Applies To: This policy applies to child welfare employees.
Policy Number & Title: 45172. End-of-Life Care
Effective Date: July 1, 2024
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance when a child’s or youth’s medical provider makes a recommendation to begin making end-of-life decisions for a dependent child or youth in out-of-home care. This policy does not apply to a child in tribal custody or youth in Extended Foster Care.
Authority
RCW 74.13.031 Duties of the department, child welfare services and children’s services advisory committee
Policy
- When a child’s or youth’s medical provider makes a recommendation to begin making end-of-life decisions for hospice or the issuance of a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order caseworkers must:
- Immediately notify their supervisor and the regional medical consultant (RMC). The supervisor may notify the area administrator, as applicable. Notify the following individuals of the medical provider’s recommendations:
- Child’s or youth’s parents and parent’s attorney, if the child or youth is not legally-free
- Assistant attorney general (AAG)
- Child’s or youth’s out-of-home caregiver
- Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)
- Child’s or youth’s attorney, if assigned
- Document efforts made to locate the parent in FamLink if the parent of the child or youth cannot be located.
- Contact the child’s or youth’s tribe if there is reason to know a child is or may be an Indian child to determine their role in making end-of-life decisions.
- Conduct a shared planning meeting if any party to the case disagrees with the medical provider’s recommendations
- Assist the child’s or youth’s family and caregivers to identify community-based services and supports that address grief and loss.
- Immediately notify their supervisor and the regional medical consultant (RMC). The supervisor may notify the area administrator, as applicable. Notify the following individuals of the medical provider’s recommendations:
- AAG consultation is required if organ donation is proposed.
Resources
End-of-Life Care procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules SharePoint)
Indian Child Welfare Reason to Know policy
Shared Planning Meetings policy
Original Date: October 31, 2016
Revised Date: July 1, 2024
Review Date: July 31, 2028
Approved by: Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Division