4517. Health Care Services for Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care

Applies To: This policy applies to DCYF child welfare employees.

Policy Number & Title: 4517. Health Care Services for Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care

Effective Date: July 1, 2024

Purpose

This policy provides guidance on verifying children and youth in out-of-home placement receive routine and necessary health care to meet their health and well-being needs, including, but not limited to:

  • Initial Health Screens to identify and address emergent medical needs at the time of placement.
  • Required Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) visits.
  • Immunizations.
  • Mental health services.
  • Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services.
  • Dental examinations.

Authority

42 CRR Part 441(B)  Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) of Individuals Under Age 21

RCW 9.02.110   Right to have and provide

Chapter 13.34 RCW   Juvenile Court Act-Dependency and Termination of Parent-Child Relationship

RCW 13.34.060  Shelter care-Placement-Custody-Duties of parties 

RCW 13.34.069  Shelter care-Order and authorizations of health care and education records 

RCW 13.34.315  Health care-Evaluation and treatment

RCW 74.14A.050   Identification of children in a state-assisted support system-Program development for long-term care-Foster care caseload-Emancipation of minors study

WAC 182-534-0100  EPSDT

Policy

  1. Caseworkers must:
    1. Prior to the shelter care hearing:
      1. Inform parents or guardians, before authorizing evaluations and treatment for children’s and youth’s routine and necessary health care appointments, i.e., Initial Health Screens, physical or emotional health, emergency care, and dental, unless they cannot be reached.
      2. Provide parents and guardians the opportunity to attend any health care appointments, unless prohibited by a court order.
    2. Throughout the life of the case:
      1. Make reasonable efforts to allow parents and guardians an opportunity to attend health care appointments, unless prohibited by a court order.
      2. Identify and address the children’s and youth’s health care needs and appointments, including, but not limited to their:
        1. Physical health.
        2. Mental health. Youth age 13 and older:
          1. May obtain mental health treatment on their own.
          2. Must provide consent for DCYF to access their mental health records.
        3. Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment:
          1. Youth 13 and older may obtain SUD treatment on their own.
          2. Children and youth of any age must provide consent for DCYF to access their SUD records.
        4. Dental care
        5. Treatment recommendations
  2. Child health and education tracking (CHET) screeners must follow, the:
    1. CHET handbook for notification to caseworkers of the child’s or youth’s scheduled health appointments
    2. CHET policy for the required EPSDT visits for children and youth when they are placed in out-of-home care.

Resources

Child Health and Education tracking (CHET) policy

Health Care Services for Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules SharePoint) 

Original Date: September 27, 1995

Revised Date: July 1, 2024

Review Date:  July 31, 2028

Approved by:  Vickie Ybarra, Assistant Secretary of Partnership, Prevention, and Services Division