Arkansas Administrative Code, Division 22, Rule 016.22.22-001 - Minimum Licensing Standards for Child Welfare Agencies (Placement And Residential) | Arkansas Administrative Code

1. Promote the health, safety, and welfare of children in the care of a child welfare agency;

2. Promote safe and healthy physical facilities;

3. Ensure adequate supervision of the children by capable, qualified, and healthy individuals;

4. Ensure appropriate educational programs and activities for children in the care of a child welfare agency;

5. Ensure adequate and healthy food service;

6. Include procedures for the receipt, recordation, and disposition of complaints regarding allegations of violations of this subchapter, of the rules promulgated under the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act, or of child maltreatment laws;

7. Include procedures for the assessment of child and family needs and for the delivery of services designed to enable each child to grow and develop in a permanent family setting;

8. Ensure that criminal record checks and central registry checks are completed on owners, operators, employees, volunteers, foster parents, adoptive parents, and other persons in the homes as set forth in this subchapter;

9. Require the compilation of reports and making those reports available to the division when the board determines it is necessary for compliance determination or data compilation;

10. Ensure that a child placement agency:

a. Treats clients seeking or receiving services in a professional manner, as defined by rules promulgated pursuant to this act; and

b. Provides clients seeking or receiving services from a child placement agency that provides adoption services with the phone number and address of the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Unit of the Department of Human Services where complaints can be lodged.

11. Require that all child placement agencies that provide adoption services fully apprise in writing all clients involved in the process of adopting a child of the agency's adoption program or services, including all possible costs associated with the adoption program, and

12. Establish rules governing retention of licensing records maintained by the division.

A licensed child placement agency may adopt and apply internal operating procedures that meet or exceed the minimum standards required by the board.

1. All parties to an adverse action shall be entitled to engage in and use formal discovery as provided for in Rules 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 36 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure including:

a. Requests for admission;

b. Request for production of documents and things;

c. Written interrogatories; and

d. Oral and written depositions.

2. All evidentiary rulings in an adverse action hearing shall be governed by the Arkansas Rules of Evidence, with respect to the following types of evidence:

a. The requirements of personal knowledge of a witness as required by Rule 602;

b. The admissibility of character evidence as set forth by Rules 608 and 609;

c. The admissibility of character evidence as set forth by Rules 701- 703; and

d. The admissibility of hearsay evidence as set forth by Rules 801-806.

Child Placement Agencies Requiring Licensure

Any person, organization, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, or other entity that places, plans for, or assists in the placement of any unrelated minor for care in a foster home, adoptive home, or residential facility, or a child victim of human trafficking in a home or any type of shelter or facility, that is not otherwise exempt by Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act, requires a license.

The Child Welfare Agency Review Board (board) shall take any action necessary to prohibit any person, partnership, group, corporation, organization, or association not licensed or exempted from licensure from advertising, placing, planning for, or assisting in the placement of any unrelated minor for the purposes of adoption or for care in a foster home. The prohibition against advertising shall not apply to persons who are seeking to add to their own family by adoption.

The board may impose a civil penalty upon any person, partnership, group, corporation, organization, or association not licensed or exempt from licensure as a child welfare agency in the State of Arkansas that advertises, places, plans for, or assists in the placement of any unrelated minor for purposes of adoption or for care in a foster home. The prohibition against advertising does not apply to persons who are seeking to add to their own family by adoption.

Placement Types of Licenses

Foster Care

A child placement agency that places, plans for, or assists in the placement of an unrelated minor or a child victim of human trafficking in a home or in a private residence of one (1) or more family members for care and supervision on a twenty-four-hour basis.

Therapeutic Foster Care

A child placement agency that places, plans for, or assists in the placement of an unrelated minor in a therapeutic foster home. Therapeutic foster care is intensive therapeutic care for children that is provided in specially trained family homes and supported by licensed mental health professionals (as recognized by Arkansas Medicaid). A therapeutic foster care program is a family-based services delivery approach providing individualized treatment for children, youth, and their families. Treatment is delivered through an integrated set of services with key interventions and supports provided by therapeutic foster parents who are trained, supervised, and supported by qualified program staff.

Therapeutic foster care services shall be provided in a separately identified program of a larger agency or be provided by an independent agency.

Therapeutic Foster Care - Sexual Rehabilitative Program

A treatment program that offers a specific and specialized therapeutic program for children with sexually maladaptive behaviors. A licensed sexual rehabilitative program may be in a residential childcare facility, a therapeutic foster care home, or a psychiatric residential treatment facility.

Adoption

A child placement agency that places, plans for, or assists in the placement of an unrelated minor in a household of one (1) or more persons who are approved to accept a child for adoption.

Placement Residential

A child placement agency that places, plans for, or assists in the placement of an unrelated minor into a residential childcare facility or a child victim of human trafficking in any type of shelter or facility. The agency may be licensed for any or all types of licenses, depending on the types of services it provides.

License Status

The board shall issue all licenses to child placement agencies upon majority vote of members present during each properly-called board meeting at which a quorum is present. The board shall have the power to deny an application to operate a child welfare agency or to revoke or suspend a previously issued license to operate a child welfare agency. The board may also issue letters of reprimand or caution to a child welfare agency. Any revocation of a license, suspension of a license, or denial of application for a license shall be effective when made.

Provisional

Issued to a newly licensed agency for a one-year period, to give the agency time to demonstrate substantial compliance with minimum licensing standards. At the discretion of the board, a provisional license may be issued up to an additional year.

Probationary

Issued to an agency that has not maintained compliance with minimum licensing standards, but the board believes that compliance can be restored and subsequently maintained. This license may be issued for up to one (1) year, at the discretion of the board.

Regular

Issued either to a previously licensed agency that continues to meet all minimum licensing standards, standards or issued to an agency that meets all essential standards and has a favorable compliance history, (which that predicts full compliance with all standards within a reasonable time). A regular license shall remain open and effective until closed at the request of the agency or board action.

Suspended

Board action taken when an agency has failed to maintain compliance with minimum licensing standards, but the violations do not warrant revocation. A license may not be suspended for longer than one (1) year at a time. The board may issue a probationary or regular license when compliance is restored.

Closed

Action taken when the agency requests that the license be closed.

Termination

The board shall terminate the license of a licensee that has not been in operation for a consecutive twelve-month period.

Revoked

Board action taken when an agency has failed to maintain compliance with minimum licensing standards. The agency may not apply for a new license for at least one (1) year from the date of revocation.

Status Change

After a board action, an amended license shall be issued any time there is a change in the agency's program that affects the license type, status, capacity, ages of children served, name change or an address change.

A license to operate a child placement agency shall apply only to the address and location stated on the application and license issued, and it shall be transferable from one holder of the license to another or from one place to another.

1. The seller shall notify the division of the sale at least thirty (30) days prior to the completed sale;

2. The seller shall remain responsible for the operation of the agency until such time as the agency is closed or a license is issued to the buyer;

3. The seller shall remain liable for all penalties assessed against the agency that are imposed for violations or deficiencies occurring before the transfer of a license to the buyer;

4. The buyer shall be subject to any corrective action notices to which the seller was subject; and

5. The provisions of subsection (a) of this section, including those provisions regarding obtaining licenses or permits from the Office of Long-Term Care of the Division of Medical Services of the Department of Human Services and regarding obtaining any permits from the Health Services Permit Agency or the Health Services Permit Commission, shall apply in their entirety to the new owner of the child welfare agency.

