4310. Transitioning Youth for Successful Adulthood

Applies To: This policy applies to child welfare caseworkers.

Policy Number & Title 4310. Transitioning Youth for Successful Adulthood

Effective Date: June 9, 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on how to effectively engage, support, and prepare youth who are 12 years old and older by allowing their input into critical decisions that affect their lives through the development of a transition plan to successfully transition to adulthood by:

Continuing to develop their life skills.
Having permanent connections with a caring adult.
Having a voice and advocating for their needs.
Being able to seek out community resources.
Having access to continuing education and job readiness.

Authority

42 U.S.C. § 677 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood

PL 110-351 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

PL 111-148 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

PL 112-34 Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

PL 113-183 Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act

RCW 74.13.031 Duties of department-Child welfare services-Children's services advisory committee.

RCW 74.13.341 Transition plan-Planning services-Qualification for services provided by developmental disability administration.

RCW 74.13.540 Independent living services.

Policy

Caseworkers must:

Follow these DCYF Administrative policies:
1. 6.02 Access to Services for Clients and Caregivers who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) policy, when working with youth who are LEP.
2. 6.03 Access to Services for Individuals with Disabilities policy, when working with all individuals. 
Encourage youth engagement in their case planning throughout the life of the case, but active engagement is required for youth 14 years and older.
Begin transition planning to prepare youth for adulthood when they have been in out-of-home care for more than 30 calendar days, by completing the following for and with youth:
1. Twelve through 20 years old:
  1. Follow these policies:
    1. Court Report when developing report in consultation with them.
    2. Children and Youth Missing from Care, if applicable.
    3. Pregnant and Parenting Youth, if applicable.
  2. Twelve years old:
    1. Right to an Attorney
      1. Annually discuss youth’s right to an attorney if one is not already assigned. If they decline, continue to ask them whenever a motion or petition is filed that affects their placement, services, or familial relationships.
      2. Document youths’ decisions to request or decline an attorney in case notes and the court report.
    2. Rights as a Foster Youth
      Review and provide youth:
      1. In a developmentally appropriate manner the Your Rights, Your Life: A Resource for Youth in Foster Care DCYF CWP_0030 publication annually until they exit from foster care.
      2. The Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care DCYF 09-127 form annually and:
        Obtain their signature.
        Provide them with a copy.
        Upload into FamLink.
2. Fourteen years old and older:
  1. Encourage youth to identify two support people to be a part of their case planning team who are not their foster parent or caseworker when developing or updating their case plan.
  2. Annually provide youth with a copy of their consumer credit report until they leave foster care and assist them with:
    1. Interpreting the report.
    2. Identifying inaccuracies.
    3. Resolving identified inaccuracies.
  3. Begin transition planning discussions during:
    1. Monthly health and safety visits.
    2. SPMs.
3. Fifteen years old and older:
  1. At 15 years old, follow the Extended Foster Care (EFC) Program policy to inform them of the EFC Program.
  2. Discuss the Independent Living Program and make a referral when they are both:
    1. Dependent.
    2. In an out-of-home placement for at least 30 calendar days.
  3. Collect the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Elements provided to the youth in FamLink.
4. Sixteen years old:
  1. Conduct a 16.5 SPM for youth between 16 and 16.5 years old who are or may be eligible for Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) services. This includes:
    1. Inviting required representatives in RCW 74.13.341.
    2. Assisting them in applying for developmental disability services when identified during the SPM and determined eligible.
  2. Discuss youth’s wishes to reconnect with their biological family, if applicable. If they wish to reconnect, assist them with:
    1. Skills and strategies to successfully and safely reconnect.
    2. Guidance and affirmation of their intent to reconnect.
    3. Reconnecting with biological family members when safe and appropriate.
5. Seventeen through 20 years old:
  1. Inform youth and their caregiver about the NYTD survey for youth 17, 19, and 21 years old.
  2. Conduct a Multidisciplinary Meeting (17.5) when youth are between 17 and 17.5 years old and:
    1. Invite the required state agency representatives in RCW 74.13.341.
    2. During the SPM, complete the Transition Plan for Youth Exiting Care DCYF 15-417 form to develop or update the youth’s transition plan with them that includes, but not limited to, the following information:
      1. Providing assistance and support them in the areas outlined in 42 U.S.C. 675.
      2. The EFC program and providing them with a copy of the Interested in Extended Foster Care? CWP_0003 publication.
      3. How they may access their case record after exiting foster care.
    3. When the Transition Plan for Youth Exiting Care DCYF 15-417 form is complete:
      1. Obtain youth’s signature and provide the youth with a copy of the form.
      2. Upload the signed form into FamLink.
      3. Attach a copy of the form to the court report.
    4. Revisit the transition plan with the youth until they exit foster care at 18 years old or the EFC program during:
      1. SPMs.
      2. Health and safety visits.
6. Prior to the youth’s 18th birthday and throughout the life of the case, as needed, provide the following items and information to them:
  1. Certified or original birth certificate.
  2. Social Security card.
  3. State issued photo identification, per the Washington State Identicard, Instruction Permit, and Personal Driver's License for Foster Youth policy.
  4. Copies of all medical and education records.
  5. Health insurance card.
  6. A copy of the Dependent / Ward of the Court Verification Letter DCYF 09-056 form to prove they were previously in foster care.State issued photo identification, per the Washington State Identicard, Instruction Permit, and Personal Driver's License for Foster Youth policy.
  7. Copies of all medical and education records.
  8. Health insurance card.
  9. A copy of the Dependent / Ward of the Court Verification Letter DCYF 09-056 form to prove they were previously in foster care.
7. Eighteen through 20 years old, follow the EFC policy, if applicable.