top of page
bgImage

Child Placement Agency

"We center on work on strength-based, family-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive placements."

Linda Weems, Founder & Executive Director

Our mission is to create environments where children and families thrive

Mullen-Polk Foundation is dedicated to serving our youth by providing services that enhance the quality of family life. To make long-term and possibly permanent improvements in the lives of children and their families by meeting their spiritual, mental, emotional, educational, social, cultural, and physical needs through our partnership with other agencies and private citizens.

 

To do this, we must:

  • Provide safety and stability.
  • Build self-esteem in every possible way.
  • Teach self-control.
  • Allow children to grow and mature in their unique talents and gifts.
  • Engage children in the process we use to change their lives.
  • Equip families with the tools to create nurturing environments.
  • Model acceptable behavior.

 

Teaching peace, contentment, respect, tolerance, and self-control is a never-ending job. However, it is essential to improve the lives of children by providing strength-based foster care and mental health services that promote the permanency, safety, and well-being of foster youth.

All children have a right to a permanent home. Mullen-Polk Foundation is committed to protecting children from abuse and neglect, ensuring that children live in a safe environment where they can have their basic needs met. Children Services becomes involved with children and families when the risk of abuse, neglect, or dependency has been identified and additional referrals or supportive services are needed. The agency’s ultimate goal is to preserve families and to provide and arrange services to assist them in doing so. If services cannot be provided while the child resides in the home and placement is required to provide for the child/children’s safety and basic needs, the agency will work toward the goal of reunification with their families.  

​FOSTER CARE​

Foster care comes at a time of crisis in a child's life. As a foster parent, you can make a difference by providing for a child's physical, emotional, and social needs in a supportive family setting. 

RESPITE CARE​

If you've been thinking about fostering, providing respite care may be a way to test the waters. Respite care usually takes place over a weekend and rarely lasts more than two weeks. You can choose when you're available to take in children, so the schedule can be very flexible—it's up to you!

To be considered for a foster care license, an applicant must:

Basic Eligibility Criteria

  • Be at least 21 years of age.

​

  • Have sufficient income to support yourself without relying on foster care payments.

​

  • Discipline children in a positive manner without the use of physical punishment.

​

  • Provide age-appropriate supervision as outlined by the social worker.

Training & Certification Requirements

Orientation: Complete an in-person or online orientation session.

​

Pre-Service Training: Complete 24 hours of Pre-service Training, including:

​

  • First Aid/CPR

​

  • Blood Borne Pathogens

​

  • Ongoing Training: All licensed foster homes must complete ongoing training, including First Aid/CPR and Blood Borne Pathogens renewal courses.

Background Checks & Health Requirements

  • Background Checks: All adults in the home must complete background clearance checks with the FBI and Washington State Patrol. Youths (ages 16-18) in the household must also complete a Washington State Patrol check.

​

  • Health Checks: Submit tuberculosis tests dated within the last year.

Family Home Study Application

These instructions are for the family home study application. The Department uses a single home study to approve relative placements, suitable persons’ placements, foster care licensing, and adoption. Completing this form is the first step in the application process, but it does not guarantee that the application will be approved. 

Background Check Authorization

These instructions provide general directions for completing the Background Check Authorization form. Multiple DSHS programs use this form to meet varying background check needs. The DSHS oversight program requiring the background check may have additional instructions that you must follow.

​

If applying for a position at Our Next Generation, please add the facility provider number 1027194

If applying for a position at the Child Placing Agency, please add the provider number 1027198

If applying for a position through Behavioral Case Aide, please add provider number 1998182​

bottom of page