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Dear Kinship Caregivers, Foster Parents, CPAs, and Tribal Partners,
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will develop a new WAC chapter, along with supporting policies, procedures, and a home study process for kinship caregivers, making it easier for kin to get licensed and receive support from staff.
The proposed Kinship Licensing Rules will be available for public review December 2024 and go into effect Spring 2025. Washington State is committed to licensing 80% of its kinship caregivers by 2025.
How will this impact me?
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Kinship Caregivers – By creating a more efficient path to get licensed, resulting in additional financial support that is only available to licensed caregivers.
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Tribes – Depending on tribal licensing status, tribes may create their own kinship standards (Intergovernmental Agreement tribes) or use state kinship licensing standards.
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DCYF Staff – By simplifying and streamlining the process to support kinship caregivers and align with the national kinship standards.
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CPAs – By making it faster to license kinship caregivers.
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Foster Parents – No changes.
How can I get involved?
Kinship caregivers, Tribes, CPAs, and DCYF staff are all invited and encouraged to provide feedback throughout this process.
Sign up to get involved. Fill out the Kinship Standards- Community Engagement Opportunity Form and:
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Attend Kinship Standards workshops in May and June.
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Have a 1:1 conversation with the Kinship Standards Community Engagement team.
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Provide feedback on proposed Kinship WACs, Policies, and Procedures during public comment.
We know kids experiencing out-of-home care do better in almost every area when placed in kinship care (Source: Kinship Care Research Brief). We want to be sure that all caregivers for a child or youth in foster care can be supported.
If you have any questions or feedback, email dcyf.kinshipfeedback@dcyf.wa.gov.
Ruben Reeves
Assistant Secretary of Licensing
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