1. (1) The department must search for appropriate relatives or suitable persons for placement, prior to placing children or youth in foster homes when the department determines that they need to be placed in out-of-home care.

2. (2) The department must assess the following when selecting relatives or suitable persons for placement of children and youth:

   1. (a) The children or youth would be comfortable living with the relative or suitable person; and

   2. (b) The relative or suitable person is:

      1. (i) Related to or has a preexisting relationship with them;
      2. (ii) Capable of caring for them and is willing to cooperate with the child's or youth's permanency plan; and

      3. (iii) Able to provide them a safe home, and:

         1. (A) Sleeping arrangements that are based on their age, development, and specific needs, unless there is a written plan approved by the caseworker to mitigate safety concerns; and if they remain in their home for more than 30 calendar days, they must verify each child under 12 months old has their own safe sleeping space that meets infant safe sleep requirements, such as a:

            1. (I) Bassinet;
            2. (II) Crib that complies with chapter 70.111 RCW and 16 C.F.R. 1219.1220;
            3. (III) Portable crib; or

            4. (IV) Native American:

               • Moss boards; or

               • Cradle boards; and

         2. (B) Confirm that the children or youth older than 12 months have their own individual safe sleeping space with bedding, unless other arrangements have been approved by the children's or youth's caseworkers.
3. (3) The department may consider foster care as a potential placement resource, when there are no approved relatives or suitable persons available to provide placement, per chapter 13.34 RCW.

[Statutory Authority: Chapters 13.34, 74.13, 74.15 RCW, and 45 C.F.R. ss 1355 and 1356. WSR 25-12-071, s 110-50-0170, filed 5/30/25, effective 6/30/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.020. WSR 24-19-056, s 110-50-0170, filed 9/13/24, effective 10/14/24. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-50-0170, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.13.031. WSR 01-08-047, § 388-25-0445, filed 3/30/01, effective 4/30/01.]