3.20.20 Foster Home and Provisional Expedited Licenses

Applies to:  This policy applies to Licensing Division (LD) workers.

Chapter Number & Title:  20. Foster Care 

Policy Number & Title:  3.20.20. Foster Home and Provisional Expedited Licenses

Effective Date:  July 1, 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on how Licensing Division (LD):

  • Issues:
    • Foster home licenses to individuals requesting to care for unrelated children or youth in out-of-home care.
    • Provisional expedited foster home licenses to individuals when the criteria is met.
  • Re-evaluates foster homes to safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of children in out-of-home care by assessing and monitoring their adherence to minimum licensing requirements (MLR).
  • Completes no referrals on licensed homes. 

Authority

RCW 43.20A.205  Denial, suspension, revocation, or modification of license
RCW 74.13.260  Site monitoring program
Chapter 74.15 RCW  Care of children, expectant mothers, persons with developmental disabilities.
Chapter 110-148 WAC  Licensing Requirements for Child Foster Homes

Policy

  1. LD workers must complete the following:
    1. When individuals apply for foster home licenses:
      1. Verify foster home licenses and renewals are:
        1. Issued for a maximum of three years minus one day.
        2. Approved, withdrawn, or denied in writing.
      2. Discuss the importance of supporting and affirming the children’s or youth’s relational and cultural needs.
      3. Follow these policies:
        1. DCYF Administrative 6.03 Access to Services for Individuals with Disabilities to provide:
          1. Public Notice of Nondiscrimination DCYF ADM_0026 publication to foster care applicants.
          2. Services to individuals with disabilities, if applicable.
        2. Completing Home Studies to complete the home study.
      4. Confirm the chapter 110-148 WAC requirements are:
        1. Met before a foster license is issued.
        2. Maintained throughout the duration of the license.
    2. When individuals apply for provisional expedited foster home licenses verify the applicants meet the requirements in RCW 74.15.127. If so:
      1. Issue the provisional expedited license within 40 calendar days of the date the application was received.
      2. Complete the home study and approve the full license within 90 calendar days of the issuance of the provisional expedited license.
    3. For no referrals:
      1. Place foster homes on no referrals when either:
        1. It is agreed to or requested by the licensee.
        2. There is a WAC violation, and the investigation determines a no referral is needed.
      2. Send the applicable form to the licensees:
        1. Notice of No Referral Letter DCYF 10-801 when involuntary no referrals are placed on foster homes.
        2. Notice of Lifted/Rescinded No Referral Status Letter DCYF 10-800 when determined no referrals are no longer needed.
  2. LD supervisors must approve or deny the foster care licenses in FamLink.

Forms

Foster Home and Provisional Expedited Licenses 

Notice of Lifted/Rescinded No Referral Status Letter DCYF 10-800 (located in the Forms repository on the DCYF intranet)

Notice of No Referral Letter 10-801 (located in the Forms repository on the DCYF intranet)

Resources

Completing Home Studies policy

DCYF Administrative 6.03 Access to Services for Individuals with Disabilities policy

Public Notice of Nondiscrimination DCYF ADM_0026 publication

Use of Administrative Approvals, Waivers, and Relative Non-Safety Exemptions policy

Original Date: October 15, 2024

Revised Date: July 1, 2025

Review Date:  July 31, 2029

Approved by:  Ruben Reeves, Assistant Secretary of Licensing Division