The child placement agency shall inform current and potential clients if their license has been suspended, revoked, or if they have voluntarily surrendered their license.

How To Apply The Standards

Section 100 of the Minimum Licensing Standards for Child Welfare Agencies applies to all agencies. Subsequent sections apply to specific types of child placement agencies. Agencies shall meet the license requirements for each license type held.

Special Consideration

The board may approve an agency's request for special consideration to allow a licensee to deviate from the letter of a rule if the licensee has demonstrated that the deviation is in the best interest of the children and does not pose a risk to persons served by the licensee.

If the board grants a request for special consideration, the child welfare agency's practice as described in the request shall be the compliance terms under which the child welfare agency will be held responsible and violations of those terms shall constitute a rule violation.

The board has authorized the managers and supervisors of the Licensing Unit to make temporary rulings regarding special consideration requests when the best interests of a child requires an immediate decision, subject to final approval at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board.

Alternative Compliance

The board may grant an agency's request for alternative compliance upon a finding that the agency does not meet the letter of a rule promulgated under the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act, but that the agency meets or exceeds the intent of that rule through alternative means.

If the board grants a request for alternative compliance, the agency's practice as described in the request for alternative compliance shall be the compliance terms under which the agency will be held responsible and violations of those terms shall constitute a rule violation.

The board has authorized the managers and supervisors of the Licensing Unit to make temporary rulings regarding Alternative Compliance requests when the best interests of a child requires an immediate decision, subject to final approval at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board.

1. Staff to child ratio;

2. Capacity;

3. Sleeping arrangements; and

4. Bathrooms.

100 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The standards in Section 100 apply to all agencies unless otherwise indicated.

101 Applications & Licensing Procedure

1. The owner or board shall prepare and furnish an application packet for a license that contains the following:

a. A completed application form;

b. A letter from the agency's board or owner (as applicable) authorizing a person to sign the application;

c. A copy of the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and current board roster, if applicable, including names, addresses, and contact information of officers. Out of state agencies shall have legal authorization from the Arkansas Secretary of State to do business in Arkansas;

d. A personnel list with verifications of qualifications and experience;

e. Substantiation of the agency's financial soundness. This shall include without limitation: a budget showing sufficient resources to operate for a period of six (6) months, either with resources on hand or with projected revenue from verifiable sources. Verifiable letters of financial support and monthly bank account statements may be included to project income;

f. Proof of general and professional liability insurance (does not apply to state agencies);

g. A written description of the agency's program of care, including intake policies, types of services offered, and a written plan for providing health care services to children in care; and

h. Any additional information requested by the Licensing Specialist to verify compliance with these standards and to make a recommendation regarding the granting of a license.

2. Once a completed application packet has been received, the division shall complete a licensing study and recommendation within ninety (90) days. If a recommendation is not made within ninety (90) days, the applicant may appear before the board to request a license.

3. Any child placement agency licensed in Arkansas shall provide the following information to the Licensing Unit prior to opening a branch office:

a. The address, telephone numbers (if available), and office hours for the branch office;

b. The name(s), qualifications, and contact information of the person(s) responsible for the day-to-day operation of the branch office and the child-placement activities at the branch; and

c. The name and contact information of the person responsible for providing services in case of emergencies or child-placement crises.

102 Organization & Administration

1. The child placement agency shall obtain a license before placing or planning for the placement of children in a foster home, adoptive home, or residential facility.

2. The purpose and mission of the agency, including treatment philosophy, services provided, and characteristics of children it is designed to serve, shall be stated in writing.

3. The following policies of the agency shall be current and available to all employees of the agency and the Licensing Specialist:

a. Personnel policies;

b. Volunteer policy;

c. Student intern policy;

d. Admission policy;

e. Intake policy;

f. Behavior Management policy: Corporal punishment is prohibited for all placement licenses. See Arkansas code § 9-28-405(d) (1) e;

g. Crisis Management policy;

h. Child Maltreatment/Mandated Reporter policy; according to Arkansas law, including, procedures to ensure that alleged, suspected, or witnessed incidents of maltreatment are reported to the Child Maltreatment Hotline, and documented as required by these or other applicable rules or laws;

i. Child Exploitation policy;

j. Visitation policy;

k. Public Safety policy (sexual rehabilitative programs only);

l. Target Population and Admission, Exclusion, and Discharge Criteria policy (sexual rehabilitative programs only); and

m. Emergency, Respite Care, and Disruption policy (placement agencies only).

4. The agency shall be legally authorized to conduct business in Arkansas by state law and local ordinance.

5. The agency shall meet all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances that apply to child welfare agencies and to the proper care of children in such facilities.

6. The agency shall provide copies of all programmatic licenses, certifications, and accreditations it holds.

7. The owner or Board of Directors, or both, shall be responsible for operating the facility and shall have final responsibility to ensure that the facility meets licensing requirements. Names and addresses of board members shall be provided to the Licensing Specialist annually.

8. The agency shall maintain a current organizational chart showing the administrative structure of the organization.

9. The agency shall notify the Licensing Unit within five (5) days of any change of Administrator, Social Service Director, or Clinical Director.

10. The agency shall establish and follow written policies and procedures that meet or exceed the Minimum Licensing Standards for Child Welfare Agencies.

11. All agencies applying for an Arkansas license shall provide proof that they are licensed in good standing in their home state, if applicable, and are in good standing in all other states where they are licensed. If an agency is being disciplined or sanctioned in another jurisdiction, the board shall be notified.

12. All agencies licensed in Arkansas after January 18, 2002, shall have an office in Arkansas.

13. All agencies licensed in Arkansas shall maintain all required files for licensing review as needed. They may choose to:

a. Maintain these files in their office in Arkansas; or

b. Arrange to provide the required files to the licensing staff.

14. All agencies licensed in Arkansas shall have a qualified person on call to supervise emergency services.

15. If electronic records are kept, these records shall be made available to the Licensing Specialist for purposes of monitoring and investigation.

16. Any disciplinary action taken against the agency by another jurisdiction shall be reported to the Licensing Unit.

17. The Child Welfare Agency Review Board shall terminate the license of a licensee that has not been in operation for a consecutive twelve-month period. The agency shall not permit, aid, or abet an unlicensed person to perform activities requiring a license.

18. The agency shall not misrepresent the type or status of education, training, expertise, licensure, or professional affiliations.

103 Central Registry & Criminal Record Checks

1. The agency shall conduct background checks, as required by the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act (§ 9-28-409), using forms approved by the Licensing Unit. Background checks conducted by or for other licensing authorities (for example, Office of Long-Term Care, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, et.al) do not meet the requirement of this standard.

2. The following persons in a child placement agency shall be checked with the Child Maltreatment Central Registry in their state of residence, if available, and any state of residence in which the person has lived for the past five (5) years and in the person's state of employment, if different, for reports of child maltreatment:

a. Employees, having direct and unsupervised contact with children;

b. Volunteers, mentors, sponsors, and student interns having direct and unsupervised contact with children;

c. Foster parents and each member of the household fourteen (14) years of age and older, excluding children in foster care. These checks shall be made prior to approval and shall be repeated every two (2) years thereafter;

d. Adoptive parents, and each member of the household fourteen (14) years of age and older, residing in Arkansas, excluding children in foster care. Adoptive parents and each member of the household fourteen (14) years of age and older, excluding children residing in out-of-state foster care, shall provide Child Maltreatment Central Registry Checks from their state of residence, if available. These checks shall be made prior to approval and shall be repeated every two (2) years until the adoption decree has been issued;

e. Owners having direct and unsupervised contact with children; or

f. Members of the agency's board of directors having direct and unsupervised contact with children.

3. Persons required to have the Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check shall repeat the check every two (2) years.

4. Any person found to have a record of child maltreatment shall be reviewed by the owner or administrator of the agency, in consultation with the board or its designee, to determine corrective action. Corrective action may include without limitation, counseling, training, probationary employment, non-selection for employment, or termination.

5. The following persons in a child placement agency shall be checked with the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police for convictions of offenses listed in Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-28-409:

a. Employees, having direct and unsupervised contact with children;

b. Volunteers, mentors, sponsors, and student interns having direct and unsupervised contact with children;

c. Foster parents, and each member of the household eighteen (18) years of age and older, excluding children in foster care. The foster parents shall certify in writing annually whether or not household members fourteen (14) through seventeen (17) years of age have criminal records;

d. Adoptive parents and each member of the household eighteen (18) years of age and older residing in Arkansas. Adoptive parents and each member of the household eighteen (18) years of age and older residing out of state shall provide State Police Criminal Record Checks from their state of residence, if available. The out of state adoptive families do not need to do an Arkansas State Police Check if they have never resided in Arkansas;

e. Owners having direct and unsupervised contact with children; and

f. Members of the agency's board of directors having direct and unsupervised contact with children. Individuals required to submit to a criminal background check with the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police shall also complete a background check with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

1. Federal Bureau of Investigations criminal background checks shall not be required if:

i. the adoption is an international adoption where the criminal background checks have been performed by the Unites States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or

ii. The adoptive parents and each member of the household age eighteen and one-half (181/2) have continuously resided in another state for at least five (5) years before the adoption; and the state -of-residence criminal check is available

6. A child in the custody of the Department of Human Services shall not be placed in an approved home of any foster parent or adoptive parent unless all household members eighteen and one half (18 1/2) years of age and older, excluding children in foster care, have had a fingerprint-based criminal background check performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The check shall be initiated within thirty (30) days of the household member's eighteenth birthday.

7. All persons required to be checked with the Department of Arkansas State Police under this subsection shall repeat the check at a minimum of every five (5) years, except that adoptive parents who reside in Arkansas shall repeat the check every year pending court issuance of a final decree of adoption, at which point repeat checks will no longer be required.

8. A child in the custody of the Department of Human Services shall not be placed in an approved home of any foster parent or adoptive parent unless all household members eighteen and one half (18 1/2) years and of age and older (excluding children in foster care) have been checked with the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police at a minimum of every two (2) years. The check shall be initiated within thirty (30) days of the household member's eighteenth birthday.

9. Child Maltreatment Central Registry Checks and Arkansas State Police or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Record Checks shall be initiated within ten (10) days of employment.

10. The agency shall maintain on file evidence that background checks have been initiated as required and results of the completed checks.

11. The agency shall provide a copy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record Check form and the Arkansas State Police Criminal Record Check form to the Licensing Office upon initiation.

No person guilty of an excluded criminal offense pursuant to A.C.A. § 9-28-409 shall be permitted to have direct and unsupervised contact with children, except as provided in the statute. The child placement agency shall immediately notify the Licensing Unit when an individual is found to have a record of an excluded criminal offense.

104 General Personnel Requirements

All personnel employed on or after April 12, 1999, shall meet the following requirements:

1. The agency shall have an administrator who shall be responsible for the general management of the agency, possessing at least one of the following qualifications:

a. A doctorate degree;

b. A master's degree in a human services field (child development, psychology, sociology, social work, guidance and counseling, divinity, education), administration, business, or a related field; or

c. A bachelor's degree in a human services field, administration, business, or a related field, and at least two (2) years of work experience in a human services agency.

2. The agency shall have a Social Services Director who shall supervise child placement activities and casework services by the agency, possessing at least one (1) of the following qualifications (Therapeutic foster care see section 320.2 and Sexual Rehabilitative Program see 422.2):

a. A master's degree or higher in a human services field (child development, psychology, sociology, social work, counseling and guidance, divinity, or education);

b. A bachelor's degree in a human services field and two (2) years of work experience in a child welfare agency; or

c. Anyone permitted to supervise child placement or casework services shall meet the qualifications for Social Services Director.

3. Each agency shall have a caseworker who is responsible for doing assessments, case planning, and casework services, possessing at least one (1) of the following (Therapeutic foster care see section 320.3 and Sexual Rehabilitative Program see 422.3):

a. A bachelor's degree in a human services field; or

b. A bachelor's degree and two (2) years' work experience in a human services field.

4. If casework services are contracted, the agency shall maintain all required personnel information on the contracted caseworkers.

105 Qualifications & Training

1. The Administrator, Social Services Director, and each caseworker of a child welfare agency shall have twenty-four (24) hours of job-related continuing education each year.

2. Owners, operators, employees, foster parents, or volunteers in a child welfare agency are responsible for ensuring the proper care, treatment, safety, and supervision of the children they supervise.

3. Owners, operators, employees, foster parents, or volunteers in a child welfare agency shall not engage in behavior that could be viewed as sexual, dangerous, exploitative, or physically harmful to children.

4. Documentation verifying annual training shall be dated indicating the number of hours, the name of the source, and topic or title.

5. The agency shall maintain a personnel file for each employee that shall include:

a. A resume or application;

b. Date of hire;

c. Verifications of qualifications;

d. Documentation of required annual training;

e. Criminal Record Check and Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check information as required by law;

f. Documentation that applicable employees are informed that they are mandated reporters of suspected child maltreatment, according to A.C.A § 12-18-402, and are provided the information needed to make a report;

g. A functional job description; and

h. At least three (3) positive personal references from non-relatives.

106 Volunteers & Student Interns

1. The agency shall create a policy clearly defining the qualifications, duties, and supervision of volunteers and student interns.

2. Volunteers and student interns will be supervised by an appropriate and designated staff person.

3. A volunteer or student intern who works unsupervised and substitutes as staff shall meet the qualifications required for a paid employee in that position.

107 Exploitation of Children

1. The agency shall not require a child to acknowledge dependency, destitution, or neglect or to make public statements about their background.

2. The agency shall not use, or allow to be used, any reports, pictures, or any other information from which a child can be identified, except under the following conditions:

a. The child and the parent or guardian sign a consent form that describes the purposes for which the identification is being made;

b. The signed consent shall say in which publication or broadcast the identification will appear; and

c. The parent or guardian and child shall be informed that the consent may be withdrawn.

3. All information regarding children and their families shall be kept strictly confidential and may only be released with the consent of a parent or guardian, except to authorized persons or agencies.

4. The agency shall document that the foster parents have been made aware of the need to protect the confidentiality of foster children in the use of social media.

