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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 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 own 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 in improving 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 are able to have their basic needs met. Children Services becomes involved with children and families when 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 it rarely last more than two weeks. You can choose when you're available to take in children,, so the schedule can be very flexible, it's to you!

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

  • Be at least 21 years of age.
  • Have sufficient income to support themselves without relying on foster care payments.
  • Discipline children in a positive manner without the use of physical punishment.
  • Provide supervision appropriate to the age or specific behavior of the child as outlined by the social worker.
  • Complete training:​
    • First Aid/CPR
    • Blood Borne Pathogens
    • Licensing Orientation
    • Pre-Service Training

Any adult living in a potential home must:

  • Complete a background clearance check with the FBI and Washington State Patrol.
  • Submit tuberculosis tests dated within the last year.
  • Youth ages 16-18 in the household must complete a Washington State Patrol check.

Training Requirement:

  • Orientation - You must complete an orientation session in person or online.
  • Pre-service Training - You are required to take 24 hours of Pre-service Training and a First Aid/CPR and Blood Borne Pathogens course. Training courses are offered regularly in all regions of Washington State.
  • Ongoing Training - All licensed family foster homes (including those licensed by private agencies and the Office of Foster Care Licensing) are required to complete ongoing training.

Family Home Study Application

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

Background Check Authorization

These instructions provide general directions for completing the Background Check Authorization form. This form is used by multiple DSHS programs 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​

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