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 Kinship care and suitable persons are at the heart of keeping children and youth connected to their family and community.
With the passage of HB 5151: Child Specific Licensing, this has created an opportunity to keep children and youth with their own families and in their own culture.
Generally speaking, the Child Specific License allows DCYF to issue a child-specific license to a relative or a suitable person who becomes licensed for placement of a specific child and that child’s siblings when in DCYF's care, custody, and control. Family members and suitable persons must meet minimum qualifications of the child-specific licensing requirements.
This summer, we had initial discussions and presentations to stakeholders. In the early fall, we will have workshops with the volunteers identified from their group and work on developing the Child Specific License criteria.
Once the license is developed, there will be presentations to DCYF Executive Leadership for feedback. Feedback will then be discussed with workshop participants for final discussion, and then, lastly, will return to the stakeholders for final discussion and results.
DCYF looks forward to collaborating with groups of stakeholders to develop the child specific license. Our stakeholders include:
- The Kinship Care Oversight Committee (KCOC)
- An organization that represents our current and former foster youth
- An organization that represents CPAs
- An advisory group of foster youth and alumni
- An tribal consultation
We have begun the process of presenting to stakeholders and asking for members to participate in a work group.
To date, we have presented to KCOC and the Tribal Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC). We will continue reaching out to other stakeholder groups to schedule meetings.
If you have any questions, please reach out to either Xuan Chung or Geene Delaplane.
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The Office of Tribal Relations would like to send a heartfelt thanks to Sally Brownfield for leadership in early childhood education. We wish her well in her retirement.
Sally Brownfield, a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe and Director of the Squaxin Island Child Development Center, announced her retirement effective Sept. 20, 2021.
Sally served as the Chair of DCYF’s Indian Policy for Early Learning for the last eight years and has served in numerous leadership roles, including member of the Shelton School Board.
We wish nothing but the best health, blessing, and great success to Sally in her retirement!
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Sept. 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m. COVID-19 Student Survey Youth Discussion: This meeting is for young people (middle and high school) to learn about the results of the COVID-19 Student Survey, which helped capture the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This anonymous survey was administered throughout Washington State in March 2021. Hear the results, provide feedback, help inform future work, and learn what it's like to work with various state agencies. Register here. Questions? Email emily.maughan@k12.wa.us.
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Youth Collaboratory: Katy White (katy@youthcollaboratory.org) Is recruiting new members and sharing information about youth homelessness. Check out all their available and upcoming open positions.
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Youth/Young Adult Speaking Opportunity: The National Training & Technical Assistance for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health is currently looking for youth, young adults, and families to participate in their webinar series. All youth, young adults, and families are encouraged to apply. You do not have to have previous experience sharing your story. They will provide support to ensure that participating on the panel will be a positive experience for you and audience members. You will not be asked to share parts of your story that you do not feel comfortable sharing. Learn more and apply here: Faith and Mental Health Webinar Series.
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Psychological First Aid: Are you a frontline worker serving an American Indian/Alaska Native community? The Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health now offers psychological first aid training designed to support AI/AN frontline workers and their communities. They are currently looking for participants for a research study to help evaluate this training. If interested, contact psychfirstaid4covid19@gmail.com.
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This monthly gathering is offered to young adults ages 16 – 21 in Tacoma interested in the opportunity to connect to empowering skills and relevant conversation and connections. Please join us for the once a month session which will provide a safe place for sharing stories and talking about lessons learned along the journey.
RSVP Here: https://bigbrothersbigsisters.as.me/aimhigh
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Pandemic Aid for Washington State Foster Care Alumni: Treehouse is partnering with DCYF to distribute $1.65 million in pandemic relief funds to foster care alumni. The purpose of this funding is to help young adult alumni of foster care recover and stabilize from the financial hardships caused by the pandemic. Learn more and apply here. Applications are due Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged everyone, particularly Native American communities.
To honor and document ways Native girls and women are navigating it, IMAGEN wishes to showcase their art, poetry, photography, and more.
Accepted entries will appear on their website in November 2021 and later in a booklet. The Art Call is made possible thanks to the generosity of Marty Jeiven. Artists whose pieces are selected are eligible to win up to $200!
If you or a Native girl or woman you know is interested in participating, please check out the links below! This Art Call is open to all female Native Americans so please share the information with your networks.
Rules & Guidelines: Read More
Submission Form: Submit Here
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Sept. 21, 12-1 p.m., Responding to CSEC Summer Lunch Series: "The Intersection of Opioids and Human Trafficking." Register here.
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Sept. 23, 11 a.m., State Strategies to Strengthen Infant-Toddler Care as Public Pre-k Expands: Join ZERO to Three for a discussion about how states can protect and expand infant-toddler care in the context of pre-k expansion, taking the opportunity to ensure families have affordable access to a full continuum of high-quality early care and education. ZERO TO THREE will provide an update about potential new federal investment in pre-k. Register here.