108 Ethical Standards

1. The board sets forth this section as a Code of Ethics/Standards for Practice for all child welfare agencies within the State of Arkansas. Violations of the following shall be grounds for disciplinary action:

a. Confidentiality: In providing services, a child welfare agency shall safeguard information given by clients. A child welfare agency shall obtain the client's informed written consent before releasing confidential information, except when consent to disclose is permitted by law or required by judicial order. If the client is a minor, then the written consent shall be made with the minor and their legal representative or guardian;

b. Responsibility: A child placement agency shall provide a clear, written description of what the client may expect in the way of services, reports, risks, fees, billing, estimated schedules, and grievance procedures;

c. Misrepresentation: A child welfare agency shall not misrepresent its program services or experience; and

d. Client Relationships: Relationships with clients shall not be exploited by the child welfare agency staff for personal gain.

109 Conduct

1. Unprofessional conduct in the practice of child welfare activities includes without limitation:

a. Permitting, aiding, or abetting an unlicensed person in performing activities that require a professional license;

b. Misrepresenting type or status of education, training, expertise, licensure, or professional affiliations;

c. Failing to maintain confidentiality, except as otherwise required or permitted by law, of all information that has been received from a client in confidence during the course of services;

d. Violating the ethical standards adopted by the board;

e. Failing to report to the Licensing Unit any disciplinary action taken against the child welfare agency by another jurisdiction, or the surrender of a license or loss of authorization to practice child welfare activities in another jurisdiction;

f. Failing to comply with any stipulation or agreement with the board involving probation or a settlement of any disciplinary matters; and

g. Engaging in behavior that could be viewed as sexual, dangerous, exploitative, or physically harmful to children.

110 Inspections, Investigations & Corrective Action

1. The Licensing Specialist shall conduct inspections to ensure continued compliance with licensing standards.

2. The Licensing Specialist shall investigate complaints of alleged violation of licensing standards against all placement agencies and may participate in investigations of alleged child maltreatment.

3. The agency shall cooperate with the Licensing Unit in conducting inspections and investigations and shall provide information required to verify compliance with rules.

4. Inspections and investigations may be scheduled or unscheduled, at the discretion of the Licensing Specialist, and may be conducted outside regular working hours.

5. The frequency of inspections are at the discretion of the Licensing Unit and may be based on the agency's compliance history.

6. At the discretion of the Licensing Unit, a multi-disciplinary team may be asked to advise the Licensing Specialist during initial approval or during inspections. This team may include a professional in the appropriate field.

7. Upon finding any violations of licensing standards, the Licensing Specialist shall issue to the agency a corrective action notice that shall state:

a. A factual description of the conditions that constitute a violation of the standard;

b. The specific law or standard violated; and

c. A reasonable time frame within which the violation shall be corrected.

8. The agency shall provide a written corrective action plan, when requested to do so, by the Licensing Specialist in a corrective action notice.

9. Any owner, operator, employee, foster parent, or volunteer in a child welfare agency shall immediately notify the Child Abuse Hotline if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has:

a. Been subjected to child maltreatment;

b. Died as a result of child maltreatment; or

c. If they observe a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in child maltreatment.

10. If a complaint of child maltreatment is filed against any owner, operator, employee, foster parent, volunteer, or other person in a child welfare agency, the agency administration shall evaluate the risk to children and determine the suitability of the person(s) to supervise, be left alone with children, have disciplinary control over children, or remain in the child placement agency until the allegations are determined to be true or unsubstantiated. Any interim corrective action measures shall be approved by the Licensing Unit.

11. The agency shall maintain a log or file of all calls to the child abuse hotline.

12. The agency shall notify the Licensing Unit by the next business day when a report of child maltreatment is accepted by the child abuse hotline against the owner, operator, employee, foster parent, volunteer, child, or other person in a child welfare agency.

13. The agency and all staff shall cooperate fully with investigators during a child maltreatment investigation.

14. The agency shall take steps to prevent harm or retaliation against the child while an allegation of child maltreatment is being investigated.

15. Any person with a true finding of child maltreatment shall have a review by the owner or administrator of the agency, in consultation with the Child Welfare Agency Review Board or its designee, to determine corrective action. Corrective action may include without limitation, counseling, training, probationary employment, non-selection for employment, or termination.

16. Any employee who has been sanctioned by any licensing or certifying entity for any reason pertaining to child safety shall be reviewed by the owner or administrator of the agency, in consultation with the Child Welfare Agency Review Board or its designee, to determine corrective action. Corrective action may include without limitation, counseling, training, probationary employment, non-selection for employment, or termination.

17. The agency shall notify the Licensing Unit by the next business day of serious injuries requiring emergency medical treatment, agency vehicle accidents, arrests, elopements, suicide attempts, or deaths, and maintain documentation of the incident and notification.

18. The agency shall maintain reports on all incidences that cause injury, property damage, or disruption to routine operation or services.

200 CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCIES: FOSTER CARE

In addition to all standards in Section 100, the following standards shall be met:

201 Admission

1. Each agency shall establish written criteria for admitting, as well as excluding, children.

2. The agency shall not admit any child for whom the agency cannot provide adequate care.

3. Each child shall have a medical examination within one (1) year before admission, or an appointment scheduled within one (1) week after admission.

4. Each child shall have proof of current immunizations, or a letter of exemption, in accordance with the Arkansas Department of Health, or an appointment scheduled within one (1) week after admission.

5. The agency shall obtain written authority from the parent(s), guardian(s), or court before placement, or within seventy-two (72) hours if it is an emergency placement.

6. The agency shall obtain written authority for medical care for the child from the parent(s), guardian(s), or court at the time of placement, or within seventy-two (72) hours in an emergency placement.

7. The agency shall comply with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children when placing or admitting children from outside Arkansas.

8. A dependent juvenile of a parent who is in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) shall be subject to all rules regarding space, ratio, health, and safety.

202 Intake & Assessment

1. Intake information shall be completed on each child in care within ten (10) working days after admission.

2. The intake information shall include:

a. Demographic information on the child and parent(s), including name, address, birth date, gender, race, and religious preference;

b. A factual description of the circumstances requiring placement;

c. A brief social history of the family;

d. The child's current legal status or custody;

e. Any history of previous placements outside the family, if applicable; and

f. An assessment of services needed to ensure the health and welfare of the child, including medical history and psychological history.

3. The agency shall obtain copies of legal documents within thirty (30) days of admission or shall document their attempts to obtain the documents. The legal documents shall include without limitation, birth certificates, social security cards, and court orders.

4. A plan of safe care shall be developed for all children with physical limitations, medical conditions, or behaviors that are indicative of harm to self or others; to include without limitation: arson, physical aggression, sexual aggression, suicidal behaviors, or other selfharming tendencies. This plan shall identify the behavior or problem and shall specify the safeguards that are to be implemented. A copy of the plan shall be provided to the direct caregiver(s), as well as a copy placed in the child's record.

203 Case Planning

1. A case plan shall be developed for each child placed into a foster home by a child placement agency. The plan shall address the child's needs as identified in the intake information.

2. When a placement agency places a child with another placement agency, the receiving agency shall develop a case plan for each child received for care.

