Group Care Training and Resources Hub

This page includes materials from our Group Care Information Forums and Group Care WAC Trainings to help you prepare for the new licensing rules going into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Group Care Information Forums

These forums are designed to keep licensors, providers and all impacted parties informed and prepared for the upcoming group care licensing rules. Each session will cover key updates and topics essential to understanding and implementing the new rules.

Get the latest updates on the Group Care Negotiated Rule Making (NRM) project updates, upcoming training, and answers to participant questions.

Length: 1 hour

Resources: 

Group Care WAC Training Schedule 

Explore Training Topics and Resources

As DCYF’s Licensing Division adopts a more collaborative, strength-based mindset, these resources are designed to support your learning and application of the new rules in practice:

  • Using a Strength-Based Approach: Introduces the key principles and benefits of a strength-based approach. By emphasizing collaboration, respect, and education, a strength-based approach supports licensees in meeting standards while fostering positive relationships that strongly benefit children, families, and entire communities
  • Achieving Collaborative Compliance: Explains how to use a strength-based approach for achieving collaborative compliance.
  • For additional information about Group Care WAC Training, view our Frequently Asked Questions.

This training lays the foundation for the Group Care WAC Training series and equips participants with essential knowledge and skills to understand how licensing and providers can collaborate to help create effective, supportive environments for children and youth. Participants will also gain a deeper understanding of the purpose behind the new group care licensing rules and how they support both compliance and positive outcomes for children and youth.

Length: 6 hours

This course is designed to introduce group care, DCYF’s scope of licensing authority to create and regulate group care rules, explain why the group care chapter 110-145 WAC has been revised and the positive impacts it will have, provide an overview of the D.S. Settlement and implementation plan and provide an overview of the new group care WAC chapter.

Length: 45 minutes

Resources:

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

  • Have a shared understanding of the intent of the WAC covered in this module
  • Know and understand the Negotiated Rule Making (NRM) and strength-based principles associated with the WAC covered in this module
  • Understand the Licensing Division’s (LD) scope of authority to license and regulate 24-hour care of children and youth
  • Understand when a facility may carry more than one license type
  • Know the difference between licensing and contract requirements and what to do if they are different

Length: 30 minutes

Resources:

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

  • Have a shared understanding of the intent of the WAC covered in this module
  • Know and understand the Negotiated Rule Making (NRM) and strength-based principles associated with the WAC covered in this module
  • Learn the scope of DCYF Licensing Division’s role in licensing group care facilities
  • Become familiar with the amended WAC that regulates group care facility requirements
  • Be aware of the requirements needed to complete the initial licensing and renewal of group care facilities
  • Learn the process for determining applicant suitability and license capacity
  • Understand the scope of department access to group care facilities

Length: 30 minutes

Resources:

This course is designed to introduce you to the amended WAC requirements related to the Licensing Process and Department Access of GCF. This course will focus on changes to the current WAC and specific amended language to pay particular attention to.

Length: 30 minutes

Resources: