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care
- Parents’ Rights and Responsibilities
- Monthly Foster Care Maintenance Payments - find the current monthly reimbursement rates and the basic needs included in the base foster care payment. *Please note: Rates will be updated in January 2024. To learn more, visit the Caregiver Supports webpage.
Grief and Loss
All caregivers may experience grief and loss throughout their time caring for children and youth in care. This is natural and to be expected. Our partners at the CaRES team provide resources and supports for all caregivers who may be experiencing grief and loss or want to be prepared.
- CaRES “After a Challenging Placement” Resource
- CaRES Supportive Facilitated Discussion Group: Grief and Loss in Your Foster Journey
Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
- Safe Sleep & Other Safety Tips
- Safe Sleep Card
- Early Support for Infants and Toddlers
- Birth to Six - Growth and Development
- Zero to Three
- ECEAP and Head Start
- Help Me Grow Washington Hotline - this hotline provides information and referral on a broad range of health and social services related to raising children of all ages. Topics of interest to kinship caregivers include nutrition, immunization, dental health, child care, child development, child safety, teen health, children with special needs, and parent/sibling support. Call 1-800-322-2588 (TTY 711).
Mental and Behavioral Health
- American Psychological Association
- Child Mind Institute
- Coordinated Care’s Apple Health Core Connections - mental health
- Harvard University Center on the Developing Child
- Health Care Authority - child and young adult behavioral health
- Washington State’s Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) offers behavioral health services for Medicaid eligible youth (up to age 21) and their families.
Missing from Care
Caring for children and youth may present unique challenges. If a foster child you are caring for is missing or on the run we want to provide you with the resources necessary to help ensure their safety.
Prevention Tips for Caregivers:
Youth at Risk to Run:
Reporting Responsibilities for Foster Parents
Payments
For payment information, visit All Families & Caregivers Supports & Resources
Permanency
The Permanency Planning Matrix describes each of the permanent plans listed below in detail. The descriptions below are offered as a quick review of what you’ll find in the Permanency Planning Matrix.
- Reunification is DCYF’s first and primary goal for families. A family’s legal connections and rights do not change and parents keep full rights and responsibility for their child.
- Guardianship maintains the legal relationship between a child and the parent, but gives another adult physical and legal custody with full responsibility and rights to make decision for the child or youth. A guardianship ends on the child’s 18th birthday.
- Adoption requires a parent’s rights to be terminated by the court and creates a new legal relationship with another adult. The adoptive parent has all care, custody, and legal rights to make decisions for the child, and the child has inheritance rights. Visit the Adoption webpage and learn more about Adoption Support.
- Long-term foster care is a permanency planning option that offers youth another permanent planned living arrangement. The plan does not require a change in the youth’s legal relationship to family. Instead it is an agreement between the youth and their caregiver.
Respite
Respite is a vital resource for all caregivers, licensed and unlicensed. It plays an important role in maintaining placement by giving caregivers time to relax, attend trainings, and possibly prevent placement disruption.
Contact your regional placement desk or your CPA to request respite, or to let others know you are available to provide respite.
School-Aged Children and Youth
- Help Me Grow Washington Hotline - this hotline provides information and referral on a broad range of health and social services related to raising children of all ages. Topics of interest to kinship caregivers include nutrition, immunization, dental health, child care, child development, child safety, teen health, children with special needs, and parent/sibling support. Call 1-800-322-2588 (TTY 711).
- Informing Families is a resource provided by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, in collaboration with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and other partners throughout the state. The website provides information on services, resources and opportunities to help children and adults with developmental disabilities live full and meaningful lives.
- School District Foster Care Liaisons - School District Foster Care Liaisons can help answer questions and resolve concerns.
- Treehouse Educational Advocacy