3. The case plan shall be developed within thirty (30) days after placement.

4. The child's case plan shall contain, at the minimum:

a. Specific needs of the child;

b. Plan for meeting the child's needs;

c. Special treatment issues (for example, psychotropic medications, sexual misconduct, and neurological disorders) with a statement of how the special needs shall be met;

d. A plan to ensure that the child's educational needs are met according to applicable state law;

e. Visitation plan, if applicable; and

f. Date of next review of the case plan.

5. If independence is a goal, the case plan shall include training in independent living skills.

6. Foster parents shall be included in case planning for each child.

7. A copy of the case plan shall be made available to the parent(s), guardian(s), court, or other agencies involved in the delivery of case plan services, if applicable.

8. The child placement agency shall review the case plan at least semi-annually and shall be updated to reflect the child's progress.

204 Children's Records

1. The agency shall keep a confidential case record for each child that includes the following:

a. Demographic information;

b. Plan of safe care, if applicable;

c. A complete intake;

d. Consents, including consent for medical care, and authority to place the child;

e. Interstate Compact information, if applicable;

f. Case plans and case plan reviews;

g. Copies of legal documents (for example, birth certificate, social security card, or court orders) or documentation of their attempts to obtain the documents;

h. Physical exams and immunization records, or documentation of their attempts to obtain the documents;

i. Psychological reports, if applicable;

j. Educational reports, if applicable;

k. Disciplinary and incident reports, if applicable;

l. Records of visitation and family contacts, if applicable;

m. Documentation of casework services and child contact; and

n. Discharge statement.

2. Records for each child shall be kept for five (5) years from the date of discharge, unless otherwise specified by Arkansas law.

205Behavior Management

1. The agency shall have a written discipline policy that is consistently followed.

2. Discipline shall be directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.

3. Discipline shall be appropriate to the child's age, development, and history (including trauma history).

4. The following actions are prohibited:

a. Denial of meals, sleep, shelter, essential clothing, or case plan activities;

b. Denial of parental visits or regular phone and mail contact with family. Non-disciplinary case planning issues are accepted;

c. Lewd or obscene language;

d. Derogatory comments about the child, the child's family, race, or gender;

e. Restriction to a room for more than a short period of time without periodic observation;

f. Restriction to a dark room or area;

g. Locked isolation;

h. Physical injury or threat of bodily harm;

i. Humiliating or degrading action;

j. Extremely strenuous work or exercise;

k. Mechanical or chemical restraints; nor

l. Corporal punishment.

5. Physical restraint shall be initiated only by a trained person; only to prevent injury to the child, other people, or property; and shall not be initiated solely as a form of discipline.

6. A child shall not be allowed to administer discipline, except teen parents may discipline their own children under the supervision and guidance of the foster parent.

7. Searches of a child or a child's personal property shall be for reasons limited to safety and security of children and their foster family, or in cases of suspected theft.

8. Any searches requiring removal of clothing shall be done in privacy.

206 Foster Parent Qualifications

1. In a two-parent home, both are joint applicants, each sign the application, and participate in the approval process.

2. Foster parents are at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

3. The stability of the foster family is evaluated and determined to be appropriate.

4. Foster parents are physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of caring for children.

5. The foster family shall provide documentation of sufficient financial resources to meet their needs.

6. All family members under eighteen (18) years of age in the household shall have proof of current health immunizations or an exemption in accordance with the Arkansas Department of Health.

7. When routine childcare is needed, foster children shall attend licensed childcare or have an agency-approved caregiver.

207 Content of the Home Study

1. The agency shall complete a home study for each foster home.

2. The agency shall conduct at least one (1) scheduled in-home interview for each household member to observe family functioning and assess the family's capacity to meet the needs of children in foster care.

3. The agency shall interview every age-appropriate member of the household.

4. The home study shall include the following information:

a. Motivation: the individual's motivation for becoming a foster parent;

b. Household Composition: the full legal names, birth dates, relationships to one another, and a brief physical description of everyone residing in the home

c. Housing: Address, location, and type of structure, as well as the upkeep and housekeeping standards, sleeping arrangements, length of time at residence, and future residence plans of the facility's occupants;

d. Safety Hazards: an assessment of the safety of the home and grounds, including water hazards, swimming pools, hot tubs, dangerous pets, and other hazardous items and areas;

e. Income and Expenses: employment history for the last six (6) years (duration, salary, duties, title, degree of job security, and hours), other sources of income, monthly living expenses, outstanding debts, and insurance;

f. Health: current health of each family member, including prior illnesses or medical problems; disabilities; clinics or doctors utilized and frequency of use; counseling (dates and purposes); and hospitalization for alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or mental illness;

g. Education: parents' educational attainment, future educational plans, and parenting classes attended;

h. Childcare Arrangements or Plans: current arrangement or proposed arrangement as it relates to their working hours and income;

i. Child Rearing Practices: purpose of behavior management; behavior guidance practices; how they show affection; and how they handle stress, allowance, chores, and homework;

j. Daily Schedule;

k. Social History: highlights and verification regarding action of marriages, divorces, children, relationships support system, future plans, any individual not living in the home, and any significant personal, developmental, personality or legal problems;

l. Family Activities: religious interests, social organizations, activities with children, and family roles;

m. Impressions, Conclusions and Recommendations: evaluate the family's situation and ability to provide for a child based on the information obtained during the home study; and

n. Approval: if the agency approves the foster parent(s), the agency shall recommend in the home study the number, age, gender, and other characteristics of children for whom the home is approved to provide care.

5. The Placement agency may require further documentation or evaluation to determine the suitability of the home.

208 Physical Requirements of the Home

1. The foster home shall be accessible to community resources needed by foster children.

2. The foster home shall be clean and free of hazards.

3. The foster home shall have a continuous supply of sanitary drinking water. If the source is not a municipal water system, the water shall be tested and approved annually by the Arkansas Department of Health. The approval shall be kept in the foster home case record.

4. The foster home shall have at least one (1) flush toilet, one (1) sink with running water, and one (1) bathtub or shower with hot and cold running water.

5. There shall be an operational smoke detector in each bedroom.

6. There shall be an operational smoke detector on each level of occupancy of the foster home.

7. There shall be an operational chemical fire extinguisher, readily accessible, near the cooking area of the home.

8. The foster parents shall practice and document emergency evacuation drills with each new child entering the home and repeat at least quarterly thereafter.

9. All heating units with hot external areas shall be screened or otherwise shielded.

10. The home shall have at least one (1) exterior door that exits directly to the outside, or the home shall have an alternate fire escape route.

11. The home shall have an operational telephone that is accessible for children. Working cell phones kept on the premises are acceptable.

12. Each child shall have adequate space for storing clothing and personal belongings.

13. All household pets shall have proof of current rabies vaccinations, as required by Arkansas law.

14. All firearms shall be maintained in a secure, locked location or be secured by a trigger lock.

15. All ammunition shall be secured and locked separately from firearms, unless they are stored in a safe (for example, a handgun safe or a long gun safe).

16. The foster home record shall contain an agency-approved safety plan for any noted hazards. The safety plan shall be signed by all caregivers in the foster home and an agency representative.

17. A current floor plan of the home with room dimensions for all rooms used for sleeping shall be in the foster home record.

18. Manufactured homes, used as foster homes, shall have an agency-approved plan for tornado safety. The safety plan shall be signed by all caregivers in the foster home and an agency representative.

