Washington Administrative Code
Title 110 - Children, Youth, and Families, Department of
Chapter 110-145 - Licensing requirements for group care facilities
MANAGING RECORDS AND REPORTING
Section 110-145-1540 - What are my reporting responsibilities when a child is missing from care, except for overnight youth shelters?

(1) As soon as you or your staff have reason to believe a child in your care is missing as defined in WAC 110-145-1305, has refused to return to or remain in your care, or whose whereabouts are otherwise unknown, you are required to notify the following:

(2) You are required to notify local law enforcement within six hours if the child is missing. However, if one or more of the following factors is present, you must contact law enforcement immediately:

(3) After contacting local law enforcement, you must also contact the national center for missing and exploited children at 1-800-843-5678 and report the child missing from care.

(4) If the child leaves school or has an unauthorized absence from school, you should consult with the child's DCYF caseworker to assess the situation and determine when you should call law enforcement. If any of the factors listed in subsection (2)(a) through (i) of this section are present, you and the child's DCYF caseworker may decide it is appropriate to delay notification to law enforcement for up to four hours after the end of the school day to give the child the opportunity to return on their own.

(5) You must provide the following information to law enforcement and to the child's DCYF caseworker when making a missing child report, if available:

(6) You must ask law enforcement for the missing person report number and provide it to the DCYF caseworker or staff and the child's tribal Indian child welfare (ICW) case manager.

(7) At any time after making an initial report you learn of a missing child's whereabouts, you must report that information to the child's DCYF caseworker and the child's tribal Indian child welfare (ICW) case manager.

(8) If a child is returned to your care, it is your responsibility to cancel the run report and notify all persons you have informed of the child's return.

(9) Youth participating in the extended foster care (EFC) program are exempt from these requirements. You must follow all other reporting requirements as defined in WAC 110-145-1535.