(1) Under RCW
74.15.030, prior to authorizing unsupervised access to children, the department requires background checks on all providers who may have unsupervised access to children. This includes licensed, certified, or contracted providers, their current or prospective employees and prospective adoptive parents as defined in RCW
26.33.020.
(2) Under RCW
74.15.030, prior to authorizing unsupervised access to children, the department also requires background checks on other individuals who may have unsupervised access to children in department licensed or contracted homes or facilities that provide care, except for a normal childhood activity that lasts less than 72 hours, as stated in RCW
74.13.710. The department requires background checks on all of the following people:
(a) A volunteer or intern with regular or unsupervised access to children.
(b) Any person who regularly has unsupervised access to a child.
(c) A relative other than a parent who may be caring for a child.
(d) A person who is at least 16 years old and resides in a foster, relative, or other suitable person's home and is not a foster child.
(e) A person who is younger than 16 years old in situations where it may be warranted to promote the safety of children in out-of-home care.
(3) Any person employed at a group care facility, including those not directly working with children.
(4) Under RCW
13.34.138, prior to returning a dependent child home, the department requires a background check on all adults residing in the home, including the parents.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
43.43.832(2),
43.216.065, and
43.216.271. WSR 22-10-022, § 110-04-0040, filed 4/25/22, effective 5/26/22. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.43.832,
74.13.031,
74.15.030 and P.L. 115-12. WSR 20-05-024, § 110-04-0040, filed 2/7/20, effective 3/9/20. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-04-0040, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
74.15.030 and
43.43.832. WSR 18-12-101, § 388-06A-0110, filed 6/5/18, effective 7/6/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.43.832. WSR 15-03-071, § 388-06A-0110, filed 1/15/15, effective 2/15/15.]