Family Time visitation is critical to strengthening and preserving the family bond and achieving successful reunification. As foster parents and kinship caregivers, you are critical in supporting contact between children and their parents and siblings.

During the 2021 Legislative Session, the Legislature passed HB 1194, which addresses visitation (Family Time). HB 1194 becomes effective on July 25, 2021, and requires the following:

• An initial (family time) visit must occur within 72 hours of the removal of a child unless the court finds that extraordinary circumstances require a delay. This visit must be supervised unless the department determines supervision is not necessary.

This requirement is in line with DCYF's policy that an initial visit be held within 72 hours. However, HB 1194 has made this policy a law, meaning we are subject to contempt if we fail to meet these requirements. The new law's timeframe does not exclude weekends or holidays.

HB 1194 will also require:

• Visitation becomes unsupervised at 30-day shelter care hearings, orders authorizing continued shelter care, review hearings, and permanency hearings unless DCYF provides a report to the court that includes evidence establishing that removing visit supervision or monitoring would create a risk to the child's safety and the court determines that visit supervision must occur.

Read the entire message here.

Children and youth in DCYF care who want the COVID-19 vaccination will be provided access to the vaccine with no barriers.

DCYF will engage and communicate with parents and guardians for up to six weeks to obtain consent for COVID-19 vaccination. If no consent is provided at the end of six weeks, the youth can decide whether to receive the vaccination. In some isolated cases, a court order may be required.

Youth in JR facilities who want the vaccine will receive doses through campus health programs, community vaccine resources, or primary health care providers.

Youth who decline will not be expected to receive the vaccination.

Key Points to Remember:

• Caseworkers must obtain consent from parents for youth under 18 and must also obtain consent from youth who are 13 or older, as indicated in the attached chart, before facilitating the vaccine.
• In some instances, a court order will be necessary. The caseworker will provide you a copy of the signed consent or the court order to allow the children and youth you are caring for to be vaccinated.
• There are multiple variables that affect what consent is required, so it is important for you to talk to the child’s caseworker. The chart at the end of this document is a tool to help you understand what consent may or may not be required. 

Read the entire message here.

Are you a grandparent caring for your grandchild? Are you caring for a relative’s child? Are you a youth living with a relative (other than your parents)?  Or does your organization provide support for those who are kinship caregivers?

The Kinship Caregiver Oversight Committee (KCOC) needs your help!

KCOC was formed in 2004 to provide guidance to the Legislature in identifying, supporting, and strengthening kinship care families.

Make your voice heard by agency staff and help us identify:

• Resources and other useful information for kinship caregivers
• Gaps in available resources
• Identify service improvements and recommendations to be provided to the Washington State legislature.

KCOC meets quarterly, providing a forum to exchange information about state policy changes, local initiatives and concerns, and to monitor, guide, and report on kinship care recommendations and implementation activities.

Our next meeting is:

August 19  from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Join the Zoom Meeting

https://dcyf.zoom.us/j/86042932758?pwd=ODdEc3NQS2FoOUFCYVZBSWhIdk1YZz09

Meeting ID: 860 4293 2758

Passcode: 252954

If you have any questions, contact Geene Delaplane at geene.delaplane@dcyf.wa.gov or 360-688-0391

Starting July 15 and through December 2021, the new Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act provides monthly benefits of $250 per child between ages 6-17 and $300 per child under age 6. 

What you need to know:

• Most families (nearly 90% of children in the United States) will automatically receive monthly payments without having to take any action.
• Families who did not file taxes last year still can access the benefit (see below).
• Families who did not file taxes last year use the IRS’s Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool to apply for the benefits.

I received the Child Tax Credit for a child on my 2020 taxes (filed in 2021), but they no longer live with me. What should I do?

If you will not be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit on your 2021 return (the one due in April of 2022), then you should go to the IRS website to opt out of receiving monthly payments using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Receiving monthly payments now could mean that you have to return those payments when you file your tax return next year. If things change again and you are entitled to the Child Tax Credit for 2021, you can claim the full amount on your tax return when you file next year.

To learn more, visit https://www.childtaxcredit.gov.

Fun, free events at home for kids, teens and parents that teach important safety messages with games, prizes and more.

• July 9, 2021 | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. | 13-18 year olds
• July 24, 2021 | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. | 13-18 years olds
• August 6, 2021 | 12 p.m. -4 p.m. | 6-12 year olds
• August 21, 2021 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | 3-5 years olds

To sign up, visit TBIeventsportal.org.