Washington Administrative Code

(1) Information about a child or the child's family is confidential and must only be shared with people directly involved in caring for a child on a need to know basis, or involved in the case plan for a child. You may discuss information about the child, the child's family and t…

(1) You may get the health history and immunization record from the DCYF caseworker or CPA making the placement for all children placed in your home. The health history should include:(a) The date of the child's last physical and dental examination;(b) Allergies;(c) Any special h…

(1) You must report the following immediately and in no instance later than 48 hours after the incident to your local DCYF intake staff and the DCYF caseworker or CPA case manager and child's tribal Indian child welfare (ICW) case manager as applicable:(a) Death, serious illness …

(1) As soon as you have reason to believe a child in your care is missing as defined in WAC 110-148-1305 or has refused to return to or remain in your care, or whose whereabouts are otherwise unknown, you are required to notify the following:(a) The child's DCYF caseworker, as ap…

(1) Pursuant to RCW 74.15.100, you must notify the department's licensor before moving to a new location. You may request a continuation of your current license at the new location any time before moving or within 30 days after moving.(2) You must report to your licensor immediat…

You must get written approval from the child's DCYF caseworker for children or youth in the care and custody of the department, prior to any travel over 72 hours, and any out-of-country travel. [Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. WSR 22-11-091, § 110-148-1435, filed 5/18/22, eff…

(1) Pursuant to RCW 74.15.100, your home must be located at the particular, fixed location stated on your license.(2) Your home must have adequate indoor and outdoor space, ventilation, toilet and bathing facilities, light and heat to ensure the health and comfort of all members …

(1) You must maintain adequate sewage and garbage facilities. You must discharge sewage into a public system or into a functioning septic system or a Washington state department of health approved or tribal authority alternative system.(2) You must have access to a public water s…

(1) You must disinfect diaper changing areas and toilet training equipment between each use or use a nonabsorbent, disposable covering that you discard after each use. All caregivers must wash hands before and after diapering each child.(2) You must install electrical outlet cove…

(1) You must ensure children in your care are safe around bodies of water. You must:(a) Keep all swimming pools and other bodies of water:(i) Fenced with a locking gate; or(ii) Another LD-approved safety device and a site-specific supervision plan.(b) Lock hot tubs when not in us…

(1) You must develop an evacuation plan in case of a fire, natural disaster or other emergency. The plan must include:(a) An evacuation floor plan, identifying exit doors and windows;(b) Action to take for evacuating your home that ensures responsibility for the children;(c) A pl…

(1) You must observe all state and local fire codes (WAC 212-12-005). We will determine that reasonable fire safety standards exist in your home based on the children placed in your home.(2) Children must be able to escape from every floor in your home. In most cases, this includ…

(1) Each child must have a bedroom, approved by the licensor, with privacy and space that is appropriate and adequate to meet the child's developmental needs. Children may share bedrooms, in compliance with WAC 110-148-1475.(2) Each bedroom must have unrestricted direct access to…

(1) A provider must consider what bedroom placement is in the best interest of a foster child in consultation with the child's DCYF caseworker and all other children in the household.(2) Shared bedrooms must provide enough floor space for the safety and comfort of children.(3) Fo…

(1) All animals on your property must be safe and properly cared for in a sanitary manner. (2) Pursuant to WAC 246-100-197(3), your dog, cat, or ferret must be vaccinated and revaccinated against rabies following veterinary and USDA licensed rabies vaccine manufacturer instructio…

You may have alcoholic beverages or marijuana on your property as long as they are not accessible to people under the age of twenty-one.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-148-1485, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: Chapters 13.34 and 74.13 RCW, RCW 74.15.030(…

You must not have illegal drugs on your property and/or in your possession.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-148-1490, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: Chapters 13.34 and 74.13 RCW, RCW 74.15.030(2), 74.15.311(2), 74.13.032, 13.04.011, 74.13.020, 13.34.030,…

(1) You must not allow smoking in your home. You must not smoke in motor vehicles used to transport children.(2) You may permit adults to smoke outdoors away from children in accordance with RCW 70.160.075.(3) These requirements do not apply to traditional or spiritual Native Ala…

(1) You must notify your licensor if you or someone else in your home has a gun or weapon on the property. This includes but is not limited to BB guns, pellet guns, air rifles, stun guns, antique guns, handguns, rifles, shotguns and archery equipment.(2) You must always keep guns…

(1) You must notify your licensor if you or any adults living in your home have been exposed to someone with tuberculosis or if a health care provider recommends testing. (2) Retesting for license renewals is not required unless the above conditions apply. (3) You must promote pe…

When you transport children in your care you must follow these requirements:(1) The vehicle must be kept in a safe operating condition;(2) The driver must have a valid driver's license;(3) The driver or owner of the vehicle must be covered under an automobile liability insurance …

(1) Food served to children in your care must meet their nutritional and developmental needs, with a variety of options for adequate nutrition and meal enjoyment. (2) Children's cultural needs should also be considered when planning meals.(3) All home-canned foods must be preserv…

(1) You must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that children are not abused or neglected, per RCW 26.44.020(1) and chapter 110-30 WAC.(2) You must provide and arrange for care that is appropriate for the child's age, SOGIE, and development including:(a) Emotional support;(b) …

