SERVICES

News Archive

August 31, 2009
New Training Resource for Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers
Are you caring for a child who has one or more parents in prison or jail? This is a reality for many children in out of home or relative placement. Did you know that even if a parent is incarcerated, they still need to be provided court-ordered services such as visitation? How can you work effectively with social workers and birth parents on this issue, while ensuring that the child(ren) in your care receive the support and services they need? These and many other questions are addressed through a new online video training called Working Effectively with Children of the Incarcerated, their Parents and Caregivers.

July 31, 2009
Are you ready for a heat wave?
Here's what you can do to prepare

July 23, 2009
New Training about Sexually Aggressive Youth and Physically Assaultive/Aggressive Youth
Read the flyer

June 5, 2009
Time is running out!
Please help spread the word and get all our foster youth signed up for the College Bound Scholarship Program.

All foster children in the 7th and 8th grade can sign up for this program to receive a scholarship to go to college. And this year only, until June 30, 2009, all 9th graders can sign up as well.

This is a fantastic program and we don't want our foster children to pass it up. Our goal is to ensure that all foster children are signed up.

June 4, 2009
Foster families get free camp sites in Washington state parks
Foster children and their caregivers can enjoy big savings while camping in Washington state parks, because of a program established by the Legislature last year. Read more...

May 18, 2009
Great News! Now accepting applications for the Foster Care to 21 program! We are again providing foster care for youth pursuing postsecondary education up to age 21. Slots are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. Send or fax the application packet to:

Jim Pritchard, Foster Care to 21 Program Manager
Children's Administration
1115 Washington Street SE
P.O. Box 45710
Olympia, WA 98505-5710
MS: 45710
Ph: (360) 902-8487 | Fax: (360) 902-7903

Get the program forms and more info...

April 15, 2009
Free Webinar Training
The Youth Suicide Prevention Program is offering a series of free Webinar training. (1 hour per module)

Read the webinar details

April 7, 2009
GEAR UP
Caregivers, start getting your youth ready for post secondary education by grade 6! Use the GEAR UP materials to help guide and prepare your young person for higher education, be it college or trade school. Remember, the sky is the limit, if they GEAR UP!”

May 1, 2009
Calling all young artists! (K-12th grade)
Many Faces of Family Poster Project - Help Seattle Art Museum celebrate how diverse our families can be. Who takes care of you? What does your family look like? The poster you make in response to these questions will be displayed in a space dedicated to community building and celebrating how young people see their worlds.

Guidelines

Submission Form

April 27, 2009
Swine Flu Information
The Washington state Department of Health is in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding swine influenza in parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Go to Department of Health website

April 27, 2009
Foster Care Month Celebration
When: May 13, 2009 - 1:00 to 3:00
Where: Capitol Campus in the Colombia Room in the Legislative Building
This year’s theme: "As You Light the Path for Others, So is Your Path Lit".

Children's Administration is hosting the annual National Foster Care Month Celebration. This year's program will include:

• Celebration of all caregivers
• Special guest speakers
• Cake provided by “Free Cakes for Kids” and other refreshments
• Entertainment (TBD)
• Each guest will receive a copy of the Governors Proclamation and National Foster Care Month blue ribbon

April 7, 2009
College Bound Scholarship Program
All foster children in the 7th and 8th grade can sign up for this program to receive a scholarship to go to college. And this year only, until June 30, 2009, all 9th graders can sign up as well.

This is a fantastic program and we don't want our foster children to pass it up. Our goal is to ensure that all foster children are signed up.

March 20, 2009
Make It Happen: The College Experience
The deadline for youth to apply for Make It Happen: The College Experience is April 28,2009. Learn more about this exciting program for foster youth going into 10th, 11th or 12th grades.

Summer 2009 Application

March 16, 2009
Camp To Belong Application Deadline Approaches
The deadline is Wednesday March 25 for applications to Camp To Belong, which reunites siblings separated due to out of home care. Please apply now for kids you think would benefit.
Camp To Belong 2009 Application

March 11, 2009
Na-ha-shnee
Native American Health Sciences Summer Camp
June 21 - June 27, 2009
Native American high school students are invited to spend a week at Washington State University in Spokane experiencing the Health Science degree programs such as nursing, medicine, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy, speech and hearing, and exercise physiology. The application deadline is May 1, 2009.

Application and information

February 25, 2009
A Message to Service Providers
FamLink is here! The new Child Welfare Information System for Washington State went live on Sunday, February 1. A variety of resources are available to assist you with any questions you may have. Read more...

