This team is your main contact for caregiver (licensed foster and kinship) recruitment and retention related questions and needs!
DCYF’s caregiver recruitment and retention team includes community-focused, targeted recruitment and a statewide retention and support program. Recruitment is done in-house by Targeted Recruitment Specialists and retention and supports sit with the Caregiver Retention, Education, and Support (CaRES) Program at the Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence.
DCYF’s Targeted Recruitment Specialists will serve as the point person and recruitment expert for their designated region. If you have recruitment and retention ideas, needs or thoughts, reach out to the team member in your region:
Region 1
Covering: Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman Counties
 | Gabriela Mendez 509-407-7829 |
Region 2
Covering: Yakima, Kittitas, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia and Klickitat Counties
 | Melissa Almanza 509-829-1208 |
Region 3
Covering: Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan Island, and Snohomish Counties
 | CeCe Smith 425-599-5936 |
Region 4
Covering: King County
 | Michelle Champagne michelle.champagne@dcyf.wa.gov 360-815-9997 |
Region 5
Covering: Pierce and Kitsap Counties
 | Yolonda Marzest 253-306-1311 |
Region 6
Covering: Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Thurston, Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Clark Counties
 | Chisana White 360-787-6182 |
Retention and Support Program Manager (Statewide)
 | Carissa Stone 509-828-3019 |
Retention Program Supervisor (Statewide)
 | Holly Luna 360-902-8035 |
Statewide Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Administrator-Statewide
 | Codie Veitenheimer Codie.weitenheimer@dcyf.wa.gov 360.701.9100 |
