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Since August 2019, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has made the "Caregiver Connection" articles available on DCYF's Foster Parenting and Kinship Care page. We publish new articles regularly and at the end of the month, you will receive this newsletter with links to all the articles. DCYF maintains its commitment to bring you information that is timely, useful and an affirming reflection of all of the amazing caregivers, children, youth and families that are the foster care community.
Last month Governor Inslee announced Phase II of Washington’s child care pandemic support investments. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) worked closely with the Legislature to agree on the structure of the changes, which include another $78 million on top of the $173 million invested in Phase I. The new investments include caps on co-pays to enable more families to afford care, grants to providers and funding for the extra costs of full-day instead of part-day care when schools are operating remotely.
The following investments are coming this fall:
- Another $30 million round of grants to licensed child care providers to help with COVID-19 costs, re-opening child care and stabilize the system. Formal family, friends and neighbor providers will receive some funding as well.
- Co-pays will be waived for October through December 2020 and will be capped at $115 through June of 2021.
- Funding for increased costs for full-day care while schools are in distance learning or hybrid models.
- Extra support for families caring for foster children to ensure they can manage dealing with the school and childcare impacts of the pandemic.
Read a detailed message from DCYF Secretary Hunter about the agency’s plan and approach to help stabilize child care affordability and accessibility.
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Foster Parents Association of Washington (FPAWS) is traveling Washington State to give away toys to all children in caregiving families. Foster, kinship and adoptive families can sign up for a distribution below. FPAWS is working to schedule toy distributions for every region in the state.
For more information visit: www.FPAWS.org.
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It’s flu season and that means it’s time to submit verification of the flu vaccine for all household members. Please have your medical provider fill out the new Household Child Vaccine Verification and Exception Form, and then submit it to your licensor. You can also find more information in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2020–2021 Season.
WAC 110-148-1320 (5) You must have proof of current immunizations for any children living in the household, not including children in out-of-home care. We may grant a medical exception to this requirement if the immunization is contrary to the child's health as documented by a licensed health care provider. (6) You and all household members must have pertussis and influenza immunizations to serve foster children who are: (a) Under the age of two; or (b) Medically fragile as defined in WAC 110-148-1305 (c) A medical exception may be granted if the immunization is contrary to your or the household member's health as documented by a licensed health care provider.
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The past several years we have seen a disturbing and growing pattern of children in the foster care system having to stay overnight in a hotel with their caseworker, in a DCYF office or a one-night “emergency” placement in a foster home. Each of these situations is a problem. Children who have experienced the level of trauma these young people have experienced need a safe and stable place to live, with a safe and stable caregiver who can provide the level of care they need. They also need a level of therapy that is not typically available in hotels.
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Adoptive, kinship and foster parents:
- Do you want to learn how to support your children in building healthy, trusting relationships?
- Do you ever feel alone, not knowing whom you can talk to about the challenges your child with trauma can bring to the family?
- Do you have experience as a caregiver and want to support others?
Coordinated Care Washington, Inc. is sponsoring an online support group to bring our caregiver community together. The group is facilitated by Zia Freeman, MA, LMHC, Community Educator for Coordinated Care. She has extensive experience running support groups for caregivers and parents, as well as providing trauma-informed based training in the community. This is intended as a supportive and honest setting for caregivers to talk and share resources.
The group meets twice a month on a Tuesday and Thursday, and it is free. Join any session as many times as you like to laugh and learn about the joys and struggles of caregiving!
Date(s): Oct. 8 and 20, Nov. 5 and 17, Dec. 3 and 15
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Online support group
Register: https://attendee.gototraining.com/rt/1850382821600498434
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The Department of Health (DOH) has published information about the health impacts of wildfire smoke overlapping with COVID-19.
DOH provides guidance for reducing exposure to wildfire smoke during COVID-19. Some tips include:
- Stay indoors and keep indoor air clean.
- Reduce intake of smoke into your home.
- Avoid activities that create indoor air pollution.
- Improve indoor air filtration.
You can also find additional tips here.
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Shawn Finds His Forever Family
Coordinated Care Provides Telehealth 24/7
CPR/First Aid Training Online
Back to School Guidance for Caregivers
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