Wash. Rev. Code » Title 74 · Chapter 74.13
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 74.13.300 (2026)

Notification of proposed placement changes

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Whenever a child has been placed in a foster family home by the department and the child has thereafter resided in the home for at least ninety consecutive days, the department shall notify the foster family at least five days prior to moving the child to another placement, unless:
(a) A court order has been entered requiring an immediate change in placement;
(b) The child is being returned home;
(c) The child's safety is in jeopardy; or
(d) The child is residing in a receiving home or a group home.
(2) If the child has resided in a foster family home for less than ninety days or if, due to one or more of the circumstances in subsection (1) of this section, it is not possible to give five days' notification, the department shall notify the foster family of proposed placement changes as soon as reasonably possible.
(3) This section is intended solely to assist in minimizing disruption to the child in changing foster care placements. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that a court hearing be held prior to changing a child's foster care placement nor to create any substantive custody rights in the foster parents.
[ 2018 c 284 s 49; 2009 c 520 s 77; 1990 c 284 s 12.]

Notes:

Finding—Effective date—1990 c 284: See notes following RCW 74.13.250.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1991–2025 · leading case: Schwebke v. Lutheran Soc. Servs., 815 P.2d 1380 (Wash. 1991).
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Schwebke v. Lutheran Soc. Servs., 815 P.2d 1380 (Wash. 1991). · cites it 4× “19 RCW 74.13.300(1). The statute does not require notice in cases where: an immediate change in placement is ordered by the court; the child is being returned home; the child's safety is in jeopardy; or the child is residing in a receiving or group home.”
H.B.H. v. State, 429 P.3d 484 (Wash. 2018). “For this reason, the act of placing a child in foster care does not sever DSHS's relationship with the child as legal custodian or terminate DSHS's ongoing duty to protect dependent children in its care.”
H.B.H. v. State (Wash. 2018). “For this reason, the act of placing a child in foster care does not sever DSHS's relationship with the child as legal custodian or terminate DSHS's ongoing duty to protect dependent children in its care.”
Jada Price & Asa Harris, V. State Of Washington (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “2d at 171, 174-75; RCW 74.13.300(1)(c), (3). Legislative findings supporting our state’s mandatory reporting statute for child abuse state that “[g]overnmental authorities must give the prevention, treatment, and punishment of child abuse the highest priority, and all instances…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.13.300(1) — 1 case
Schwebke v. Lutheran Soc. Servs., 815 P.2d 1380 (Wash. 1991). “19 RCW 74.13.300(1). The statute does not require notice in cases where: an immediate change in placement is ordered by the court; the child is being returned home; the child's safety is in jeopardy; or the child is residing in a receiving or group home.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.13.300(1)(c) — 1 case
Jada Price & Asa Harris, V. State Of Washington (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “2d at 171, 174-75; RCW 74.13.300(1)(c), (3). Legislative findings supporting our state’s mandatory reporting statute for child abuse state that “[g]overnmental authorities must give the prevention, treatment, and punishment of child abuse the highest priority, and all instances…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.13.300(3) — 3 cases
H.B.H. v. State, 429 P.3d 484 (Wash. 2018). “For this reason, the act of placing a child in foster care does not sever DSHS's relationship with the child as legal custodian or terminate DSHS's ongoing duty to protect dependent children in its care.”
Schwebke v. Lutheran Soc. Servs., 815 P.2d 1380 (Wash. 1991). “19 RCW 74.13.300(1). The statute does not require notice in cases where: an immediate change in placement is ordered by the court; the child is being returned home; the child's safety is in jeopardy; or the child is residing in a receiving or group home.”
H.B.H. v. State (Wash. 2018). “For this reason, the act of placing a child in foster care does not sever DSHS's relationship with the child as legal custodian or terminate DSHS's ongoing duty to protect dependent children in its care.”
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