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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 initiative in this monthly roundup:
Learn About the State Budget and its Impacts on DCYF
- On May 20, 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the 2025–2027 Washington state budget into law.
- The following webinar was hosted by Director of the Office of Public Affairs, Allison Krutsinger and Chief Financial Officer, Rene Newkirk and shares the latest updates and impacts of the new budget. The slide deck has been updated to reflect the signed budget.
D.S. Settlement
Foster Care Negotiated Rule Making (NRM)
Caregiver Supports Project
- The Caregiver Supports Project launched in July 2024 to help caregivers meet the unique needs of children or youth placed with them.
- Currently, the Caregiver Supports program, with DCYF project leadership support, has made the decision to temporarily pause program implementation of the remaining six caregiver support catchment areas to allow DCYF to continue to fine tune contract details. This means the eligible caregivers living in the remaining six areas will experience a delay in receiving these services.
- The phased implementation of the 14 statewide catchment areas (area of service) was divided into two groups:
- Catchment areas 1-8 have either or are close to, full implementation of Caregiver Support services. These will remain in effect without interruption to services.
- Catchment areas 9-14, were scheduled to start providing phased in services between July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026. These catchment areas have been paused. View the full list.
- DCYF is working to review the necessary items in the contract as quickly as possible. As soon as there is an updated timeline for catchment areas 9-14, it will be shared.
Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA): Community Pathways
- The Family First Prevention Services Team is expanding their focus to "Family First Community-Based Pathways (FFCBP)." These pathways help strengthen families, providing support before a crisis happens, and helping to avoid child welfare involvement.
- As part of this phase, the FFPSA team will be engaging communities and Tribal Nations for their experience and feedback on the child welfare system. All are welcome to attend, lived experts (those who have history in and with the child welfare system) will be offered $90 gift cards for their participation.
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Register for one of the following dates:
- Wednesday, June 25 | 9 a.m.
- Wednesday, June 25 | 6 p.m.
- Thursday, June 26 | 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 22 | 9 a.m.
- Thursday, July 24 | 9 a.m.
- Thursday, July 24 | 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 12 | 9 a.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 14 | 6 p.m.
- If you have questions, email dcyf.familyfirstact@dcyf.wa.gov.
Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare
Ruben Reeves, Assistant Secretary of Licensing
Vickie Ybarra, Assistant Secretary of Partnership, Prevention, and Services
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