Project Updates

DCYF is currently soliciting service contractors to serve catchment areas 9-14 through a Request for Application process. Caregiver Support service contracts will begin in catchment areas 9, 10, 11, and 12 starting Nov. 1, 2025. Catchment areas 13 and 14 will begin April 1, 2026. More information is available in the roll out schedule under the ‘When will Caregiver Supports Be Available in My area?’ section of this page.

Background

Phase two of the Caregiver Supports Project is the implementation of a new Caregiver Supports Contract to provide Placement Supports to both licensed and unlicensed caregivers, including relative and kin caregivers. The Caregiver Supports Contracts will be awarded to contractors through a bidding process and the contracts will be executed by catchment areas with implementations starting in mid-2024 and all catchment area contracts executed statewide in 2026. The contracts will roll out according to an implementation plan that is based on capacity to provide services and allowed Legislative project funding for the next few years. 

Caregiver Support Types 

DCYF is excited to share that all caregivers have two different resources available for support, a local Caregiver Supports catchment Contractor (you'll find all important information on this page) and the Alliance Caregiver Retention, Education, and Support (CaRES) program.

Both services support caregiver retention by providing support and resources. Caregiver Supports are tied to a young person being placed in your home and are based on the young person’s support level. CaRES is available at all points in a caregivers’ fostering journey, and the same resources are available before, during, and after placement.

Behavioral Case Aide Hours

DCYF Caregivers who accept placement of children and youth whose support level are between 3 and 7, will have access to pre-authorized (automatic referral) Behavioral Case Aide hours based on the caregiver support level determined through an assessment process by the regional Placement Resource Specialist. The breakdown of Behavioral Case Aide hours per month shown in the table:

​What Supports will be Provided to Caregivers?

• Education advocacy
• Health and well-being coordination
• Child care support
• Culturally and developmentally appropriate care
• Transition to adulthood
• Developing specific behavioral strategies
• Crisis supports
• Case Aide Hours: Pre-authorized Case Aide hours up to a certain amount will also be available to caregivers who have placement of a child whose support level falls between 3 and 7.

When will Caregiver Supports Be Available in My Area?

DCYF will award one Caregiver Supports Contract per catchment area. Tribes have the option to serve their own Tribal jurisdiction children, have the area provider serve their children and caregivers, or opt out of services. Please see the current Caregiver Support Services implementation schedule below.

Catchment Area Providers and Timeline

Providers are currently available for the following counties, with more to come in November 2025:

Clark, Cowlitz, King, Klickitat, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Lincoln, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima

What are Contractors Required to Do?

Following placement of a DCYF child or youth and based on the location of the caregiver’s residence, the area Contractor will reach out to the caregiver within 72 hours of receiving authorization of services. 

Contractors will also reach out to the assigned DCYF case worker to review and consult about any assistance the caregiver may need in meeting the unique needs of the child or youth placed in their home. 

When a caregiver accepts caregiver support services from the area Contractor, the area Contractor is tasked with facilitating the creation of the Caregiver Support Plan within 60 days of the initial contact with the caregiver and DCYF Case Worker.