News Archive

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:

More Information

Pre-Application Form

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.

December 8, 2006
Life Book for Foster Parents and Caregivers
Foster Parents and Caregivers, Check out this handy little life book to help keep childhood memories for the children in your care.

November 21, 2006
Announcing the release of “Back On Track”, a film for youth in care

This film is designed to empower youth in care with information about the legal process, available services, and scholarship opportunities.

The script was based on input from focus groups with current and former foster youth, court personnel, CA staff and legal counsel and other child welfare stakeholders.

Topics include the laws that guide child welfare in Washington State, tips on thriving in out-of-home care, permanency planning and the ISSP, the Child Welfare Team, and educational resources for college and/or vocational school.

View “Back on Track” on the video training page

October 13, 2006
Foster Parent and Caregiver Conference - Workshop Overviews
The annual Foster Parent and Caregiver Conference took place in Spokane, September 17–19th with the theme “Plant A Dream, Grow A Child.” Participants were able to select from nearly 40 workshops. Learn more about the workshops...

October 13, 2006
Free Online Training
Train from the convenience of your home. Pierce College, in collaboration with Children’s Administration, offers free training for all licensed foster parents and for kinship care providers. Learn about their Blackboard System for online learning at www.pierce.ctc.edu/Distance/ofpe/index.php

August 4, 2006
Foster Parent and Caregivers Conference
The Foster Parent and Caregivers Conference will be September 17-18 in Spokane. Registration information has been sent. For a more detailed look at the workshops, please click here.

August 3, 2006
Applying for the NEW Foster Care to 21
Youth who are interested in the Foster Care to 21 program must complete an application in order to be considered and accepted into the program. This includes youth who have had their foster care extended under the Interim Continuing Foster Care Policy. Read more...

August 2, 2006
It's My Life Annual Conference
An anticipated 650 youth in foster care, alumni, caregivers, and practitioners will gather for the fourth annual It's My Life conference from October 29-31, 2006 in Seattle, Washington. Read more...

July 19, 2006
Foster Youth & Alumni Leadership Summit
October 7 & 8, 2006

Current and former foster youth ages 14 to 24 and their supporters will:

Discuss the stigma related to growing up in foster care.
Learn to use their voice effectively.
Establish local youth and alumni action groups to address issues important to them.
Identify pressing issues to discuss with state policy makers.

SERVICES

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