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Sept. 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 7th Annual CSEC Task Force Conference: A four-hour virtual event providing educational opportunities designed to support the building and sustaining of our statewide, coordinated, and victim/survivor-centered response to the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Washington. Cost: $10. Interested attendees may request a fee waiver. Register here.
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Sept. 28, 10 a.m., Urban Indian Health Institute COVID-19 Data Dashboard and Service Area Site Reports Webinar: Join Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) and Adrian Dominguez for a webinar demonstrating UIHI’s just-released COVID-19 dashboard with information on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and data quality among American Indians and Alaska Natives. This webinar will showcase its functionalities, define data methodologies and limitations, and share and discuss UIO Service Area Site Reports. Register here.
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Sept. 29, Oct. 20, and Dec. 8, 12 p.m., Learning to Listen: Join the Brazelton Touchpoints Center for the sixth season of Learning to Listen: Conversations for Change, featuring luminaries across the family-facing fields exploring the current and emerging issues facing children and families today. Register here.
- Webinar 1: What the Eyes Don't See: Listening to Children and Families to Uncover Environmental Injustice
- Webinar 2: How to Call People In (Instead of Calling Them Out)
- Webinar 3: Indigenous Wisdom for Listening to Children and Families
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Sept. 30, 12 p.m., Center for Tribes Tribal Home Study Basics Webinar: Conducting a home study with families who wish to serve as resource homes for tribal children is an important part of the child welfare process and a skill that is developed over time with practice. Join the Center for Tribes for a 90-minute webinar that will provide more a in-depth overview of how to conduct a thorough home study. Register here.
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Oct. 1-3, First Annual Dads Fall Campout, Dads Under the Stars: Are you the dad of a child with behavioral health concerns? This weekend event is open to all dads, granddads, stepdads, and other male caregivers who have a special needs child in their family or extended family. Learn more and register here. Questions? Call 253-230-3558 or 509-486-2378
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Oct. 4-8, National Tribal Health Conference: The Future of Native Health in Our Changing World: Daily topics include health equity, transformation of health systems, and technology. Register here.
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Oct. 12, the Pathways to Prevention Webinar, Indigenous Connectedness for Child Wellbeing: During this session, Jessica Saniguq Ullrich, Inupiaq, MSW, PhD, will describe her work to develop a conceptual framework that makes visible Indigenous child wellbeing.
Register here.
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Oct. 14-15, Tribal ALTSA-HCA-AAA Fall Summit: The Summit will be a hybrid conference, in-person and virtual. ALTSA is seeking volunteers for the agenda planning committee. Email Marietta Bobba at bobbam@dshs.wa.gov for information.
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Oct. 26 - Nov. 4, 10th Annual Washington State Government Lean Transformation Conference: This year’s virtual event will be held over several days between Oct. 26 and Nov. 4 and allows you to customize your learning by signing up for sessions that fit in with your schedule. It’s also an exciting opportunity for Washington state employees located across the state to participate without travel or additional expenses. This year’s theme is “Elevate, Encourage, Engage, Empower: A Decade of Continuous Improvement Together.” The conference will focus on the tools and techniques of Lean and continuous improvement, while also recognizing the continuing need to adapt to changing times. Register here.
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Nov. 2-4, 17th Annual Fatherhood is Leadership National Conference: If you serve men, women, and children, you are invited to attend this large educational platform, focusing on the most pressing topics in the criminal justice, education & prevention, health & human services, and fatherhood & motherhood. Choose from 16 workshops that will inform, insipre, and involve a positive learning experience with issues that affect all of us. Learn more here. Register here.
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Nov. 17, the Pathways to Prevention Webinar, Substance Use Among Pregnant & Parenting People: Research & Interventions to Promote Wellbeing: During this webinar, Anna Austin, PhD, will describe research on substance use among pregnant and parenting people, examples from programs in North Carolina, and implications for practice. Register here.
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Dec. 15, the Pathways to Prevention Webinar, Building a Trauma-Informed Community: The San Antonio Experience: During this webinar, attendees will learn about how a large city used a systems approach to identifying and mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences. Colleen Bridger, MPH, PhD, formerly the Assistant City Manager and Interim Health Director for the city of San Antonio, will share the innovative work of the South Texas Trauma Informed Care Consortium, including training and certification programs. Register here.
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Jan. 19, the Pathways to Prevention Webinar, Heed Neglect to Disrupt Child Maltreatment: Implications for Prevention: During this webinar, Kerri Raissian, PhD, and Lindsey Bullinger, PhD, will discuss their research on policy approaches to prevent child maltreatment and importance of addressing neglect in prevention efforts. Register here.
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Feb. 16, the Pathways to Prevention Webinar, Racism, Racist Inequities and the Child Welfare System: Implications for Prevention: Alan J. Dettlaff serves as Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston and the inaugural Maconda Brown O’Connor Endowed Dean’s Chair. Dean Dettlaff’s work focuses on improving outcomes for children and youth in the child welfare system through examining the factors contributing to racial disparities and improving cultural responsiveness. His research and consultation with state child welfare systems has led to significant policy and practice improvements that have resulted in reductions in the overrepresentation of African American children in these systems. Register here.
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