|
|
February 2026 Issue:
 DCYF is excited to announce that We Are Family Day, our annual, statewide caregiver celebration with the Seattle Mariners, is scheduled for Sunday, May 3.
This year’s event is centered on the ways that foster families and kinship caregivers keep young people connected to their family and culture. Please nominate a child or youth who can throw a pitch at this year's celebration.
To be eligible, the child or youth must:
- Have experienced foster care during the past twelve months and be older than 5.
- Be prepared to stand in front of a packed stadium and throw a ball from the pitching mound to their caregiver at home plate.
- Be prepared to have their photo shared in a press announcement and follow-up stories about We Are Family.
- Receive permission from their parent(s) or the court, sign release forms, and be okay with media coverage.
If you know a youth and caregiver that would like to be considered to throw the Mariners’ first pitch, please email Holly Luna, holly.luna@dcyf.wa.gov, nomination information by Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.
Nominations need to include:
- The young person’s first name and age.
- Information about how the youth has benefitted from their caregiver’s commitment to keeping them connected to their family and culture.
- Caregiver name(s) and contact information.
Join us at We Are Family Day on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Tickets for the game are available now!
|
|
|
To make messaging more accessible for all, DCYF sends all caregiver related communications in Spanish.
If you would like to be removed from the Spanish distribution list, please respond to this email.
Caregivers who don’t use direct deposit must complete and submit a provider registration form by May 1, 2026.
You have two options for submitting the forms:
E-sign forms using Docusign (fastest method)
Or manually complete the forms, print, sign with a blue or black pen, scan to a PDF, and submit to: supplierforms@ofm.wa.gov.
Note: Forms with a stamped, inserted, or electronic signature, and/or information crossed out or in white-out will not be accepted.
SUD Family Education Sessions
The Alliance
Alliance CaRes Newsletter
Coordinated Care
DCYF Supports and Resources
|
|
|
The D.S. Settlement requires all foster parents to have training. To determine what that would look like, DCYF Licensing Division consulted with lived experts, caregivers, DCYF staff, and other professionals. They came up with three areas that all caregivers must have training in: trauma-informed care, affirming and supporting LGBTQIA+, and cultural awareness.
The new WAC Chapter 110-148 will include several changes to the preservice (before getting licensed) and in-service training (renewing your license) requirements.
The preservice training requirements will include Caregiver Core Training (CCT), CPR and First Aid, Mandatory Reporting, and Bloodborne Pathogens for all caregivers on the license. This is 20 hours of preservice training per caregiver. Currently licensed foster parents will not be required to meet additional preservice training requirements.
The in-service training requirements will include:
- Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
- Connecting: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Training for Caregivers and Kinship Providers
- Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Families
- A coaching session for all caregivers.
This is 10 hours of in-service training per caregiver. All licensed foster parents must meet the D.S. Settlement in-service training requirements when they renew their license.
These training requirements will not be effective until the updated WAC Chapter 110-148 is live, but we encourage foster parents to start in-service training today!
If you have general questions, contact the Foster Care NRM team at dcyf.fostercarenrm@dcyf.wa.gov, or you can check out the website for the latest project updates.
New Mandatory Reporting Training for Caregivers
A new version of Caregiver Core Training (CCT) was available in the Alliance course catalog on January 23.
Starting that day, Mandatory Reporting is a standalone training for applicants who complete the new version of CCT. The Alliance course catalog will allow learners who have started the previous version of CCT to finish it by April 23, 2026.
This was sent to all registrants of CCT and is posted at the top of the course page.
If you have already completed CCT and submitted your certificate to your licensor, there is nothing you need to do.
|
The Career Connected Pathways (CCP) is a new program that helps young people find employment and/or career opportunities that are the “right fit” for them. That includes internships, apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and more.
CCP services include career exploration and planning, support with job application process, cover letters and resumes, job interview tips and practice, and connection with regional employment / career programs.
Young people who are eligible include ages 15 to 26 who are currently experiencing or have experienced state or tribal foster care. This includes young people involved with the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program,Extended Foster Care (EFC), Independent Living, or Treehouse programs.
For questions, please contact Veneza Tena, ETV Program Coordinator & Career Connected Pathways Program Manager at dcyf.careerconnectedpathways@dcyf.wa.gov.
|
In the next couple months, changes will be made to Family Team Decision Making (FTDM) and Shared Planning Meetings (SPM). The first is the name. These meetings are now Youth and Family Meetings.
With a new name comes a new meeting model. The rolling implementation will begin Feb. 15, 2026, with the goal of statewide changes by April 1, 2026.
These practice changes align with the systems improvement program revisions in the D.S. Settlement Agreement and the statewide goals for the Thriving Families Initiative.
What is Changing
- Structured Process for All Meetings: Rather than maintaining separate meeting types, FTDMs and SPMs will be Youth and Family Meetings.
- Consistent Framework: DCYF contracted with Evident Change for all meetings to align with the six structured stages of Team Decision Making (TDM), ensuring shared understanding, transparency, and continuity for everyone involved.
- Virtual and In-Person Meetings: The meeting format will be based on the family or youth’s needs. In-person meetings will be the standard/default.
Referrals/Requests: Each region will adopt the statewide referral process currently in development to request meetings.
- Invitations: Meetings Consultants will be responsible for inviting all requested participants and collaborating with caseworkers and supervisors to ensure all youth 12 years and older and their two chosen supports are invited.
- Safety Check Ins and Debrief: Meetings Consultants will complete a safety check with all youth and parents prior to the meeting to ensure the meeting is a safe and supportive space for all meeting participants. Consultants, caseworkers, supervisors, and other DCYF staff will engage in a de-brief after all to discuss next steps and action items.
- Transparent Documentation: Meetings Consultants will chart discussions that result in a clear written action plan, either in electronic or paper form. Families will leave meetings with this plan including outlined decisions, agreed upon next steps, and timelines to support follow-through and accountability.
|
The Alliance for Professional Development, Training, and Caregiver Excellence
-
Impact of Trauma on Child Development — Feb. 19, 1 to 4 p.m. This course will help you understand typical child development as well as disrupted child development. Developmental delays and how to meet children’s developmental needs are also covered in this theme. The unique challenges associated with parenting children from each developmental stage are highlighted. Register Here
-
Chaos to Calm: Promoting Attachment in Out-of-Home Care — Feb. 25 and 26, 5 to 8 p.m. This training provides an in-depth exploration of secure attachment and challenges to attachment as well as building caregiver skills to enhance attachment with children in out-of-home care. Register Here
Learn about all the upcoming classes.
Sign up to get these notices sent right to your inbox or explore the training calendar.
Check out the Alliance CaRes website and sign up for the monthly newsletter that includes regional and local activities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
