Training questions
Yes. A recording of the forum will be made available on our public-facing website for future access. This initial session was an overview, but more detailed topics will be covered in future sessions.
No. There will be multiple opportunities to engage with the new content. A combination of virtual, in-person, and eLearning modules will be offered from May through December. View the training schedule.
Yes. Participants will receive in-service hours and a certificate of completion.
We will begin coordinating dates and locations for the October in-person training sessions in early summer, likely around July. Our goal is to offer at least four sessions statewide to ensure broad accessibility.
Training materials—including recordings, presentations, and FAQs—will be posted on our website. We will also send updates via GovDelivery.
Providers will be notified via GovDelivery when the proposed WAC is available for public comment.
No. Training is not mandatory. It is being offered as a resource to support providers and is available in flexible formats to fit your schedule.
Due to limited capacity, the virtual instructor-led trainings in May are open to one participant per facility. However, we are using a train-the-trainer model, and all materials will be shareable so attendees can train others at their site.
Those trainings will be instructor-led virtual training sessions. Once we receive updated timelines, we will share the new anticipated training timeline.
DCYF is offering training, and some WACs do require staff training. However, we are not able to regulate whether new staff have completed training on the updated WACs. It is ultimately up to providers to decide how they would like to train their staff. Our agency’s goal is to support providers by making training modules available as a helpful resource.
Program questions
The draft WAC shared for public comment will be close to final. While we anticipate only minor adjustments, all feedback submitted during the public comment period will be carefully reviewed and considered before finalization. We will share the final timeline once it is confirmed.
Yes. Providers will need to update internal policies, procedure and applicable forms to reflect the new WAC once it is finalized.
We’ll share this information in a future session.
All WAC numbers are changing, some were combined, and some are brand new. Every single provider will need to update policies and procedures due to this. We are working on a Policies & Procedures tool to provide some guidance on how to minimize the back and forth and provide general guidance that can be applicable to all agencies (not specific to the type of children/youth being served).
We’ll hopefully have this information in the next few weeks and will communicate it once it’s available. Before Public Comment, the plan was to file the CR-103P and post the final WACs to the Group Care NRM website in mid-September 2025 with a go live date of Jan. 1, 2026, so approximately 3.5 months before launch.
They will come from the Policies and Rules Office and we’ll work on getting them posted to the Group Care NRM website. We’ll notify providers in monthly Gov Delivery messages.
We’ll operate under the current WAC until we transition to the new WAC.
Currently, the only update we have to share is that we are moving forward with an agency request for legislation to adjust the staffing ratios for CRCs. Please note that the legislative session will not begin until mid-January 2026, and the process thereafter will be an extended one. We appreciate your continued engagement and will keep you informed as developments progress.
Licensed providers already have policies and procedures in place. Some of your policies may need to be updated to reflect the new WAC number; others may need additional information or a new policy. Licensing does not have the funds to reimburse providers to update policies and procedures. After consulting with DCYF Contracts, it was confirmed that funding to revise policies and procedures in alignment with the new licensing WAC falls outside the scope of the current contract and is therefore not available.
Updating policy and procedure is required to comply with licensing once the WACs go live. The final submission for the Policy and Procedures is due on June 1, 2026. We believe this timeline will provide your staff with enough time to collaborate with your group care licensor to finish this process.
Every program must review the updated WACs along with their license type to assess how the new WAC will impact their facility.
See current definition, see WAC 110-145-1305 interim facility, and in the new WAC, “interim facility” is defined under 110-145-2310.
You will have access shortly after Nov. 20, 2025, for the first CR-103P filing, which will include a majority of the new WAC. The final 15 WACs will be available shortly after the Policy and Rules Office files the 2nd CR-103P on March 31, 2026.
The Policy and Rules Office does not provide public comments to individuals. However, the comments received will be summarized in the Concise Explanatory Statement, which will be located on the Policy and Rules Office webpage. This will be available when the CR-103Ps are filed.
Yes, Group Receiving Centers (GRCs) are included in the updated WAC chapter.
No. Pre-Service trainings are foundational courses about the three competency areas: Trauma Informed, LGBTQIA+, and Culturally Responsive, identified in the D.S. settlement. The courses chosen for In-Service training will explore these subjects in more detail.
Yes, they are required for any direct care volunteers.
All checklists are being finalized and are not available for distribution. Your licensor will be able to provide technical assistance for updating P&P.
Yes. Certificates or documentation must be kept in employee files. Final guidance is still being developed.