19. The foster home shall be a house, mobile home, housing unit, or apartment occupied by an individual or family.

20. The foster home, grounds, and all structures on the property shall be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition and be in a reasonable state of repair within community standards.

21. The foster home interior and exterior must be free from dangerous objects, dangerous conditions, and hazardous materials.

22. All poisonous materials, cleaning supplies, other hazardous materials, and alcoholic beverages shall be stored in an area not readily accessible to children, as appropriate for the age and development of each child.

23. The foster home shall have proper trash and recycling disposal.

24. The foster home shall be free of rodent and insect infestation.

25. The foster home shall be equipped with a functional kitchen that includes a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator, a stove, and an oven.

26. The foster home shall have adequate lighting and ventilation.

27. The foster home shall have a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning source, maintained in safe operating condition, that keeps the temperature a minimum of sixty-five degrees (65°) and a maximum of eighty-five degrees (85°).

28. The foster home shall be free of obvious fire hazards such as defective heating equipment or improperly stored flammable materials.

29. There shall be a carbon monoxide detector on each level of occupancy of the foster home and near all sleeping areas.

30. The foster home shall have a safe operating water heater that has a recommended temperature at or below one-hundred and twenty degrees (120°), as tested at the plumbing fixture nearest the water heater.

31. The foster home shall maintain adequate first aid supplies for emergencies.

32. Foster parents shall maintain a list of emergency telephone numbers, including poison control, and shall post it in a prominent place.

33. Foster parents shall not permit a child to enter a pool area unless accompanied by an adult.

34. The foster home record shall contain a water safety plan for supervision of children during water activities. The plan shall be signed by all caregivers in the foster home and an agency representative.

35. Swimming pools shall be enclosed or shall have an approved manual or power operated child safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials adopted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Please note that solar pool covers and winter pool covers are not safety covers. The American Safety for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (1996) requires that a pool cover be able to hold a minimum of 485 pounds per five (5) square feet in order to qualify as a safety cover.

36. In ground pools without an approved child safety cover shall be protected by an enclosure (wall, fence, or barrier) that surrounds the pool area.

37. Unless local code provides otherwise an enclosure shall meet the following;

a. Entirely enclose the pool area;

b. Be at least 4 feet high;

c. Swimming pools must have their methods of access through the barrier equipped with a safety device, such as a bolt lock.

38. The wall of a house or other building shall not be used in lieu of barrier to the pool with the exception of a solid wall that does not contain any doors. When a wall is used as a barrier the remaining three sides shall be protected by an enclosure (wall, fence, or barrier) that surrounds the pool area or have an approved child safety cover. The enclosure shall meet the following:

a. Entirely encloses the pool area;

b. Be at least 4 feet high;

c. Swimming pools must have their methods of access through the barrier equipped with a safety device, such as a bolt lock.

39. All above ground pools shall have non-climbable exterior side walls with a minimum height of 4 feet and have access ladders or steps that are removable and able to be secured when the pool is not in use.

40. Swimming pools shall be equipped with a life saving device such as a ring buoy.

41. All portable pools (inflatable and wading pools) shall be fenced or emptied after every use.

42. Swimming pools that cannot be emptied after each use shall have a working pump and filtering system.

43. Hot tubs and spas shall have locking safety covers that are locked when not in use.

209 Sleeping Arrangements

1. Each household occupant shall have a bedroom that provides privacy.

2. Each bedroom shall have at least fifty (50) square feet of floor space per occupant.

3. Each bedroom used for foster children shall have a window to the outside that can serve as an emergency escape.

4. Bars, grilles, grates, or other items that block access to the window are permitted only if they can be removed from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or force greater than that required for normal operation of the window. In this event, each such bedroom shall have a working smoke detector.

5. No more than four (4) children shall share a bedroom.

6. Each foster child shall be provided a safe bedroom (appropriate for the child's age and needs) that includes a bed with a mattress, sheets, a pillow, a pillowcase, and adequate cover, all in good condition, and similar to those provided to other household members. Children of the opposite sex shall not share the same bedroom if either child is four (4) years of age or older, except for a teen parent in foster care with her child.

7. No children shall share a bed if either child is four (4) years of age or older.

8. No child under six (6) years of age shall occupy a top bunk.

9. Foster children, except infants under two (2) years of age, shall not share a sleeping room with adults; this age would increase through four (4) years of age for a grandparent to the child or a teen parent in foster care with her child.

10. All cribs used for children shall have current certification of compliance with Consumer Product Safety Guidelines (CPSC) standards.

11. Children twelve (12) months of age and below shall be placed flat on their backs to sleep, in accordance with American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, to lessen the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (If a child rolls over on their own, the facility is not required to reposition the child.) If there is a medical reason a child cannot sleep on their back, a signed statement from the child's physician shall be in the file stating the reason, the sleep position indicated, and the time frame required.

12. Bedding shall be changed at least weekly, or more often if needed.

13. Foster parents shall not co-sleep or bed share with a foster child of any age, including infants.

210 Approval of Foster Homes

1. A foster home shall be approved by only one (1) agency.

2. At least three (3) positive personal references shall be obtained on the foster family, including at least one (1) from a relative and one (1) from a non-relative.

3. Each member of the foster family shall have a physical exam within twelve (12) months before the initial approval.

4. Pre-service training shall include the following topics:

a. Legal rights;

b. Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of foster parents;

c. Agency structure, purpose, policies, and services;

d. Laws and regulations, as related to foster homes or foster children;

e. The impact of childhood trauma;

f. Managing child behaviors;

g. Medication administration; and

h. The importance of maintaining meaningful connections between the child and parents, including regular visitation.

i. Foster parent(s) shall have a current certificate of completion of First Aid and CPR before a child is placed in the home. The training shall require hands on, skill-based instruction, as well as practical testing. Training and certification that is provided solely online will not be accepted.

5. Foster parents shall provide documentation that they carry homeowner's or renter's insurance and general liability insurance.

6. Foster homes shall not also operate as child-care family homes.

7. Foster homes shall not provide compensated care for any non-related adults in the foster home, unless providing transitional care for a person placed in care prior to eighteen (18) years of age.

8. There shall be an annual approval letter from the approving agency in the foster home record.

9. A provisional foster home means a foster home opened for no more than six (6) months by the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services, and operated by a relative or fictive kin of a child in the custody of the division after the division does the following:

a. Conducts a health and safety check, including a central registry check and a criminal background check or check with local law enforcement on the relative's or fictive kin's home; and

b. Performs a visual inspection of the home of the relative or fictive kin to verify that the relative or fictive kin and the home will meet the standards for opening a regular foster home.

10. If a foster home moves from one (1) placement agency to another, all requirements for opening a new foster home shall be met.

11. Foster parents must be able to communicate with the foster child, the placement agency, health care providers, and other service providers.

12. At least one (1) foster parent in the home must have functional literacy, such as having the ability to read medication labels.

211 Selection of Foster Home

1. The agency shall select the home that is in the best interest of the child, is the least restrictive possible, and is matched to the child's physical and emotional needs. The placement decision shall be based on an individual assessment of the child's needs.

2. No children shall be placed in a foster home unless there is an approval letter in the record from the approving agency.

3. The agency shall place children only in approved foster homes.

4. When a placement agency places a child with another placement agency, the receiving agency shall maintain a record for and provide casework services to the children placed into their foster homes.

