Washington Administrative Code

EIS provider agencies must enter required data elements in the ESIT data management system and report on ESIT activities as required by contract or local agreement.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.216.020 (1)(g). WSR 19-21-060, § 110-400-0160, filed 10/11/19, effective 11/11/19. WSR …

All EIS provider agencies are subject to general supervision, monitoring, and enforcement actions through ESIT and ESIT's local lead agencies set forth in state and federal law, contracts, and local agreements.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.216.020 (1)(g). WSR 19-21-060, § 110-400-…

(1) The purpose of this chapter is to outline the conditions and procedures under which state funds will be made available for Head Start programs.(2) This activity is undertaken pursuant to RCW 43.06.110 and chapter 43.330 RCW.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-420-0010, filed …

(1) "Applicant" means a public or private nonsectarian organization which receives federal Head Start funds.(2) "Contractor" means an applicant which has been allocated state Head Start funds under the Head Start state match program.(3) "Department" means the department of commun…

(1) Each potential applicant will be notified by the department that application for Head Start state match financial assistance is to be made to the department.(2) An applicant must make formal application in the form and manner specified by the department. Failure of an applica…

In order to receive Head Start state match funds, a contractor must currently be receiving federal funds to operate a Head Start program. Head Start state match funds may be used only for activities which result in direct and measurable services to Head Start program children. Th…

(1) Head Start state match funds will be paid in accordance with the provisions of the applicable contract and these regulations.(2) Reports to the department to assure that funds are being expended for purposes authorized in the approved contract are required in a format approve…

The legal basis for the department's ECEAP is RCW 43.216.525.[Statutory Authority: 2025 cc 109, 412, 253, RCW 43.216.065, 43.216.512, 43.216.513, and 43.216.525. WSR 26-07-024, s 110-425-0010, filed 3/9/26, effective 4/9/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.216.065, 43.216.512, and 43…

ECEAP provides preschool education, family support, and health and nutrition services to low-income three- and four-year-old children to promote school success.[Statutory Authority: 2025 cc 109, 412, 253, RCW 43.216.065, 43.216.512, 43.216.513, and 43.216.525. WSR 26-07-024, s 11…

The following definitions apply to this chapter:"Children allowed for enrollment" means children that the department may permit to be enrolled in ECEAP as outlined in RCW 43.216.512, but who are not entitled to as outlined in RCW 43.216.556."Children eligible for enrollment" or "…

ECEAP providers must not deny services to or discriminate against children, families, and individuals:(1) By following chapter 49.60 RCW; and(2) On the basis of SOGIE, family configuration, or public assistance recipient status.[Statutory Authority: 2025 cc 109, 412, 253, RCW 43.…

(1) Eligible organizations must complete the following to become an ECEAP contractor:(a) Complete the application process established by the department; and(b) Enter into a contract or interlocal agreement with the department if they are a successful applicant.(2) The department …

ECEAP contractors:(1) Must provide comprehensive early education and family support services free of charge to enrolled families; and(2) May use:(a) ECEAP funds of last resort for enrolled children's:(i) Medical;(ii) Dental;(iii) Nutrition; or(iv) Mental health services; and(b) U…

ECEAP contractors must:(1) Develop and provide the following comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families:(a) Early childhood education;(b) Family support to help families overcome the extreme stresses of poverty by improving focus, planning, and decision making…

ECEAP contractors and providers must verify children's dates of birth for the purposes of enrollment using one of the following documents that includes their date of birth:(1) A document listed in RCW 43.216.528;(2) Certificate of Indian blood;(3) Tribal enrollment card; or(4) A …

Children are eligible for ECEAP enrollment:(1) If they meet the definition of an eligible child as outlined in RCW 43.216.505; and(2) Until they begin kindergarten.[Statutory Authority: 2025 cc 109, 412, 253, RCW 43.216.065, 43.216.512, 43.216.513, and 43.216.525. WSR 26-07-024, …

ECEAP providers may enroll children:(1) Allowed for enrollment in ECEAP as outlined in RCW 43.216.512; or(2) Who qualify for early entry in ECEAP as outlined in RCW 43.216.513.[Statutory Authority: 2025 cc 109, 412, 253, RCW 43.216.065, 43.216.512, 43.216.513, and 43.216.525. WSR…

ECEAP contractors and providers:(1) Must not simultaneously enroll children in ECEAP and:(a) Head start; or(b) Transition to kindergarten; and(2) May:(a) Reprioritize enrolled children returning for a new school year against newly enrolling children when slots are limited;(b) All…

(1) The department will establish and manage the ECEAP prioritization system based on priority points attributed to all children who are eligible or allowed for enrollment.(2) ECEAP contractors and providers must prioritize children for funded and available ECEAP slots when:(a) T…

The department:(1) Will:(a) Maintain statewide limits of slots for children that exceed SMI eligibility. Limits are set at:(i) Ten percent of the total statewide enrollment for children that meet criteria in RCW 43.216.505; or(ii) Twenty-five percent for ECEAP sites operated by s…

The department will maintain the ECEAP statewide limit for allowed and early entry children as outlined in:(1) RCW 43.216.505;(2) RCW 43.216.512; and(3) RCW 43.216.513.[Statutory Authority: 2025 cc 109, 412, 253, RCW 43.216.065, 43.216.512, 43.216.513, and 43.216.525. WSR 26-07-0…

ECEAP contractors and providers:(1) Must:(a) Maintain adequate staff to comply with the ECEAP performance standards and contract requirements;(b) Hire and employ staff who meet the qualifications for their position;(c) Place newly hired individuals not meeting the minimum qualifi…

The Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, chapter 388-02 WAC, and this chapter govern the proceeding. The provisions in this chapter govern if a conflict exists in chapter 388-02 WAC. Chapter 34.05 RCW is the overall governing authority.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § …

Within the limits of available financial resources, the department provides placement services to children according to the following ordered priorities:(1) The department must place children who urgently need protection from child abuse or neglect (CA/N) if the department has le…

Children's administration (CA) social workers must place only those children who meet the criteria for child protective services (CPS), family reconciliation services (FRS), or child welfare services as defined in RCW 74.13.020. Children in situations outlined below do not meet t…

(1) When a teen parent and infant reside in the same facility, the infant's "home" is considered to be the infant's parent's home. Maintenance payments for the teen parent must be increased to provide for the maintenance of the infant. A legal authorization-to-be-placed is not re…

(1) The department may provide licensed foster care for a child with physical or mental disabilities when requested by a school district and in concurrence with the wishes of the parents, in accordance with WAC 388-25-0030.(2) The department will not make the payment when the onl…

The placement goal for the foster care program is to limit the number of all children who remain in care in excess of twenty-four months to no more than thirty-five percent of the foster care population.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-50-0050, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18.…

A child's parent may sign a Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA), DSHS 09-004B(X), to voluntarily place a child in foster care. The consent for voluntary placement must agree with child welfare services as described under RCW 74.13.031. The consent becomes valid when signed by a r…

(1) If alternative placement resources, including social supports in the family home, have been considered and eliminated; and(2) The department agrees that the child needs to be placed; then(3) A child's parent may sign a consent for voluntary placement of a child in foster care…

A voluntary placement must last no longer than one hundred eighty days. By the end of one hundred eighty days, the child must return to the child's parent or guardian unless the juvenile court has made a judicial determination that:(1) Return to the parent or guardian is contrary…

(1) The DCFS regional administrator or the regional administrator's designee may grant exceptions to the one hundred eight-day limit on voluntary placements only:(a) If the department conducts an administrative review fulfilling the requirements of Title 42, United States Code (U…

The department must comply with the interstate compact on the placement of children (ICPC) in the interstate placement of children (see chapter 26.34 RCW).[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-50-0100, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.13.031. WSR 01-08-0…

The department or a child placing agency uses receiving homes to place a child in a licensed family foster home on a temporary, emergent, or interim basis to provide sufficient time for the development of a plan. This planning includes the involvement of the child, the child's pa…

There are two types of receiving homes: Regular and specialized. Each type of home provides the following services:(1) Regular receiving homes for children age birth through age seventeen; and(2) Specialized receiving homes for children who require more intensive supervision than…

Each DCFS regional administrator must decide on the number of receiving homes needed for the regional administrators' respective geographical areas.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-50-0130, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.13.031. WSR 01-08-047, § 3…

(1) The department limits a child's maximum length of stay in a receiving home:(a) Maximum length of stay for regular receiving homes is thirty consecutive days per placement;(b) Maximum length of stay for specialized receiving homes is fifteen-consecutive days per placement.(2) …

The current reimbursement rates, effective July 1, 2000, to receiving homes are:Type of HomeMonthly Retention Fee - Per BedDaily Rate per Child in CareRegular receiving (all ages)$51.12$19.06Special receiving, ages 12-17$102.99$26.08[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-50-0150, fi…

(1) The DCFS regional administrator or the administrator's designee may authorize payments in excess of the standard for individual child-specific situations. The department may, within available funds, purchase clothing and personal incidentals for the child in receiving home ca…

The following definitions apply to relatives and suitable persons placements:"Department" means the Washington state department of children, youth, and families."Relatives" means the same as defined in RCW 13.36.020(5), described in RCW 74.15.020(2), or caregivers of Indian child…

(1) The department must search for appropriate relatives or suitable persons for placement, prior to placing children or youth in foster homes when the department determines that they need to be placed in out-of-home care.(2) The department must assess the following when selectin…

The department must follow WAC 110-04-0120 when assessing background checks for relatives and suitable persons requesting to be a placement option for children and youth.[Statutory Authority: Chapters 13.34, 74.13, 74.15 RCW, and 45 C.F.R. ss 1355 and 1356. WSR 25-12-071, s 110-5…

(1) Caseworkers may assist unlicensed relatives and suitable persons that need financial support to care for children or youth to apply for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) through the department of social and health services (DSHS) local community services office (…

(1) The department acknowledges a continuing relationship between relatives of specified degree and children who are legally free where the relatives choose to continue a relationship with the child and the continuing relationship is in the best interest of the child (see RCW 74.…

(1) The department may serve a child through the behavior rehabilitation services (BRS) program only when the CA social worker has assessed the child's and family's needs and determined that rehabilitative services are necessary and that this is the most appropriate placement for…

The department has the authority to remove the child after at least seventy-two hours notice to the child care provider. The department may waive notice in emergency situations or when a court has issued an order changing a child's placement.[WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-50…

The department requires CPAs to:(1) Be licensed or certified under chapter 74.15 RCW.(2) Have a contract with the department to provide child or youth placement and related services. The department will only place and pay for services to an agency that the department has a contra…

For licensed or certified CPAs under chapter 74.15 RCW:(1) The department:(a) Must:(i) Determine initial and ongoing eligibility for financial support;(ii) Approve placements before making payments;(iii) Pay a monthly service fee if the agency provides services that are in additi…

The department must monitor CPAs' compliance with their contract. If a CPA is found out of compliance with their contract, DCYF:(1) Contracts managers must follow the sanctions included in the contract with the department and the CPA.(2) Caseworkers must:(a) Notify the fiduciary …

Within seventy-two hours after a child enters care, a shelter care hearing must be held. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are excluded in the seventy-two-hour requirement. A court order must be obtained to keep a child in shelter care for longer than thirty days.[WSR 18-14-078, re…