Ideally, it would be one person, but the Group Care Training Advisory Group is open to 1–2 employees from your agency if that accommodates your schedules better.
WACs allow the use of an education affidavit if a diploma cannot be obtained due to specific circumstances. Case-by-case flexibility may be applied.
Yes, there will be a form available for use.
If possible, an email from the school would be preferred.
As part of the D.S. Settlement, all staff, current and new, will be required to complete training in three competency areas: Trauma Informed, LGBTQIA+, and Culturally Responsive. For current staff, this will need to happen within the next renewal cycle.
Some are available; others are still in development. A one-page summary with links will be shared when ready.
The forms will be ready for use on May 1.
No. The DCYF forms library includes all department forms, not just group care. The best way to find a specific form is by searching for the form number. Form numbers typically do not change, even if content is updated. If you’re unsure which forms apply to you, contact your group care licenser or reference previously used form numbers.
Yes. Completing required trainings as a group during a staff meeting is acceptable. You can print at least one certificate (if generated), keep a staff sign‑in sheet with names and date, and attach the sign‑in sheet to the certificate or meeting notes.
It is not stated in the WAC that it is required. Larger facilities — such as those with commercial kitchens — may have additional standards.
Under WAC 110‑145‑2840, when swimming in non‑designated swimming areas, at least one staff member must have a lifeguard or water safety certification, or know how to swim, use rescue equipment, and have that equipment present. If unique situations arise (such as certified older youth), discuss them with your licenser. A resource from the Department of Health is also available for review.
Group care (GC) licensors are in the reviewing stages for all providers at this time, so the timeline will vary. Please feel free to check in with your assigned GC licensor if you have questions about what you have submitted.
Here are example resources:
- Digital citizenship
- Foster Care and Technology Guide
Providers should describe in their Policies and Procedures (PNPs) how they support youth in learning about safe and appropriate technology use. Documentation does not need to be overly burdensome.
Examples of acceptable practice include:
- Posting internet safety information in the home
- Incorporating discussions (e.g., during meals or group time)
- Documentation can be noted in daily logs when training or discussions occur (not required daily)
- Frequency should be reasonable based on the type of service:
- Short-term placements: Providing education at intake may be sufficient
- Long-term placements: Ongoing, developmentally appropriate education is expected as youth age and mature
- Policies should be reviewed with youth at least quarterly, and providers are encouraged to use everyday interactions as teaching opportunities.
Providing education at intake may be sufficient. Providers should describe in their Policies and Procedures (PNPs) how they support youth in learning about safe and appropriate technology use.
Providers’ PNPs should include the use of Wi-Fi restrictions (e.g., blocking certain websites) to promote safety. Configuring individual youth devices (e.g., parental controls, identity protections) may be more complex:
- In general, this is best done in collaboration with or by the youth’s parent/guardian and caseworker.
- Providers should proceed cautiously and consider consent and role boundaries.
If needed, providers are encouraged to consult with licensing staff for specific situations.
This area may require additional legal guidance, particularly if program participation is conditioned on accepting specific restrictions.
TB Attestation questions
The screening should be done initially and at the time of renewal, but not annually. Note that the new WAC is a little more stringent for medically fragile facilities. Please refer to the Washington State Department of Health for more details.
Yes, we are.
Please refer to the current WAC 110-145-1305 for more details until the new WACs go live.
Resources/Training on Group Care Training Hub
There are resources/training on the Training Hub designed to support learning and application of the new rules. All personnel who have direct contact with children and youth are encouraged to take the training. However, these training courses are not mandatory, and there is no official deadline for completion. The resources/training on the training Hub are separate from the requirements of pre-service/in-service trainings outlined in WAC.
All available resources and trainings are posted on the Training Hub.
You can also navigate to the Group Care section of the DCYF website for NRM information, FAQs, and other resources.
You can also navigate to the Group Care section of the DCYF website for NRM information, FAQs, and other resources.
Yes. Previously offered and recorded trainings are accessible via the Training Hub.
Pre-Service/In-Service Training Requirements
No. The mandatory pre-service training requirement only applies to new staff.
DCYF, contracts, and partners tied to the D.S. Settlement are finalizing the criteria and training expectations for providers. Clarification regarding the requirements for pre-service and in-service training will be offered during a Group Care Drop-In Session scheduled for early 2026.
You will receive criteria and guidance for training requirements at a Group Care Drop-in Session in early 2026.