5. Foster homes shall not have more than six (6) foster children in care. A foster home shall not have more than eight (8) children in their home, including their own children. This includes placement or respite care.

6. Foster homes shall not have more than two (2) children under two (2) years of age, including the foster parent's own children.

7. No new placements of children shall occur with foster parents who have not satisfied the annual training requirements. Administrative-level staff designated by the agency director may grant an exemption to this restriction for up to sixty (60) days. The administrator shall review the quality of care provided by the foster parents and the reasons for failing to complete the training on time in deciding whether to grant an exception.

212 Continued Training of Foster Parents

1. Each foster parent shall obtain at least fifteen (15) hours of training each year after the first year. This does not apply to foster parents for infants who are in short-term foster care awaiting adoptive placement. Such foster parents shall obtain ten (10) hours of training for the primary caregiver and five (5) hours of training for the secondary caregiver each year.

2. Documentation verifying annual training shall indicate the date, the number of hours, the name of the source, the topic, and the title.

3. Each foster parent shall maintain a current certificate of successful completion of hands-on, skill-based CPR and First Aid. Training and certification that is provided solely online will not be accepted.

4. Foster parents shall participate in ongoing training to receive instruction that supports their parental roles and ensures the foster parent is up to date with agency and licensing requirements.

NOTE: Annual training may include without limitation, child-specific training or issues relevant to the general population of children in foster care.

213 Foster Parents Responsibilities

1. Foster parents shall be responsible for providing the level of supervision, care, and treatment necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of each child placed into their home, considering the child's age, individual differences, abilities, surrounding circumstances, hazards, and risks.

2. Foster parents shall provide each child with adequate and nutritious food.

3. Foster parents shall provide regular activities to promote the physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional development of the children in their care.

4. Foster parents shall provide each child their own clothing that is clean, well-fitted, seasonal, appropriate to age and gender, and comparable to community standards.

5. Foster parents shall allow foster children to acquire and keep personal belongings.

6. Foster parents shall fully cooperate with the child placement agency's case plan for each foster child, including visitation.

7. Foster parents shall provide routine transportation for each child.

8. Foster parents shall participate in case planning and case plan reviews.

9. Foster parents shall attend school conferences concerning a foster child and shall notify the child placement agency of any situations that may affect the case plan or require agency involvement.

10. Foster parents shall notify the child placement agency promptly of serious illness, injury, or unusual circumstances affecting the health, safety, or welfare of the foster child.

11. Foster parents shall cooperate with the child placement agency and the Licensing Unit in conducting inspections and investigations and shall provide information required to verify compliance with rules.

12. Foster parents shall maintain absolute confidentiality of private information about each foster child and the birth family.

13. Foster parents shall give advance notice to the agency of any major changes that affect the life and circumstances of the foster family, including a change of residence, when possible.

14. Foster parents shall keep periodic photographs, a record of the child's memberships, activities, and participation in extracurricular school or church activities, trophies, awards, ribbons, etc. for each foster child. These items shall be provided to the child upon change in placement.

15. Foster parents shall ensure that each child has sufficient sleep for their age and physical condition.

16. Foster parents shall instruct each child in good grooming and personal hygiene habits.

17. Foster parents shall provide each child with opportunities for regular recreational activities and exercise.

18. Foster parents shall ensure each child shall be provided with age-appropriate activities and equipment.

19. Foster parents shall monitor and time limit the use of television, videos, computer games, and other screen time activities.

20. Foster parents shall comply with the rules and responsibilities of the Placement Agreement developed by the Placement Agency.

21. Foster parents shall not engage in the use of illegal substances, abuse alcohol by consuming excessive amounts, or abuse legal prescription drugs or non-prescription drugs by consuming them in excess amounts or using them contrary to as prescribed or indicated.

22. Foster parents shall adhere to the placement agency's reasonable and prudent standard.

214 Medications

1. Foster parents shall administer medications only in accordance with directions on the label.

a. All over-the-counter medications shall be stored in an area not readily accessible to children, according to the age and development of each child in the home.

b. All prescription medications excluding Epi-pens, inhalers, and Glucagon kits shall be locked. An age appropriate and developmentally capable child may be provided or have access to non-narcotic prescriptions with an approved safety plan. Examples include without limitation, birth control, acne creams, and topical creams.

2. Medication shall be stored in accordance with pharmaceutical recommendations.

3. Foster parents shall be aware of possible side effects of all medications administered to foster children.

4. All medications shall be logged by the foster parent at the time the medication is administered.

5. The medication logs shall include:

a. Child's name;

b. Time and date;

c. Medication and dosage; and

d. Initials of the person administering the medication.

6. All currently prescribed medication shall be provided at placement.

215 Transportation

1. Foster families shall have their own transportation available.

2. Any vehicle used to transport foster children shall be maintained in compliance with motor vehicle laws and be insured.

3. Children shall be transported only by foster parents or persons approved by the foster parents who possess a valid driver's license.

4. Children shall be transported according to Arkansas law, including without limitation, use of safety belts, child safety seats, and smoking restrictions.

216 Visitation

The standards in 216 do not apply to children in short-term foster care awaiting adoptive placement.

1. The agency that has legal responsibility for the child shall develop a visitation plan that specifies when and how visits will occur between the child and the parents.

2. The child placement agency shall carry out the visitation plan to meet the terms of the plan.

3. Foster parents shall allow foster children and their families to communicate according to the child's case plan.

217 Child Placement Agency Responsibilities

1. The child placement agency (agency) shall provide the foster parents with the information necessary to provide adequate care to each foster child.

2. The agency shall provide foster parents with instructions for contacting agency personnel at any time.

3. The agency shall assign a caseworker to each child who is responsible for doing assessments, case planning, and casework services.

4. An agency caseworker shall not have more than twenty-five (25) children's cases at a time.

5. An agency caseworker shall visit the child in person at least monthly while the child is in foster care.

6. The agency shall ensure that each child in foster care has a medical exam at least annually. Medical exams need not be repeated during the year if a child moves from one facility or agency to another (provided the results of the exam are available to the receiving facility or agency).

7. The agency shall remain legally responsible for the supervision and decision-making regarding foster children. Foster parents have daily responsibility for the care of the children.

8. The agency shall have a written plan that provides foster parents with timely reimbursements for costs of care and fees for services.

9. The agency shall develop respite care and babysitting policies.

10. Respite care shall occur in an agency-approved foster home and shall not exceed fourteen (14) consecutive days.

11. If the agency receives a report of non-compliance with licensing standards, the agency shall investigate the report of non-compliance. A report of findings and any corrective action shall be maintained in the foster home record. The investigation shall be completed within sixty (60) days of receiving the report of non-compliance, unless good cause is documented.

12. The agency shall maintain a record for each foster family that contains all information and documentation required by licensing standards. This record shall include:

a. Complete and signed application;

b. Approval letter;

c. Home Study;

d. Minimum age verification;

e. Three (3) positive references;

f. Initial physical exam;

g. Pre-service training verification;

h. Initial and current criminal background, Child Maltreatment Central Registry, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) checks, as required;

i. Initial and current CPR and First Aid certification;

j. Current health immunizations of children or exemption;

k. Current auto insurance;

l. Current homeowner's or renter's insurance and general liability insurance;

m. Current rabies vaccinations for household pets, as required by law;

n. Documentation of annual training;

o. Safety plans;

p. Social media confidentiality documentation;

q. Surveillance documentation, if applicable;

r. Floor plan;

s. Annual water test results, if applicable;

t. Approved alternative fire escape route, if applicable;

u. Documentation of quarterly monitoring visits, including unannounced visits;

v. Documentation of annual re-evaluations;

w. Reports of non-compliance with licensing standards, including findings and any corrective actions; and

x. Closing summary.

