Children in foster care sometimes are placed in separate homes due to lack of placements or family circumstances. Sibling Strong summer camp is a program created for brothers and sisters who are separated.
For one week each summer, this camp reunites siblings with ties to Washington state. Being with other youth who have experienced the same trauma helps them realize they are not alone in this difficult situation. Brothers and sisters reunite at Miracle Ranch for some quality time.
Children need to be at least 10 years old and can be referred by their caseworker or caregiver/parent.
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In the coming months, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will begin charging for public records as part of efforts to be more responsive to the public.
Nearly all state agencies in Washington currently charge for public records. DCYF is one of a handful or so agencies that have not imposed standard fees for records requests.
DCYF will charge the following for records:
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.10 cents per electronic copy of scanned paper records (applies if paper copies must be scanned in order to produce in electronic format)
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.15 cents per photocopy of paper records or printed (paper) copies of electronic records (applies if requester asks for paper copies)
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.05 cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery
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Other fees required to complete the request, such as the cost of:
- Digital storage media or devices
- Container or envelope used to mail copies
- Postage or delivery charges
There may be fee waivers available, including waivers for individuals requesting their case files or cases where the cost of billing exceeds the cost of producing records. The Public Records Officer will make waiver decisions on a case-by-case basis.
The change is expected to help the agency provide better customer service and have more capacity to respond quicker to requests.
For more information, visit www.dcyf.wa.gov/public-records.
DCYF Licensing Division (LD) accepted public comments on the proposed changes to the foster care licensing rules, Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 110-148, through May 5. The public comment period was an opportunity for the public to submit feedback on proposed WAC changes before they become final.
Originally, the project team hoped for the updated WAC Chapter 110-148 to be available on July 1. Due to the high level of engagement received over the last several months, the public comment period was delayed. Now that public comment has closed, the project team is developing an updated timeline, which will be shared soon.
If you have questions, contact the Foster Care NRM team at dcyf.fostercarenrm@dcyf.wa.gov or visit the project webpage for the latest project updates.
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The following is DCYF's agency statement in response to the Degross v. Senn settlement agreement:
"We are proud of the diversity of our foster parent and kinship caregiver community who have different cultures, religious beliefs, and lived experience. We are grateful that they all open their doors and provide a loving home to children and youth in foster care."
“This settlement agreement respects the religious beliefs of foster parents, while ensuring LGBTQIA+ youth are placed in an environment that is safe and supports their well-being,” said DCYF Secretary Tana Senn.
Some of the key points of the settlement:
- To ensure youth are protected, DCYF will make individual placement decisions based on a child’s needs, including needs pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE). When a foster parent, for whatever reason, cannot meet a child’s needs, including SOGIE, DCYF can decide not to place with that foster parent.
- DCYF retains full and sole authority over where children are placed. No foster family has a right to have any particular child placed in their home. And DCYF can decline placement, or remove a child from a home, whenever a placement would harm a child for any reason.
- DCYF is updating its foster care licensing rules. Foster parents will not be required to use words that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs as a condition of being licensed.
- DCYF cannot deny or restrict a foster care license solely because of an applicant’s religious beliefs about marriage, gender, or sexual relationships. However, if an applicant does not meet other licensing requirements, DCYF may still deny the applicant a license.
DCYF is grateful for the more than 4,000 licensed foster homes in Washington state. Thank you to each one of you that provides a safe, stable place for children and youth in out-of-home care.
At We Are Family Day last month, DCYF asked caregivers what family means to them and what motivated them to become foster, kinship, or adoptive parents.
Watch the video to learn what they said.
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Do you want to learn more about DCYF’s post-permanency support programs, Adoption Support and the Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP)? The Alliance just launched a new post-permanency e-learning!
This e-learning replaces the old Adoption Support e-learning and includes comprehensive and up-to-date information about both post-permanency support programs designed specifically for caregivers.
The Alliance for Professional Development, Training, and Caregiver Excellence
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Maintaining Children’s Connections — June 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. This course will help you understand the importance of integrating and maintaining ongoing communication and connection between siblings, including understanding sibling dynamics and the importance of sibling bonds. Register Here
Learn about all the upcoming classes.
Need to take an Alliance course, but there's nothing scheduled? Sign up to get the course calendar and special training opportunities delivered right to your inbox! The Alliance schedules webinars quarterly. The next Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Families webinar will be announced in late June.
Check out the Alliance CaRes website and sign up for the monthly newsletter that includes regional and local activities.
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