Washington Administrative Code

Foster parents can serve youth enrolled in the extended foster care program. You must adhere to chapter 110-50 WAC.[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. WSR 22-11-091, § 110-147-1615, filed 5/18/22, effective 6/18/22. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-147-1615, filed 6/29/18, eff…

(1) Your agency is responsible to provide adequate supervision at all times. You should arrange and maintain supervision of children during times of crisis when one or more family members or staff members may be unavailable to provide the necessary supervision or coverage for oth…

(1) Transportation you provide must be safe, reliable, and in compliance with law and contract requirements.(2) The driver of the vehicle must:(a) Have a valid driver's license; and(b) Be covered under an automobile liability insurance policy.(3) The vehicle must:(a) Be kept in s…

You may obtain the health history from the child's DCYF caseworker, parent, or guardian making the placement for all children placed in your facility.[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. WSR 22-11-091, § 110-147-1630, filed 5/18/22, effective 6/18/22. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as…

(1) When a child first enters out-of-home care, an initial health screen is required as soon as possible, but no later than five days after entering your program.(2) You must also make reasonable attempts to obtain the following health history:(a) Allergies;(b) All currently pres…

(1) Children who enter out-of-home care, except for children placed by DDA through a voluntary placement agreement, must receive an EPSDT exam within 30 days, unless they have had an EPSDT exam in the previous 30 days. DCYF caseworkers will notify you when subsequent EPSDT exams …

(1) The department is the legal custodian for children it places in care. We have the authority to consent to emergent and routine medical services on behalf of a child under the age of 18. Youth in care over the age of 18 must consent to their own medical care or have an identif…

(1) The only medicine you may accept from the child's parent, guardian, or responsible relative is medicine in the original container labeled with:(a) The child's first and last name;(b) The date the prescription was filled;(c) The medication's expiration date; and(d) Dosage inst…

(1) If you certify a foster home caring for chronically ill children or medically fragile children, you must arrange for regular nursing visits.(2) These must include at least monthly visits unless a different agreement is specified in the individual child's treatment plan.(3) Th…

(1) Your agency must have staff serving in the roles of executive director, program manager, and case managers as identified in WAC 110-147-1440 through 110-148-1490.(2) Staff may serve in multiple roles, but must meet the qualifications of each program role.(3) Agencies providin…

(1) You must have a preservice training plan of at least sixteen hours for new staff that includes:(a) Relevant state law;(b) Agency goals, ethical and professional guidelines, organizational lines of accountability, policies and procedures;(c) The cultural diversity of the popul…

(1) If you plan to provide adoption services you must meet the requirements for a child placing agency outlined in this chapter.(2) You must comply with federal and state adoption and adoption support laws and policies.(3) You must provide adoptive applicants with the following:(…

(1) You must provide a written program description to families that includes the following:(a) Services you provide prior to and after placement and/or adoption;(b) Your application and training requirements;(c) How your agency will identify children needing adoptive placements, …

You must advise each applicant in writing about your agency fees including:(1) All fees and charges associated with the cost of adoption;(2) A description of each fee including in-state, out-of-state and international expenses and fees;(3) All other miscellaneous expenses associa…

You must have face-to-face post placement contact with each child and adoptive parents at least once every thirty days until the adoption is finalized. Contact may include a home or office visit, and must be in person.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-147-1685, filed 6/29/18, e…

(1) The applicant must submit an application to your agency.(2) You must complete an adoption home study as outlined in WAC 110-147-1695.(3) Once you have approved an application, but before you sign a contract for services, you must give the applicants a written statement about:…

(1) Your staff must complete an adoptive home study (preplacement report) with the participation of the applicant(s). Contact with the applicant must include a minimum of three in-person contacts that include:(a) An individual interview with each applicant parent and with each me…

(1) Your staff must prepare the adoptive parent(s) for placement of a specific child by:(a) Locating and providing information about the child and the birth family to the prospective adoptive family provided under the federal and state statute; and(b) Developing a transition plan…

(1) Specialized adoptive services are intercountry adoption, interstate adoption and adoptions for children with special needs such as intellectual and developmental disabilities or emotional disabilities.(2) If your agency is providing specialized adoptive services, you must hav…

(1) If there is a complaint filed against you or your agency we will investigate to determine if you have violated the Washington Administrative Code and whether you have complied with your approved program description.(2) Families adopting internationally may file complaints wit…

If you provide international adoption services to countries party to the Hague Convention, you must also be accredited by a federal Department of State accrediting entity and supply a copy of the accreditation certificate to your licensor.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-147-1…

(1) Your CPA must retain a record of each child you place in permanent custody. This record must contain all available identifying legal, medical, and social information and must be kept confidential, as required by chapter 26.33 RCW. Children's records must never be submitted to…

(1) You must provide a minimum of ten hours of training before approval of a home study that includes at least the following:(a) The rights and responsibilities of adoptive parents and the adoption agency;(b) The potential risks and challenges inherent in adoption;(c) The needs a…

(1) You must include at a minimum, the following information in the post placement report:(a) All reasonably available information about the child's:(i) Physical and mental condition;(ii) Home environment;(iii) Family life, health, and family constellation; and(iv) Facilities whe…

