Background Checks for Foster Care.  State law requires background checks, which includes a fingerprint and a criminal history record check, when the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) seeks to approve an applicant or service provider for a foster care or adoptive placement. 

DCYF pays fees charged by the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for foster care and relative or kinship care.  DCYF does not pay the fees for employees of child placing agencies, group care, and contracted service providers.

Background Checks for Child Care.  State law requires DCYF to conduct background checks on anyone who is authorized to care for or have unsupervised access to children in child care and early learning programs.

People who require a background check must pay for the cost of the check, including the fee established by the Washington State Patrol, the cost of obtaining a fingerprint, and a fee paid to DCYF for the cost of administering the individual-based or portable background check clearance registry. 

DCYF must issue a background check clearance card or certificate if DCYF concludes the applicant is qualified for unsupervised access to children in child care.  This card must be accepted by a potential employer as proof that the background check was successfully completed and is valid for three years.

DCYF must maintain an individual-based or portable background check clearance registry, subject to appropriation.

In the 2022 supplemental operating budget, the background check fee for child care providers was waived in fiscal year 2023.

DCYF must pay the background check fees charged by the Washington State Patrol and the FBI for all foster care and child care applicants and service providers. 

References to background check fees are removed from state law.

The background check clearance card or certificate is valid for five years, instead of three years, from the date of issuance.

DCYF must maintain an individual-based or portable background check clearance registry regardless of appropriations.