Other paths in Washington:
AT A GLANCE
Dense — Family-based kinship arrangements common throughout Washington
Dense — Formal kinship support programs available through county DCFS and private agencies
2–6 months
Temporary to permanent kinship arrangements; legal guardianship 2–4 months to finalize
Kinship guardians have legal custody and guardianship; can pursue adoption if desired
RCW 13.34 governs dependency proceedings; kinship-first policy prioritizes family placement
Kinship care is when a relative or someone with an established relationship to a child steps in to care for them when birth parents cannot. You might be in one of three situations: DCYF court-ordered placement (eligible for licensing and support), voluntary placement by a birth parent, or private arrangement with no DCYF involvement.
Source: DCYF, RCW 74.13
This is for the grandparent who got the call in the middle of the night, the aunt who said yes without knowing all the steps, the family friend who stepped up because no one else would.
If you are already caring for a child who is not your biological child, you are already doing kinship care — whether or not you have formal legal status or a license.
You could be in a court-ordered DCYF placement (likely eligible for licensing and support), a voluntary arrangement where a birth parent asked you informally, or a private arrangement with no DCYF involvement.
Each situation has different legal and financial implications.
You can stay informal and care for the child without formal licensing (no monthly payments, but DCYF may provide some services).
You can pursue kinship licensing through DCYF or a CPA (unlocks monthly payments and access to support services). You can pursue legal guardianship (more stable than informal, but less permanent than adoption). Or you can pursue adoption (if parental rights are terminated).
Washington launched streamlined kinship caregiver licensing standards under WAC 110-149 in 2025, specifically designed to make it easier for relatives to become licensed.
The process is faster, the rules are clearer, and DCYF actively waives non-safety standards for relative homes.
Washington's 2025 kinship licensing rules (WAC 110-149) are among the most accessible in the country. They fast-track relatives into licensing by actively waiving non-safety standards. Legal guardianship offers an alternative to adoption when you want court-granted authority without terminating birth parent rights.
Source: WAC 110-149, RCW 11.130
Launched in 2025 and specifically designed to make it easier for relatives to become licensed.
The process works in two steps: an initial 90-day temporary license that lets you start receiving payments, then a full three-year license after completing background check, home study, home inspection, and written agreement to follow the rules.
DCYF actively waives non-safety licensing standards for relative homes.
If your home doesn't meet bedroom size requirements, or you're older than a standard age guideline, or your income is limited — these may be waived. Safety standards (background checks, working smoke detectors, etc.) are never waived.
If a birth parent voluntarily placed the child with you — without a court order — you are generally not eligible for kinship licensing.
For voluntary arrangements, legal guardianship through Washington superior court may provide better protection. Guardianship gives you legal authority to make decisions for the child without terminating the birth parent's parental rights.
If you have an initial 90-day license and the full license isn't finalized within 90 days, payments pause until the full license is issued.
Important: DCYF will not remove the child from your care because of a delay in licensing.
Once you have a kinship license (initial or full), you receive monthly foster care maintenance payments from DCYF. Plan for a 45-day gap before your first payment arrives. If you pursue adoption, you may qualify for the federal adoption tax credit (approximately $16,810 in 2025, refundable for special needs) and a monthly adoption subsidy.
Source: DCYF, IRS Topic 607
Once you have a kinship license (initial 90-day or full), you receive monthly payments from DCYF to help cover the cost of caring for the child.
Rates vary by the child's age and any special needs. It typically takes about 45 days from placement to receive your first payment — plan for this gap in your budget.
With an initial 90-day license, payments are available for up to 90 days.
If the full license isn't finalized within 90 days, payments pause until the full license is issued. Important: DCYF will not remove the child from your care because of a delay in licensing.
You will not receive monthly foster care maintenance payments.
DCYF may still provide some limited financial assistance or referrals to community resources, but ongoing support is tied to licensing.
If birth parents' rights are terminated and you choose adoption, you may be eligible for the federal adoption tax credit (approximately $16,810 in 2025, refundable for children classified as special needs), a monthly adoption subsidy negotiated with DCYF before finalization, and continued Medicaid coverage for the child.
