These resources are organized alphabetically.

Adolescent Programs

• Foster Youth Services
• At-Risk/Runaway Youth
• Caregiver Tip Sheet for Pregnant and Parenting Youth

Alliance CaRES

This program is available to foster parents throughout their fostering journey. Visit the CaRES website for resources, information about support groups, and special events. They can also connect you to a peer mentor who will listen, problem-solve, and help identify local resources. 

Caregiver's Guides to Daily and Monthly Celebrations

DCYF caregivers keep children in their care connected to their family’s culture. This can be done in many ways, including national observances. Caregiver's Guide Volume One provides history, terminology, notable figures, and books for 13 different celebrations. 

Caregiver Supports 

Caregiver Supports are for all caregivers who take care of DCYF children or youth. This includes relatives and kin. These services are offered by local providers based on where the caregiver lives. Caregivers will hear from their Caregiver Support Services provider as soon as a child or youth is placed in their home. The type and level of support each caregiver gets is based on the child’s documented Caregiver Supports Resource Level. The level is decided on when a child or youth enters foster care.

For more information visit the Caregiver Support Project page or email dcyf.caregiversupports@dcyf.wa.gov.

Child Care

Child care is available to kinship caregivers if there is no caregiver at home because they are working or going to school. Talk with your child’s caseworker about child care access. 

To find a child care near you, 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 Caregivers Communication Guide on when you should contact your caseworker and who you should call or email if you need additional assistance: 

• DCYF employee directory
• Caregivers Communication Guide
• 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
• If you have questions about your application or license, contact your licensor. To find your licensor’s contact information:
  1. Sign in to your Secure Access Washington (SAW) account
  2. Use SAW to log in to the Washington Caregiver Application Portal (WA CAP)
  3. Go to the menu in the corner of the page
  4. Select Need Help? Your “agency worker” is your licensor
• CaRES: alliancecares@uw.edu

Evidence-Based Programs

Foster families can access a variety of evidence-based services to help children and youth in foster care. 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

• 15-281 Placement Agreement
• Voucher for Interim Pharmacy and Medical Services for Foster Children

Guides

• Foster Parent Rights and Responsibilities
• Reporting Responsibilities for Foster Parents
• Understanding the Dependency Court Process for Caregivers
• Protected Health Information Decision Tree
• 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
• Safe Sleep & Other Safety Tips 

Grief and Loss

All caregivers may experience grief and loss while caring for children and youth in care. This is natural and to be expected. Our partners on the CaRES team provide resources and support 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 - Provides information and referrals on a broad range of health and social services related to raising children of all ages. 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
• Impact of Trauma and Ongoing Mental Health Screening
• Washington State’s Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) offers behavioral health services for youth (up to age 21) and their families who are eligible for Medicaid.

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, these are some resources to keep them safe.

Prevention Tips for Caregivers:

• How to Help a Youth Who is at Risk to Run
• When a Youth Runs and Returns

Youth at Risk to Run:

• Resource Information
• Tips for Caregivers and Staff
• 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 in detail. Review the Permanency Planning Matrix to learn more about: 

• Reunification - DCYF’s first and primary goal for families. 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 decisions for the child or youth. A guardianship ends on the child’s 18th birthday. Find answers to common questions in the Guardianship Assistance Program FAQ.
• 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.
• View the Guardianship and Adoption Comparison Guide to learn about the differences between the two plans. 

Respite

Respite is important for all caregivers, licensed and unlicensed. It helps maintain 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 - Provides information and referrals on a broad range of health and social services related to raising children of all ages. Call 1-800-322-2588 (TTY 711).
• Informing Families - 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
• Treehouse Educational Advocacy