You must meet the following requirements for providing education and vocational instruction to the children under your care. For each child you must:(1) Follow the educational plan approved by the child's DCYF caseworker;(2) Home schooling, private schooling, and alternative lear…

(1) You may decide what family or community activities are appropriate for foster children. These activities must be appropriately supervised and may not interfere with visitation with the child's parents or guardians. (2) Children may participate in family, community or friend s…

You can serve youth enrolled in the EFC program if you meet the requirements in WAC 110-90-0010 through 110-90-0200. The youth enrolled and participating in the EFC program are considered children only for the purposes of the dependency. Otherwise the youth has the legal status a…

(1) You must assure the right to privacy of personal mail, electronic mail, and phone calls unless:(a) We ask you to provide monitoring; or(b) The court approves implementation of the monitoring as part of the child's case plan.(2) DCYF prohibits the use of video and audio monito…

(1) You must permit a child who leaves your home to take their personal belongings with them. This includes belongings the child brought with them and acquired in your care, such as clothing, mementos, bicycles, gifts, and any saved money.(2) If it is not possible for the child t…

(1) You must ensure that children receive appropriate medical and dental care.(2) You must make sure children have routine medical, dental, and vision care, and receive transportation to and from these scheduled appointments.(3) You must arrange for an early and periodic screenin…

(1) Children placed in your home by the department are required to be immunized according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control (ACIP/CDC) as established in the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0-18 Years, United …

(1) The department is the legal custodian for children it places in care. We have the authority to consent to emergency 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 identi…

(1) Prescription and over the counter medications must be kept in a locked container.(2) Life-saving medications must be accessible in an emergency.[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. WSR 22-11-091, § 110-148-1565, filed 5/18/22, effective 6/18/22. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as §…

Only you or another authorized care provider, such as a respite provider, is allowed to have access to medications for a child in your care except as noted in WAC 110-148-1580.[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.15.030. WSR 22-11-091, § 110-148-1570, filed 5/18/22, effective 6/18/22. WS…

(1) You must keep a written record of all prescription medications and the dates given for the children in care. This list must go with the child when they leave your home.(2) You must notify the child's DCYF caseworker of changes in prescribed medications.(3) You must give presc…

(1) You may permit children under your care to take their own medicine as long as:(a) They are physically and mentally capable of properly taking the medication; and(b) You obtain and keep written approval by the child's health care provider and DCYF caseworker in your records.(2…

You must not use medication for behavior control, unless prescribed for that purpose by a physician or another person legally authorized to prescribe medication.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-148-1585, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: Chapters 13.34 and …

(1) You must not start or stop giving a child's prescribed medication without approval from the child's physician.(2) In addition to the physician, you must coordinate starting or stopping a child's psychotropic medication with the child's DCYF caseworker to determine what consen…

(1) The only medication 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) Readable …

(1) Respite care is provided by someone who is approved by LD and is paid to care for the foster children or provide relief for the foster parents. If the person provides care in their own home, they must be foster licensed. A nonlicensed respite care provider caring for children…

(1) You may use a respite provider as defined in WAC 110-148-1600 to watch your foster child when you are away from home.(2) You may also use a friend or relative as a substitute care provider for foster children when you are away from home without arranging for a background chec…

(1) You must provide and arrange for adult supervision that is appropriate for the child's age and development.(2) For each child in your care you must:(a) Provide personal attention to the child(ren), and additional supervision as needed and required by us; and(b) Advise the chi…

(1) You must use discipline that is appropriate to the child's age and level of development.(2) You must establish limits and use positive methods of guidance that promote self-control, self-responsibility, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation.(3) Positive methods include…

(1) You may use physical restraint when a child's behavior poses an immediate risk to physical safety. The restraint must be reasonable and necessary to:(a) Prevent a child from harming self or others; or(b) Protect property from serious damage.(2) You must not use physical restr…

(1) We may modify, deny, suspend, or revoke your license when:(a) You do not meet the licensing requirements in this chapter;(b) You or others in your home may not have unsupervised access to children;(c) We have determined that you have abused or neglected a child;(d) You commit…

(1) We may make exceptions and license or continue to license you if you do not meet the minimum licensing requirements if we find that you can provide for the safety, health and well-being of children in your care.(2) In addition, we may limit or restrict your license and/or req…

(1) The department must disqualify people living in your home if they do not meet the requirements of this chapter, or cannot have unsupervised access to children because of their background check (chapter 110-04 WAC).(2) We will notify you if a person in your home is disqualifie…

(1) We may suspend or revoke your license if you:(a) Have foster children in your home for whom you are not licensed, without approval by your licensor. This includes having more children, or children of different ages or gender than your license allows;(b) Do not provide a safe,…

You have the right to request an administrative hearing if you disagree with any of these actions. You must request this hearing within 28 calendar days of receiving a certified letter with our decision, as provided in chapters 34.05 RCW and 110-03 WAC.[Statutory Authority: RCW 7…

(1) The decision of the administrative law judge is the final decision of the department unless you or the department files a petition for review with DCYF board of appeals within 21 calendar days after the administrative law judge's decision is mailed to the parties.(2) The proc…

(1) We may issue a probationary license as part of a corrective action plan with you.(2) We will consider the following when deciding whether a probationary license will be issued:(a) An intentional or negligent violation of licensing requirements;(b) A history of violation of li…