The WACF strives to assist in improving practice and connecting organizations. WACF provides them a unified voice by building collaboration and community amongst its members working towards the same goal and offering training and technical assistance to create best practices amongst private agencies.
Since 2018, WACF has been managed by Executive Director, Jill May, M.S.W., along with a diverse Board of Directors who are responsible for ensuring that the mission, values, and principles of WACF are carried out in its day-to-day operations.
We recognize racial equity as a priority in preventing families from entering foster care, improving the disproportionality of foster families, and reducing the number of youths of color in care. These systems routinely produce racially poor outcomes for people of color. WACF works on behalf of its agencies to support systemic improvement through administrative and legislative advocacy, training, and technical assistance so that organizations can operate efficiently, inclusively, and at the highest quality, as well as provide critical services for as many children, youth, and families as possible.
WACF is a non-profit organization with a wide range of community-based organizations that provide services across the foster care continuum.
The contributions of WACF and its member agencies are divided into four primary groups: Child Placing Agencies (CPAs), Intensive Services, Family Preservation and Support Services (FPSS) and Independent Living Services (IL).
CPAs support foster families with recruitment, licensing, training, and support. Intensive Services support children, youth, and families with multidimensional and complex needs, including behavioral therapy. Family preservation agencies help stabilize families so children don’t enter out-of-home care and Independent Living Services assist youth and young adults ages 15 - 23 in making the transition from foster care to self-sufficiency.
Despite the importance of these unique bonds, some families are forgotten and overlooked. When that happens, the results can be tragic.
We believe Washington State families should always have the support they need to thrive. Families deserve a voice. They deserve an entire network of allies working to create a safer future for them. We’re building that network.