We are committed to making it easier for kin to get licensed and receive support. Our goal is for 80% of kinship caregivers to be licensed by 2025. 

As part of that effort, we’re creating licensing standards for kinship caregivers.

We need your feedback. Take this survey and share your thoughts on the proposed requirements. This survey can take up to 45 minutes to complete but does not need to be finished in one sitting. All questions are optional. 

The proposed Kinship Licensing Rules will be available for public review December 2024.

To learn more and stay up to date, visit our New Kinship Licensing Standards webpage.

If you have any questions or feedback, email dcyf.kinshipfeedback@dcyf.wa.gov

After more than two and a half years in foster care, two teen brothers are finding their permanent home with their half-sister and half-brother.

While in the care of their sister, the two have flourished, their grades have significantly improved, they completed trauma focused therapy, and both identified passions for their future, which includes aviation and sports.

These two young men, who are now legally free, have remarkably strong futures ahead of them as they find permanency with their half siblings. 

An initial license is available to kin who pass minimal requirements when a child is first placed in their home (if placement occurred on or after Oct. 1, 2023). The initial license allows kinship caregivers to receive basic foster care reimbursement payments for up to 90 days while completing the full kinship license requirements.

Kinship Licensing Steps 

1. Placement

After placement, you can begin the Initial Licensing Process.

If the child has been in your care for some time or is not yet placed with you, you may request a referral to the Licensing Division from your caseworker or Tribal worker.

*Kin are not eligible for an initial license if placement is made through a voluntary placement agreement.

The Licensing Division worker will help you log into the Washington Caregiver Application Portal (WA CAP). You will use this system to complete your application. They will also tell you about the options to get licensed by a Child Placing Agency or Tribal Child Placing Agency.

2. Decide Who to Work With

You can work with DCYF’s Licensing Division, a private child placing agency (CPA), or a Tribal CPA.

3. Meet with Staff for Home Visits and Interviews

After submitting your foster home application, you will be assigned a worker. The assigned worker will connect with you, and:

• Complete interviews, both in-person and virtually.
• For couples, licensing staff will complete at least one interview with both adults and another interview with each adult individually.
• Interview household members, including your children.
  • Contact your adult children (if you have adult children).
• At least one interview must happen in your home and include the home inspection.
• Review the Foster Home Licensing Inspection Checklist, to learn what licensing staff are looking for.

4. Complete Home Study.

The home study is a report that your assigned worker will complete when they are finished collecting information from you. 

The home study puts together all the information gathered during the licensing process and shows that you can provide a safe, healthy, and nurturing home. You will get to review a draft of your home study before it is final and be given a copy of the completed home study. 

Learn more, visit the Kinship Licensing webpage.

6 Places in Washington that Offer Discounts to Foster Families

• Boys and Girls Club: No-cost membership with Coordinated Care.
• WA State Parks: Free Campsite and Day-use entry for foster and kinship care families with dependent children.
• YMCA: Some local Washington locations offer free membership to foster youth.
• Seattle Aquarium: Free for 2 caregiving adults and up to 6 children living in the same household.
• Woodland Park Zoo: $5 Discover Ticket is available for foster and kinship families.
• Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium: $6 Wild Access Ticket and discounted memberships for foster and kinship families.

9 Museums That Offer Discounts to Foster Families

• Pacific Science Museum: Free admission for youth
• Children’s Museum of Tacoma: Pay As You Will Admission
• WA State History Museum: $2 admission
• Mobius Children's Museum: $2 off admissions on Wednesdays
• Skagit Children’s Museum: $3 Admission
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum: $3 admission
• Seattle Children’s Museum: $3 admission
• Museum of Flight: $3 admission
• Hands On Children’s Museum: $25 family membership