February 18, 2009
Send Your Kids to Camp To Belong!
Fill out the application for Camp To Belong 2009, and reunite siblings in a summer camp setting. Up to 75 Washington kids separated due to out of home care will be sent to camp this year so send in your applications by March 25.

Camp To Belong 2009 Application

October 6, 2008
Pet Warning
Advice against young children keeping hedgehogs, hamsters, baby chicks, lizards or turtles because of disease risk.

September 30, 2008
Intensive Home Resource Pilot
CA is implementing an Intensive Home Resource Pilot, the KEEP program, in Yakima and Clark counties. This training pilot offers skill-building and related support for licensed foster parents.

Read the flyer

View the PowerPoint

August 27, 2008
New Policy Requirements
Effective September 1, 2008 - Parent-Child-Sibling Visits
Read more...

June 24, 2008
Does your foster youth need an identification card?
An identicard is a Washington state identification card issued through the Department of Licensing. It is a valid piece of identification that can be used for many purposes:

• taking GED
• employment
• getting a SSN or birth certificate
• getting a passport
• housing
• enrolling in post secondary institutions
• civic responsibility (stopped by police)
• joining organizations
• opening a bank account, cashing checks, etc.

August 18, 2008
Register for the 26th Annual Foster Care & Caregiver Conference
This year's conference will be held September 21-23, 2008 in Yakima, WA at the Yakima Convention Center. Read more...

June 10, 2008
Free Campsite Program
Foster children and children who live with relative caregivers are entitled to free campsites in Washington state parks. Campsite fees, which range between $20 and $37 a night, are waived for qualifying families. The reservation fee of $7 to $9 still applies.

Read the letter from Cheryl Stephani

June 10, 2008
Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit
Foster youth and alumni are invited to apply for the third annual Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit. Read more...

May 6, 2008
2008 Foster Parent Caregiver Conference
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
This is a scholarship application only and does not automatically register you for the Conference.

Event Dates: Sunday, September 21st – Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

Event Location: Yakima Convention Center – Yakima, Washington

Scholarship Application

May 2, 2008
May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month
Cheryl Stephani’s May 2 message to Children’s staff

April 21, 2008
Early Learning Survey Results
Last fall Children’s Administration asked the Social and Economic Services Science Center at Washington State University (SESRC-WSU) to conduct an early learning survey of foster parents and caregivers with children ages birth to five in their care. The goal of the survey was to gather information about the types of early learning and child care services that caregivers are using.

We now have the survey results back from SESRC-WSU. If you have any questions please contact Karen Sporn (360) 902-8074 or email clak300@dshs.wa.gov.

Executive Summary

Full Report

April 7, 2008
Washington is Working to Recruit More Foster Parents Like You - You Can Too…

April 4, 2008
May is National Foster Care Month

Washington will celebrate their contribution on May 6, 2008

March 17, 2008
Caregivers To Our Kids
We need your input. What additional training would you like to see available in our classrooms and on our training website? Drop us a line at zoca300@dshs.wa.gov so that the Resource Family Training Institute can better serve you!

February 14, 2008
Send Kids to Camp To Belong
45 young people from Washington will be sent this June to Camp To Belong, which reunites siblings separated because one or more of them are living in out of home care. Get more information about this great experience and fill out an application.

For more information about camp and how to help support it financially go to www.ctbnorthwest.org.

February 13, 2008
Revised Braam Implementation Plan Proposal
Children's Administration has formally requested that the Braam Panel consider amending the terms of the implementation plan.
Letter from Cheryl Stephani to stakeholders | Revised Braam Proposal

February 5, 2008
We need your vote!
We would like your feedback on several possible logos and slogans for a new marketing campaign to recruit foster parents. The ideas have been developed by foster parents, Children’s Administration staff and experts who work on marketing and developing effective messages.
Please click on the link below and vote for the logo and slogan you prefer. We will take feedback until Feb. 20.

Vote for the logo and slogan

February 4, 2008
Are you taking the opportunity to be heard? Do you know who your regional foster parent representatives are?
Are you attending the regional quarterly consultation meetings with other foster parents and Children’s Administration staff?

Get more information

January 10, 2008
Scholarship Opportunity for High School Seniors!
Apply now for the Washington State Governors’ Scholarship. This scholarship helps foster youth emancipating from state, tribal or federally recognized foster group or kinship care to enroll in and complete degrees or certificates at eligible colleges in Washington.

