September 21, 2023
Effective Oct. 1, 2023, DCYF will expand the availability of the initial license to any kinship caregiver who meets minimal requirements when a child is first placed in their home.
The initial license provides kinship caregivers with basic foster care maintenance payments for up to 90 days while completing the full kinship license requirements.
DCYF began to process initial licenses on July 1, 2023, for relative and suitable other (kinship) caregivers who passed minimal requirements and had a court-ordered request for the license at shelter-care hearings. Currently, the license is only available to children in Washington State in the care/custody of DCYF.
