Reports
Child welfare, Reunification
2026 Evaluation of Community-Based Family Reconciliation Services
This report, prepared for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) with funding from the Raikes Foundation, summarizes the findings from a formative evaluation of the implementation of the Pilot Community-Based Family Reconciliation Services (CB-FRS) program at Cocoon House in Everett, Washington. The evaluation represents a collaboration between Partners for Our Children, DCYF, and staff at Cocoon House. The pilot CB-FRS program at Cocoon House offers a model for future efforts to move more supports and services into the community. Recommendations emerging from this evaluation are designed to strengthen the program and inform potential expansion of CB-FRS programs across the state.
- Report
Child welfare, Foster care
2025 Evaluation of the Washington State Children’s Representation Program
In Washington state, prior to the 2021 passage of Second Substitute House Bill 1219 (2SHB 1219), children and youth had the right to counsel only if they remained dependent six months after termination of parental rights. 2SHB 1219 amended the policy and procedure of assigning attorneys to youths in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings. In 2021, 2SHB 1219 was signed into law, amending RCW 13.34.212. The RCW’s new provisions expanded legal representation to include children below eight years of age when filing a termination of parental rights petition and to include all children ages eight to seventeen years, who are or are alleged to be dependent and those in extended foster care (EFC). The Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) was assigned the task of implementing the children’s legal representation program throughout the state. RCW 13.34.435 directed the Administrative Office of the Court’s (AOC) Washington State Center for Court Research (WSCCR) to evaluate the impact of the Children’s Representation Program (CRP). The AOC contracted with Partners for Our Children (P4C) to lead the preliminary evaluation of the statewide implementation of the CRP. This report describes the CRP structure, provides updates on the implementation of the program to date, summarizes efforts to engage stakeholders and gather input to strengthen the program as it is expanded statewide, describes program enhancements, and outlines planned process and outcomes evaluation activities.
- Report
Foster care, Youth & Young Adults
Systems Assessment: Extended Foster Care Washington State
Partners for Our Children conducted a systems assessment of Extended Foster Care (EFC) in Washington State under contract with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The resulting report synthesizes data across multiple sources to provide a systems assessment of state and federally funded services and benefits for young adults who have enrolled in EFC. The report offers a set of policy and practice recommendations to improve supports for the EFC population to promote successful transitions to early adulthood.
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Data, System Reform
2015 Annual Report of Child Welfare System Performance in Washington State
This report was created to help Washington better understand how children served by the state child welfare system are faring in the areas of safety, permanency, and well-being & education. It was developed as a result of two pieces of legislation passed in 2013 (HB 1774 and HB 1566), which together, require a single, comprehensive performance report on the child welfare system. The report is divided into three main sections: Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being & Education. Each section has several different measures, such as the rate of overall CPS reports, the runaway rate for children in out-of-home care and the third grade literacy rate for children in foster care.
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Parenting, Youth & Young Adults
Adapting an Evidence-Based Parenting Program for Child Welfare-Involved Teens and Their Caregivers
This paper describes the process used to adapt an evidence based, prevention-focused parenting program, Staying Connected with Your Teen™, for use with foster teens and their relative or foster caregivers. Foster youth, caregivers and social workers informed the adaptations and identified the need for the development of a trusted connection between foster youth and their caregivers, as well as tools for helping them access community resources, social services, and education supports.
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Foster care, System Reform
Family Reunification in Washington State: Which Children Go Home and How Long Does it Take?
Following 696 Washington children who were in out-of-home care in 2007/08 for up to a three-year period, this study provides evidence that children of parents who reported that they were “engaged” (e.g., trusted the child welfare system and/or their worker), had stable housing, and had completed a high school education reunified significantly faster than children of parents who were not engaged, had housing hardships, or failed to complete high school.
- Report
Foster care
Foster Parent Support Pilot Study: Final Report
The 2010 Foster Parent Support Pilot (FPSP) study was designed as the first step in a process to determine whether the Mockingbird Family Model (MFM) could be an efficacious foster care model. The study was terminated due to a low rate of foster parent participation, revealing a significant program barrier prior to the implementation of a much more costly, full scale evaluation. Early evidence revealed that the MFM worked well when certain foster parent needs were met. Those needs included: 1) more direct support or mentoring; 2) more knowledge of and access to resources and services; 3) enhanced communication with caseworkers; and 4) support and guidance with the foster children’s biological families.
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Foster care, Parenting
Parent Engagement/Mentoring Models in Washington State
Document Purpose: To provide a brief overview of four parent engagement/mentoring models being implemented in Washington State in 2010. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the efforts underway, but more a sample of the type and scope of programs in existence at this time.
- Report
Foster care
Evaluation of Washington’s Solution-Based Casework Practice Model – Parent Survey
This interim report was prepared for and submitted to Washington DSHS Children’s Administration as part of an evaluation of their implementation of the Solution Based Casework Practice Model. The baseline survey of 809 parents included not only an analysis of parents’ views of casework practices, but a complete review of: family demographic characteristics; parent risk factors; parents’ views on the nature of their relationship with their social worker and the child welfare system; and parents’ understanding of the services they need and the services they receive. All findings are cross-tabulated by Children’s Administration region and service context (that is, whether the child is living at home or is in out-of-home care).
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Foster care, System Reform
Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention
This report reviews research and strategy literature related to foster parent recruitment and retention, looks at trends in recruitment and retention, and outlines Washington State’s policies and practices. The foster parent recruitment and retention literature review finds that: 1) “word-of-mouth” from satisfied caregivers is believed to be the most effective recruitment tool; 2) negative public perceptions, burdensome application processes, and poor agency responsiveness contribute to recruitment challenges; 3) targeted recruitment is more effective than general media approaches; 4) foster parents are motivated by altruism and/or a desire to adopt; 5) many foster parent applicants do not complete the process; and 6) a small percent of foster parents provide the majority of care.
- Report