Washington is one of the leading states in kinship care, which is the full-time care of a child by extended family or suitable others.
As of June 2026, nearly 59% of children in out-of-home care in Washington state are placed with kin compared to nationally where only 39% of all children in foster care are in the care of kin according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).
Kinship care has many benefits for children and youth in out-of-home care (foster care) and is celebrated every September during Kinship Month. According to a Campbell Systematic Review summarizing more than 100 studies on kinship care, those being cared for by family have a:
- 49% lower likelihood of mental health disorders
- 50% lower likelihood of poor overall wellbeing
- 48% lower likelihood of a disrupted/failed placement
We also know that kinship care promotes lower substance use, children and youth tend to spend less time in foster care when they are cared for by relatives or suitable others and they are more likely to remain in the same placement as their siblings.
The Agor family in Kitsap County are a perfect example of how kinship care can help keep youth connected to their community and culture. Watch their video to learn more.
Shifting to a “Kin-First” Culture
In July 2025, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) launched new licensing standards that made it easier for relatives to become licensed caregivers, which provides additional supports to care for children and youth in foster care.
Now nearly 70% of Washington state’s kinship caregivers are fully licensed which qualifies them for all the supports of a typical foster parent.
The new Kinship Licensing Standards included 50% less forms for applicants to fill out. The new standards also established a kinship home study with less questions than the current community foster care licensing process.
Prior to these standards, relatives were still able to get licensed, but many of the questions and forms were repetitive and did not apply to a kin-specific situation. This new process was tailored for relatives and removed barriers that often-discouraged them from attaining a license while maintaining the same level of safety for the children and youth involved.
“Our job as an agency is to foster safety, stability, and better outcomes for the children we serve,” said DCYF Deputy Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare, Renata Rhodes. “Based on local and national data, prioritizing kinship care and supporting kinship caregivers, whenever possible, is a great way for us to do that.”
