DCYF Background Check Memo
DCYF performs background checks for early learning, child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation. These background checks and criminal histories are received from the Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Background Check Central Unit (BCCU).
The background checks performed are broken into three categories; national, in-state and inter- state. DCYF has a waiver with the federal Administration for Children and Families for the inter-state criminal history and the inter-state sex offender registry Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) background check requirements through Oct. 1, 2020. For the full memo which includes turnaround time, read here.
Early Learning Facilities Grants Awarded
The Washington State Department of Commerce, in partnership with DCYF, recently awarded $17.2 million for early learning facilities. The grants provide financial support to allow Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) contractors and Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) subsidy providers to plan, expand, remodel, purchase or construct early learning facilities and classrooms.
Congratulations to the Lummi Nation on being awarded an Early Learning Facilities grant.
Aligning and Integrating Early Learning Programs
DCYF will collaborate with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to identify near-term administrative efficiencies and longer-term strategies to improve the alignment and integration of high-quality early learning programs administered by both agencies. The importance of this work is to streamline regulatory functions across the various programs aimed at kindergarten readiness in a manner that allows for the braiding of multiple funds in school and community-based classrooms. These efforts will boost access to inclusive, high-quality and culturally-responsive preschool services so that more of Washington’s children will be prepared for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Family Time and Visitation for Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care
The Administration for Children and Families released an Information Memorandum (IM) on research, best practices, resources and recommendations for providing children and youth in out-of-home care safe, meaningful and high-frequency family time that strengthens the family, expedites reunification and improves child well-being outcomes. The IM emphasizes the importance of family time and visitation in reducing the trauma of removal and placement of children in out-of-home care, maintaining the integrity of the parent-child relationship, healthy sibling relationships and overall child and family well-being.
Articles & Resources
-
Community Trauma and Child Well-Being: A Deeper Dive into the Future of Healing (webcast recording available through February 24)
- Native Languages are being revived in Washington schools: In 2007 the First Peoples’ Language, Culture and Oral Traditions Renewal bill went into state law. A core member of the tribal language education leaders group has been the Spokane Tribe Wynecoop, working together to discuss what Native language certification might look like in Washington State. A big key to this group was the importance that tribes have the autonomy over how languages were taught, keeping the heart of Native languages alive and truthful. Spokane Tribal Elder Pauline Flett will receive a lifetime achievement award on February 28 for her part in revitalizing the Spokane dialect of the Salish language. To learn more, read the full article here.
-
Free Program for Snohomish Justice involved and ARY youth: NW Hearts United and Snohomish County Behavioral Health are seeking referrals and expanding outreach efforts for a horse therapy program. Criteria for receiving this service was expanded even further to include more Snohomish County youth.
-
New Resources for Children in Foster Care in the 2020 Census: With a focus on ensuring American Indian and Alaska Native children in out-of-home care are counted in 2020, NICWA and the Census Bureau created a resource to improve the 2020 Census. To make sure everyone is counted once and in the right place, an FAQ and sample template letter for communicating with caregivers was created. Download the template.
-
The Alliance is looking to create training curriculum workgroups with tribes to focus on the following areas:
- Review Regional Core Training (RCT) ICW Section
- Further ideas to address needs of tribes and for state workers
- Review information, add curriculum
Interested participants, please email Francis Cacalda at: cacalf@uw.edu
Funding Opportunities
Save the Date - Events & Training Opportunities
-
Alliance Training Information: Find the current scheduled offerings for the two-day Washington State ICW Training on the Washington State ICW Training information page. Sign up for email notifications from the Alliance:
-
Feb. 20: The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance Licensing Community of Practice Call - How to Respond to Objections to Licensing Findings. 2-3 p.m. EST. Register for the call.
-
March 26: The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance License-Exempt Community of Practice Call - Preparing Monitors for Visits. 3-4 p.m. EST. Register for the call.
-
April 1-2: 19th Annual 2020 North Sound Tribal Behavioral Health Conference & Opioid Symposium, Skagit Resort | Bow, WA. Register here.
-
April 23: The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance Licensing Clinic Call - Creating a Process for Supervisors to Handle a Disagreement Over a Citation. 3:30-4:30 p.m. EST. Register for the call.
-
May 5: Murdered and Missing Relatives Community Gathering, Tacoma
-
May 6-8: Infant and Early Childhood Conference, Greater Tacoma Convention Center | Tacoma, WA. View the complete list of offered sessions. Register here.
|
