New Licensing Standards for Kinship Caregivers

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families is developing a new Washington Administrative Code (WAC) chapter, along with supporting policies, procedures, and a home study process for kinship caregivers, making it easier for kin to get licensed and receive support from staff.

This initiative supports Washington State's commitment to licensing more than 80% of its kinship caregivers by 2025 and providing critical financial support that was previously unavailable. 

How will this impact me?

  • Kinship Caregivers – Creating a more efficient path to get licensed, will result in additional financial support that is only available to licensed caregivers.
  • Tribes – Depending on tribal licensing status, tribes may create their own kinship standards (Intergovernmental Agreement tribes) or use state kinship licensing standards.
  • DCYF Staff – Simplifying and streamlining the licensing process to support kinship caregivers will help DCYF align with the national kinship standards and reduce barriers to completing licensing requirements. 
  • Child Placing Agencies and Tribal Child Placing Agencies (CPA) – Streamlining and clarifying processes will make it faster to license kinship caregivers.
  • Foster Parents – No changes.

How can I get involved?

Kinship caregivers, Tribes, child placing agencies, and DCYF staff are all invited and encouraged to provide feedback throughout this process.

Project Timeline

  • February 2024: Public notice that new standards will be developed (CR-101)  
  • March and April: Initial drafting of Kinship WACs
  • April – September: Initial drafting of Kinship policies, procedures, and Kinship Home Study
  • May – October: Feedback and refinement through community meetings, workshops and interviews
  • September: Simplified Kinship Home Study Update form effective  
  • December 2024 – January 2025: Public Review of WAC (CR-102)
  • June 30, 2025: Kinship Licensing Standards and Kinship Home Study Effective (CR-103)