(1) This chapter contains licensing requirements for all foster homes licensed directly by the department or certified through a child placing agency. Unless noted otherwise, these requirements apply to you if you are licensed to provide foster care.(2) Licensing requirements are…

The following definitions are for the purpose of this chapter and are important to understanding these requirements:"Abuse or neglect" means the injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child as defined in RCW 26.44.020."Adult" means a p…

You must be licensed if you provide care on a twenty-four hour basis to a child who is not related to you. Exceptions to this rule are listed in RCW 74.15.020 or by order of the court under chapters 26.10 RCW or RCW 13.34.065.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-148-1310, filed 6/…

(1) You must complete your licensing application packet with all LD required documents within 90 days of submitting the application and background authorization forms to the department.(2) If you do not meet this 90-day deadline, your licensor may withdraw your application.[Statu…

(1) We issue you a license when you and everyone in your household meet the licensing requirements contained in this chapter, and all required documents are in the licensing file. In addition, you must maintain all requirements in this chapter and provide verification to your lic…

(1) You may request a provisional expedited foster family license if you meet all of the following requirements:(a) You have been licensed to provide foster care within the previous five years;(b) You have not had your foster care license closed due to a denial, revocation, or an…

(1) We will issue a foster family license for the name and address shown on your application when requirements have been met. If you move, we must visit your new home to determine whether you continue to meet licensing requirements. Your license cannot be transferred to someone e…

(1) The department may approve licensees' request to have more than one department license, certification, or authorization, e.g., child care license and foster care license.(2) If providers hold both a child care license and a foster care license, the providers must comply with …

You may also hold a contract with the state to provide services. When contract or other statutory requirements differ from licensing, you must meet the highest standard.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-148-1335, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: Chapters 13…

(1) As a courtesy, a renewal notice will be sent to you 90 days prior to your license expiration date. If you do not receive this renewal notice it is your responsibility to contact your licensor.(2) You must send the application and background authorization form to renew your li…

The department (and, if you are supervised by a CPA, CPA representatives) must have access to your premises, foster children, and documents related to foster children in your care.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-148-1345, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: …

(1) We have the legal authority to license homes for the care of children in out-of-home placement. You may choose to be supervised by us, or by a CPA.(2) We license CPAs, including tribal CPAs, to supervise foster homes. The CPA is authorized to certify to the department that yo…

(1) If you or your relatives work for a CPA in the roles of administration, supervision, foster home certification, placement, payment authorization, or case management, you may not be certified by that CPA as a foster home.(2) If you go to work for the agency that has already ce…

(1) When you meet the licensing requirements, you may apply to us for certification of your home, rather than a license, if the following conditions apply:(a) You are exempt from needing a license (per chapter 74.15 RCW), and you wish to serve department-funded children; or(b) Yo…

(1) You must be at least 21 years old to apply for a license.(2) You must demonstrate you have:(a) The understanding, ability, physical health, emotional stability, and personality suited to meet the physical, mental, emotional, cultural, and social needs of children under your c…

(1) You must be a licensed foster parent through a CPA; and(2) You must meet the requirements specified in the PTFC contract.[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220, 43.216.020, and 43.216.065. WSR 24-18-052, § 110-148-1366, filed 8/28/24, effective 9/28/24.]

The department may issue you a license if you meet all other PTFC requirements but lack sufficient income to provide general foster care.[Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220, 43.216.020, and 43.216.065. WSR 24-18-052, § 110-148-1367, filed 8/28/24, effective 9/28/24.]

If you are approved as a PTFC home and stop providing PTFC services within the contracted time frame:(1) You must inform the CPA and the department; and(2) The department must:(a) Place you in no referral status; and(b) Not place any additional children in the home until you prov…

(1) The department or CPA will assess you for a foster family license. This will include, but is not limited to:(a) Your ability to comply with the licensing requirements;(b) The physical condition of your home and property;(c) The physical and mental health of all members of the…

(1) Before you are licensed for the first time, preservice training will be required for, at a minimum, the primary caregiver in your home.(2) All members of the household over the age of 18 who provide care must have and maintain the following training:(a) First aid;(b) Age appr…

(1) You and your licensor must develop an individual in-service training plan pursuant to the department's foster home training policy. The training plan will be based on the type of children in your care and your previous training and experience.(2) If you fail to complete your …

(1) We will identify the maximum number, age range, and gender of children that may be placed with you. We will base this on your skills, the number of care providers, the physical accommodations in your home, and the needs of the children placed in your home.(2) The maximum numb…

(1) We have the discretion to allow you to temporarily exceed your capacity. The placement must be in the best interest of the child and may not affect the health and safety of other children in the home.(2) If your home is licensed for six foster children, LD will not allow you …

(1) You have the right to decline, to admit, or keep a child in your home, unless your decision violates the Washington state law against discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW. For example, a provider must not decline a child because of the child's actual or perceived race, ethnicity…

(1) If you care for medically fragile children and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, you must ensure the following services are provided, if prescribed by a physician:(a) An individualized treatment plan suited to the unique needs of each child in care; a…

(1) When a child is placed in your foster home, you must keep the child's records in your home. You should have the following information, if available:(a) The child's name, birth date, and legal status;(b) Name and telephone number of the DCYF caseworker or case manager for each…