Background
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families will replace the current four-level rate assessment system with a new, seven-level caregiver supports model beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Each Caregiver Supports Level is associated with foster care payment rates for licensed caregivers and placement support services available to all licensed and unlicensed caregivers.
When children and youth enter care, DCYF staff will gather information from multiple sources such as the youth, parent, other significant people in the child’s or youth’s life etc., to determine the support needs of the child or youth.
Review the FAQ document for more information about the project:
New Caregiver Supports Rate Assessment (Effective Jan. 1, 2024)
The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) will be updated to reflect the new seven level system and process. There are upcoming opportunities to review the changes and comment on them.
Rate Assessment Timelines
The timelines for completing rate assessments will also be changing. DCYF staff will make an initial assessment within the first seven days. Next, we will validate that level using information about the youth that we will get from Health Care Authority information.
- If a caregiver believes information about the child's needs was not considered in a level determination, they can appeal to make sure that information is reviewed and considered.
Caregivers can request rate determination review at any time there is a change in circumstances or a new diagnosis.
Payments
Caregivers licensed by a child placing agency (CPA) will be paid directly by DCYF.
Find information about signing up for Direct Deposit or the Provider Portal in the Provider Payments Training document. The following presentations provide step-by-step directions:
Additional Provider Portal Information:
If you have questions about signing up for Direct Deposit or the Provider Portal or about claiming payments from DCYF, you may attend a Zoom session where a DCYF staff member will be available in real-time to answer questions.
Review the FAQ document for more information about provider payments:
Dec. 5, 2023 | 6 – 7 p.m.
DCYF Virtual Session – Caregiver Payments
Zoom link
Call-in number: 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 904 860 0952
2023 | 2024 |
---|---|
Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 | 6-7 p.m. | Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 | 6-7 p.m. |
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023 | 12-1 p.m. | Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 | 12-1 p.m. |
Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 | 6-7 p.m. | Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 | 6-7 p.m. |
Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 | 6-7 p.m. | Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 | 12-1 p.m. |
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 | 12-1 p.m. | |
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 | 6-7 p.m. | |
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 | 6-7 p.m. | |
Thursday March 28, 2024 | 12-1 p.m. |
Why are changes being made?
Our current rate assessment tool assesses the amount of time and energy caregivers spend parenting young people placed in their care, and it does not provide corresponding services or supports. DCYF is replacing the current 4-level rate assessment system with a new, 7-level caregiver supports model that aligns supports with known information about the child or youth. The Caregiver Supports Project will implement a continuum of new placement support resources that will:
- Increase access to caregiver supports and align supports to the diverse needs of children and youth in out-of-home placement.
- Increase resources for kinship caregivers, as all licensed and unlicensed caregivers will have access to standard supports.
- Increase placement stability by enhancing caregivers' preparedness to support children and youth placed in their care.
Address bias and racial inequality in the current system by implementing a data-informed, objective, and standard process to ensure caregivers have the resources and supports needed to care for a child based on the child's needs.
Tribal Engagement
DCYF is engaging with Tribal partners to understand the impacts of the Caregiver Supports Project for each Tribe and ensure a successful transition that best serves Tribal children and families. Efforts to engage and inform Tribes of the development of this project began at the ICW Sub-Committee meeting on Feb. 10, 2021, with subsequent presentations occurring on December 2022, July 2023, and September 2023.
Tribes have the option to do their own rate assessments on tribally dependent children and to provide placement supports to their own members instead of using a contracted provider in their catchment area. DCYF will engage in a formal consultation with Tribes to determine project impacts and engage Tribes in project implementation. There will be roundtables on Nov. 14, 2023 from 2 - 4 p.m. and Nov. 28, 2023 from 1 - 3 p.m. followed by the consultation on Dec. 12, 2023 from 2 - 4 p.m. For more information about this Tribal Consultation, email the Office of Tribal Relations at tribalrelations@dcyf.wa.gov.
If you would like to meet with DCYF to discuss the Caregiver Supports Project and impacts to your Tribe, email Mandy Morlin at mandy.morlin@dcyf.wa.gov.
Review the Tribal presentations available in the Previous Communications section below for additional information.
Previous Communication
November Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides
October Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides
September Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides
August Presentation (YouTube) | Presentation Slides