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The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is making it much easier for individuals interested in becoming foster parents to apply.
DCYF launched a new online application portal that streamlines the process and features user-friendly tools. The new portal aids efforts to increase and diversify the population of licensed and kinship caregivers, group care facilities, and Child Placing Agencies (CPAs).
The Washington Caregiver Application Portal (WA CAP) automates existing paper practices that:
- Streamline the Home Study Process used by both DCYF and CPAs
- Provide a single application source to prospective and existing caregivers
- Support providers in both English and Spanish
- Allow applicants and existing caregivers to upload required documentation and track progress
- Allow electronic signature
- Allow DCYF staff to complete paperwork and track background checks, training hours, and case notes–all online
- Feature tools for efficient recruitment and retention
WA CAP was created by Binti, a child welfare software provider that has helped modernize data systems for government and private agencies across the country.
DCYF’s transition to WA CAP is expected to:
- Decrease the time it takes families to qualify as caregivers
- Decrease placement interruptions for children in care
- Decrease the drop-out rate of licensed homes
- Increase the number of licensed kinship caregivers to improve access to resources
- Decrease the total number of placements experienced by children in care
As a reminder, new foster parent applications are on pause until March 1, 2023. This does not apply to kinship applications, license renewals, and those getting licensed through a Child Placing Agency.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families redesigned its Foster Parenting and Kinship care webpages so caregivers can find the resources and information they need, tailored for prospective and current foster parents and kinship caregivers.
Families interested in becoming foster parents can visit the Become a Foster Parent section to find information about the licensing process, FAQs, and support they can expect to receive.
The Kinship Caregivers pages feature information about:
- Caring for a relative or friend’s child
- The licensing process for kin
- Unlicensed kinship home studies
- Kinship caregiver resources
- The Kinship Caregiver Oversight Committee
Visit the Current Foster Parents pages for information about license renewal and foster parent resources.
Caregivers can access news articles that target caregivers, links to previous caregiver communication, the foster parent inquiry form, foster parent recruitment contact information, and features:
- Support and resources
- Laws and Rules
- Caregiver Training
- Alliance CaRES
- Ways to get involved
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