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Dear Foster Parents, Kinship Caregivers, Providers, and Tribal Partners,
To limit the emails you receive about the various DCYF projects in the child welfare space, we have put together all the updates related to our Thriving Families campaign in this monthly roundup:
D.S. Settlement
- D.S. Implementation Plan was posted on the D.S. Settlement webpage on Aug. 2.
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Video Link: D.S. Settlement Engagement Findings & Recommendations presentation was held on July 12.
Kinship
- Effective Oct. 1, 2023, DCYF will expand the availability of the initial license to any kinship caregiver who meets minimal requirements when a child is first placed in their home.
- The initial license provides kinship caregivers with basic foster care maintenance payments for up to 90 days while completing the full kinship license requirements.
- DCYF began to process initial licenses on July 1, 2023, for relative and suitable other (kinship) caregivers who passed minimal requirements and had a court-ordered request for the license at shelter-care hearings. Currently, the license is only available to children in Washington State in the care/custody of DCYF.
- The Initial License Practice Memo will be released in September 2023.
Removal Standards
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The Removal Standards Project has concluded following the passage of HB 1227. HB 1227 became effective on July 1, 2023, which directs DCYF to keep children and youth safe at home and remove children and youth from the home only when physical harm is imminent.
- Through the Removal Standards Project, DCYF supported staff in preparing for these changes with the following:
- Modular in-person training
- Weekly office hours
- Live court simulation
- Policy memos
- Guidance
- Templates
- Tools
- The resources and approach were influenced by input from numerous cross-system workgroups, including staff, court partners, tribes, people with lived experience, caregivers, and service providers.
- Child Welfare and other divisions continue to support and monitor implementation. Child Welfare expects to share an initial quality assurance report with agency leaders by the end of the calendar year.
Assessment Redesign
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Scoping of the assessment redesign pilot is currently underway. Details of the pilot are anticipated to be finalized in December, and the pilot will occur in CY2024. Program staff are involved in the development of the pilot, including the selection of pilot sites. The pilot will include feedback from DCYF staff and clients to inform adjustments to the assessment process before extending to sites beyond the pilot.
Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Field Operations
Steven Grilli, Assistant Secretary of Partnership, Prevention, and Services
Jenny Heddin, Assistant Secretary of Transformation
Ruben Reeves, Interim Assistant Secretary of Licensing
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