If you choose legal guardianship instead, Washington offers a relative guardian subsidy for eligible children.
Licensed kinship caregivers who meet the 820-hour work eligibility threshold can take up to 12 weeks of WA PFML bonding leave within the first 12 months. Because kinship placements often happen suddenly, PFML allows 'as soon as practicable' notice, and you may be able to take leave retroactively to the placement date.
Source: RCW 50A.05, paidleave.wa.gov
Kinship caregivers who are licensed under Washington's kinship licensing program and meet the 820-hour work eligibility threshold may take up to 12 weeks of WA PFML family (bonding) leave following a kinship placement, within the first 12 months.
Documentation required: confirmation from DCYF of the placement date and your licensed caregiver status.
Because many kinship placements happen suddenly — a call, a crisis, a child arriving with nothing — the documentation and notice requirements under PFML allow for 'as soon as practicable' notice when leave is unplanned.
You may also be able to take leave retroactively to the placement date in many cases.
Kinship placement may qualify as a foster placement event under FMLA, providing up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees (those at companies with 50+ employees who have worked there for 12 months).
Verify with your HR department whether your specific situation qualifies.
You may not have had time to plan leave before the child arrived.
Notify your employer as quickly as possible. You are entitled to take leave retroactively to the placement date in many cases — ask HR and your PFML caseworker specifically about this option.
Kinship care carries a distinct emotional weight — you already know and love the people involved. You may be caring for your grandchild while your own child is in crisis. This requires support that acknowledges the family bond while also honoring the complexity of your situation.
Source: DCYF, verified March 2026
Kinship care carries an emotional weight that is distinct from foster care — because you already know and love the people involved.
You may be caring for your grandchild while your own child is in crisis. You may be navigating loyalty, grief, anger, and protectiveness all at once.
You may be trying to maintain a relationship with the birth parent for the sake of the child while also protecting the child from harm.
There is no tidy way through this. It is genuinely hard. And it is worth naming that the people who step up for family in these moments rarely get enough recognition or support.
The grief of watching a family member struggle.
Boundary-setting with birth parents who want access to the child. The exhaustion of raising a child — often at an age and life stage when you didn't expect to. Uncertainty about how long the arrangement will last. The child's grief for their birth parent, even when the birth parent caused harm.
Peer support groups, kinship-specific training, and resources designed for the unique emotional landscape of kinship care all matter.
The DCYF Kinship Navigator Program can connect you with services, benefits, and community resources. Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence offers trauma-informed training specifically for kinship caregivers.
Three policies shape kinship care in Washington: new kinship licensing standards (WAC 110-149, 2025) make relative licensing more accessible, federal Title IV-E funding backs your monthly payments, and Washington's PFML includes kinship placement as a qualifying event for paid bonding leave.
Source: WAC 110-149, 42 U.S.C. § 671, RCW 50A.05
Washington launched new kinship caregiver licensing standards (WAC 110-149) in 2025, specifically designed to make it easier for relatives to become licensed.
Washington committed to licensing 80%+ of kinship caregivers. The 2025 rules make the path faster and clearer, with DCYF actively waiving non-safety standards for relative homes.
Your monthly kinship caregiver payments are funded in part by federal Title IV-E dollars (42 U.
S.C. § 671 et seq.). Federal funding that supports monthly foster care maintenance payments to licensed foster and kinship caregivers. Washington draws down these federal funds to make your monthly payments. This is why licensing matters — it unlocks both state and federal support.
Unlicensed kinship caregivers are not eligible for Title IV-E–funded payments.
Voluntary placements (no court order) generally do not qualify. The federal support system is designed to incentivize and support licensed placements.
These policies work together: streamlined licensing makes it accessible to become licensed, federal funding backs your monthly payments once licensed, and paid leave gives you time to bond with the child.
Understanding this framework shows why licensing is worth pursuing — it unlocks both state and federal support that sustains your family.
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