Department of Children, Youth & Families

Applies To: This policy applies to Child Welfare (CW) caseworkers

Policy Number & Title: 3100. Family Reconciliation Services

Effective Date: March 2, 2026

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to CW caseworkers who deliver Family Reconciliation Services (FRS) to:

Maintain the family unit and avoid out-of-home placement.
Resolve conflict through referrals for services, At Risk Youth (ARY), or Child in Need of Service (CHINS) petitions.

Authority

Chapter 13.32A RCW Family Reconciliation Act
RCW 43.185C.290 Youth services-Child admitted to secure facility-Maximum hours of custody-Evaluation for semi-secure facility or release to department of social and health services-Parental right to remove child-reconciliation effort-Information to parent and child-Written statement of services and rights-Crisis residential center immunity from liability
RCW 43.185C.315 Youth services-HOPE centers-Establishment-Requirements
RCW 43.330.724 Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care-Housing stability for youth in crisis pilot programs
RCW 43.330.726 Youth supports and housing-Community support teams

Policy

CW caseworkers must:

Complete the following when intakes are received for FRS:
1. Contact the youth ages 12 through 17 years old and their parents or guardians within 24 hours of being assigned the case, excluding weekends and holidays, to offer FRS services.
2. Close the case if youth and family decline FRS.
3. Provide FRS to the youth and family even if they are already involved in a Community Support Team (CST) and they have agreed to continue working with FRS.
4. Offer and refer youth and their families to appropriate community and in-home services.
5. Complete family assessments with the involvement of a multidisciplinary team, if applicable, when:
  1. Youth, parents, or guardians have requested CHINS or ARY petition.
  2. The criteria outlined in RCW 13.32A.140 is met and it has been determined a CHINS petition needs to be filed.
6. Assist parents, guardians, or youth with filing ARY petitions.
7. File CHINS petitions on behalf of the youth to request the court approve an out-of-home placement when the criteria outlined in RCW 13.32A.140 is met and:
  1. A dependency is not being pursued.
  2. The parents or guardians have not filed an ARY petition.
Complete the following for FRS youth who are:
1. Being sheltered in a crisis residential center, facility, or specialized home without the permission of their parents or guardians:
  1. Contact the youth within 24 hours.
  2. Make a good faith attempt to notify the parents or guardians that a report was received within 24 hours after contacting the youth.
2. Seeking or receiving protected health care services:
  1. Provide resources.
  2. Offer to make referrals, including but not limited to:
    1. Behavioral services
    2. Reproductive services
    3. Gender-affirming care
Provide FRS when requested by the youth, family, or program when the youth are:
1. Being housed in a juvenile detention center and family conflict exists.
2. Identified through the housing stability for youth in crisis program as outlined in RCW 43.330.724.