Common Application 2008

Get more information

January 10, 2008
Think you can’t afford college? Think college is not for you? Think again!
Apply to Make it Happen! An all expense paid summer program for Washington State foster youth to experience college life. They will learn to:

• How to apply for financial aid
• Attend workshops on how to apply to college
• Participate in fun activities
• Live in a college dorm for four days and three nights. All for FREE!

Frequently Asked Questions for Caregivers

November 14, 2007
Why Become a Caregiver?
Here's why... (Real Player, 5 min.)

November 14, 2007
DSHS Provider Survey
As a foster parent or caregiver, you provide services for DSHS clients here in Washington State. Your feedback and suggestions are needed to help us improve the DSHS website.

October 5, 2007
Improving Communications
The first statewide quarterly consultation will be on November 6, 2007. The purpose of the quarterly statewide consultation sessions is to improve communication between foster parents and Children's Administration centered on recruitment and retention of foster homes and effective foster parent training. Get more information...(pdf 70Kb)

September 20, 2007
Results of large-scale Foster Parent/Caregiver Survey
The results of the BRAAM Foster Parent/Caregiver Benchmark Survey were released on September 20, 2007. Read more...

September 20, 2007
25th ANNUAL FOSTER AND RELATIVE CARE CONFERENCE
"For These Are All Our Children"
We have had a great response to this year's conference and have reached our maximum capacity. As a result, we unfortunately will not be able to take any more registrations on line. This also means we will not be able to accommodate any onsite registration.

August 17, 2007
Raising Healthy Children During Challenging Times, Olympia, WA

August 16, 2007
Youth Exiting Foster Care May Still Be Eligible for Medicaid Benefits
In 2007, the Washington State legislature approved the extension of Medicaid benefits for 18 to 21 year olds exiting foster care. Read more...

August 6, 2007
Special Seattle Mariners Ticket Offer for Children's Administration DSHS at Safeco Field!
Join fellow foster and relative care providers and youth with Children's Administration at Safeco Field. Read more...

July 30, 2007
New Foster Care to College Website
The DSHS Children's Administration is excited to announce the launch of the new Foster Care to College website. Read more...

July 20, 2007
Cheryl Stephani reinforces our commitment to work together with foster/relative care providers and the community for the safety and well-being of children. Read letter to foster parents and relative caregivers...

July 20, 2007
25th Annual Foster Parent/Relative Caregivers Conference

June 18, 2007
Foster Parent Co-Trainers and Facilitators
If you are a foster parent and interested in helping to train other foster parents and caregivers, read this notice...

June 8, 2007
Foster Care Month Celebration
See the annual foster parent appreciation ceremony at the Capital, Olympia, WA. Watch Video...

June 4, 2007
Washington State Booster Seat Law
A new car seat law went into effect June 1, 2007. Please use child booster seats correctly. Learn more about proper use from the Washington State Booster Seat Coalition.

April 30, 2007
Celebrate the Passage of Child Welfare Legislation
Mockingbird Society and the ASK-Y Community Coalition celebrate their collaborative success in the passage of very important legislation affecting youth across Washington State! Read more...

April 12, 2007
May is National Foster Care Month!
You are invited to recognize people across the country that are helping vulnerable children build brighter futures...Read more

March 30, 2007
Braam Foster Parent and Relative Caregiver Telephone Survey, April 2007
Attention Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers!
If you are a Washington State foster parent or relative caregiver you will be receiving a letter from Washington State University (WSU) at the end of March about an important upcoming survey. Read more...

March 20, 2007
Camp To Belong
Children’s Administration will sponsor 25 campers in June for Camp To Belong, a five-day summer camp to reunite siblings separated because some or all of them are in out-of-home care. Get more information about this great camp experience and for the application form to be filled out:

March 20, 2007
Foster Parent/Caregiver Conference - Save the Date!
September 23 - 25, 2007
Ocean Shores Convention Center
Theme: "For These Are All Our Children" ~James Baldwin

Call for Presenters - You are invited to submit a proposal to be a presenter at the 2007 Foster Parent & Caregiver Conference!

February 3, 2006
Educational Advocacy Services for Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care
Beginning February 1, 2006, contracted Education Advocacy (EA) Coordinators will be stationed in all Regions. More info...

February 1, 2007
Make it Happen! The College Experience
This fun and informative program exposes foster youth to college life, scholarship resources, and more.

When: August 7-10, 2007
Where: University of Puget Sound

Application deadline is April 2, 2007. Youth should apply now.