As of July 1, one of DCYF’s primary child welfare WACs, WAC 110-30-0030: Abuse or neglect of children and youth, which shares the definition of abuse and neglect will be updated.

Changes include:

• Expanding the definition to include human trafficking and female genital mutilation.
• Reorganization and language updates to make the definition easier to understand.

These changes were made as a result of Senate Bill 6006 and 5453 which changed legal definitions of child abuse and neglect to include both human trafficking and female genital mutilation.

If you have any questions about this change, please reach out to the Policy and Rules Office at dcyf.policyteam@dcyf.wa.gov.

You may qualify for free or low-cost child care through Washington state’s Child Care Subsidy program. It’s available to more families than ever, and signing up is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

If you qualify, you’ll pay no more than $165 a month. Some families pay nothing at all!

Apply online or by phone. Visit www.dcyf.wa.gov/childcare or call 844-626-8687. Help is available by phone in multiple languages.

Help spread the word! Pass this on to a family you know.

This week the Washington State Health and Human Services (HHS) Coalition launched MyWABenefits.

This new mobile-friendly website allows you to:

• Track the status of your benefit applications or renewals for multiple programs.
• See interview appointment details.
• Opt-in to receive reminders by text message or email.

The goal of this website is for Washington residents to have clarity about their application for benefits so they can more quickly and easily navigate the process and receive the benefits they need.

Those experiencing foster care face unique healthcare challenges, including complex physical and behavioral health needs that require specialized care. That's why DCYF is excited to share that our partner Coordinated Care has expanded their Foster Care Centers of Excellence program to now serve child welfare-involved families in every DCYF region across Washington state.

These centers provide trauma-informed, holistic care that takes into account the nuances of those experiencing foster care. This program is significantly improving health outcomes – compared to other facilities, Foster Care Centers of Excellence have an average of 25.4% higher rate of well-child visits across all ages.

With thousands of children and youth experiencing foster care in Washington state, it's critical that we continue to work together to improve access to the high-quality care they deserve.

The Alliance for Professional Development, Training, and Caregiver Excellence

• Mental Health Considerations for Children — June 11, 6 to 8 p.m.
  This course provides a foundational understanding of mental health disorders and conditions that commonly occur in childhood. Content is shared to illustrate that not all “survival” behaviors or symptoms of grief are connected with mental health disorders. Commonly administered psychotropic medications are described and information about how to obtain consistent, adequate and appropriate access to mental health services is highlighted. Register Here 
• Introduction to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder — June 25, 10 a.m. to Noon This course helps participants understand the short- and long-term impact on children exposed to substances prenatally. This includes FASD and issues that may be present if parents use(d) substances, and medical issues that can arise due to substance exposure, including higher risk of later addiction. This course also shares parenting strategies for children exposed to substances prenatally.
  Register Here
  
  Learn about all the upcoming classes.
  Sign up to get these notices sent right to your inbox or explore the training calendar.

Alliance CaRES

Virtual Tween Book Club
Wednesday, June 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

CaRES is proud to kick off their new virtual Tween Book Club. This will be for young people aged 8 to 12 years old. The club will meet for one hour monthly over Zoom, and CaRES will provide a monthly book and activity. The first meeting will be with author Nathan LaChine who will be sharing his new book, “Internet Safety Workbook for Tweens: With Olivia and Friends.”

During this event, they will also distribute the first book for their book club series, by Raina Telgemeier, called Smile! The first discussion of “Smile” will be held on Wednesday, July 16, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

If you have a child who would be interested and could commit to a monthly event, please email their name and mailing information to Lmarsh3@uw.edu.