13. If the home closes, the agency shall prepare a closing summary, including reasons for closure.

14. The agency shall promptly notify Arkansas' Office of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) upon discharging a child from outside Arkansas.

15. The agency shall approve and document the use of all surveillance devices used in the home.

218 Monitoring & Re-evaluation

1. The agency shall monitor the foster home at least quarterly for continued compliance with licensing standards for foster homes. This does not apply to foster homes for infants in shortterm foster care awaiting adoptive placement. Before a child can be placed in such a foster home, a monitoring visit shall be done within the three (3) months prior to placement

2. At least one (1) unannounced quarterly visit shall be conducted annually and shall be documented as unannounced in the foster home record.

3. The child placement agency shall conduct an annual re-evaluation of the foster family home. Any foster home that does not substantially comply with the standards for approval shall not be approved for placement until compliance is achieved.

4. The agency shall keep documentation of quarterly monitoring visits and annual reevaluations in the foster home record, signed and dated by the person conducting the visit and the foster parent.

5. If the foster family experiences any major life changes (for example, marriage, divorce, separation, health problems, death, change of residence, or change of household composition), the child placement agency shall re-evaluate the home at that time.

6. If a home is inactive or closed for one (1) year or more and desires to reopen, the agency shall:

a. Conduct a re-evaluation to ensure that licensing requirements are met;

b. Ensure that new background checks are conducted;

c. Ensure that CPR and First Aid training is current; and

d. Evaluate any major changes, that being, (218.5).

219 Discharge

1. The discharge of any child shall be planned by agency staff.

2. The agency may discharge a child on an emergency basis if failure to do so could result in harm to the child or other persons or significant property damage.

3. A agency shall discharge the child to the custody of their parent, their guardian, a person with authorization from their parent or guardian, or a person authorized by court order to assume custody of the child.

4. The agency shall complete a discharge statement on each child (including the date of and reason for discharge) and provide a copy of it to the child's custodian..

5. Documentation of the discharge shall be maintained in the child's record.

300 CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCIES:

THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE

In addition to all standards in Section 100, the following standards shall be met in order to be licensed as a Therapeutic Foster Care Agency:

301 Admission

1. Each agency shall establish written criteria for admitting as well as excluding children.

2. The agency shall not admit any child for whom the agency cannot provide adequate care.

3. Each child shall have a medical exam within one (1) year before admission, or an appointment scheduled within one (1) week after admission.

4. Each child shall have proof of current immunizations, a letter of exemption in accordance with the Arkansas Department of Health, or an appointment scheduled within one (1) week after admission.

5. The agency shall obtain written authority from the parent(s), guardian(s), or court before placement, or within seventy-two (72) hours in an emergency placement.

6. The agency shall obtain written authority for medical care for the child from the parent(s), guardian(s), court at the time of placement, or within seventy-two (72) hours in an emergency placement.

7. The agency shall comply with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children when placing or admitting children from outside Arkansas.

8. A dependent juvenile of a parent who is in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) shall be subject to all rules regarding space, ratio, health, and safety.

302 Intake & Assessment

1. Intake information shall be completed on each child in care within ten (10) working days after admission.

2. The intake information shall include:

a. Demographic information on the child and parent(s), including name, address, birth date, gender, race, and religious preference;

b. A factual description of the circumstances requiring placement;

c. A brief social history of the family;

d. The child's current legal status or custody;

e. Any history of previous placements outside the family, if applicable; and

f. An assessment of services needed to ensure the health and welfare of the child, including medical history and psychological history.

3. The agency shall obtain copies of legal documents within thirty (30) days of admission or shall document their attempts to obtain the documents. The legal documents shall include without limitation, birth certificates, social security cards, and court orders.

4. A plan of safe care shall be developed for all children with physical limitations, medical conditions, or behaviors that are indicative of harm to self or others; to include without limitation: arson, physical aggression, sexual aggression, suicidal behaviors, or other selfharming tendencies. This plan shall identify the behavior or problem and specify the safeguards that are to be implemented. A copy of the plan shall be provided to the direct caregiver(s), as well as a copy placed in the child's case file.

303 Treatment Planning

1. A treatment plan shall be developed for each child placed into a foster home by a child placement agency. The plan shall address the child's needs as identified in the intake information.

2. When a placement agency places a child with another placement agency the receiving agency shall develop a treatment plan for each child received for care.

3. The treatment plan shall be developed within thirty (30) days after placement.

4. The treatment plan shall be developed after a staffing. If applicable, the parents, foster parents, facility staff, caseworker, social worker or probation officer, and the child shall be invited to the staffing.

5. The child's treatment plan shall contain, at the minimum:

a. Specific needs of the child;

b. Plan for meeting child's needs;

c. Special treatment issues (for example, psychotropic medications, sexual misconduct, and neurological disorders) shall be identified, with a statement of how the special needs shall be met;

d. A plan to ensure that the child's educational needs are met according to applicable state law;

e. Visitation plan, if applicable; and

f. Date of next review of the treatment plan.

6. If independence is a goal, the treatment plan shall include training in independent living skills.

7. Foster parents shall be included in treatment planning for each child.

8. Foster parents shall be provided a copy of the child's current treatmentplan.

9. A copy of the treatment plan shall be made available to the parent(s), guardian(s), court, or other agencies involved in the delivery of case plan services, if applicable.

10. The treatment plan shall be reviewed at least semi-annually and shall be updated to reflect the child's progress.

11. If treatment services are contracted, there shall be evidence of participation by the contracted therapist in treatment planning reviews and individualized program implementation.

304 Children's Records

1. The agency shall keep a confidential case record for each child that includes the following;

a. Demographic information;

b. Plan of safe care, if applicable;

c. A complete intake;

d. Consents, including consent for medical care, and authority to place the child;

e. Interstate Compact information, if applicable;

f. Treatment plans and treatment plan reviews;

g. Copies of legal documents (for example, birth certificates, social security cards, or court orders) or documentation of their attempts to obtain the documents;

h. Physical exams and immunization records, or documentation of their attempts to obtain the documents;

i. Psychological reports, if applicable;

j. Educational reports, if applicable;

k. Disciplinary and incident reports, if applicable;

l. Records of visitation and family contacts, if applicable;

m. Documentation of casework services and child contact, current to within one (1) month of occurrence; and

n. Discharge statement.

2. Records for each child shall be kept for five (5) years from the date of discharge, unless otherwise specified by Arkansas law.

305 Behavior Management

1. The agency shall have a written discipline policy that is consistently followed.

2. Discipline shall be directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.

3. Discipline shall be appropriate to the child's age, development, and history (including trauma history).

4. The following disciplinary actions shall not be used:

a. Denial of meals, sleep, shelter, essential clothing, or case plan activities;

b. Denial of parental visits or regular phone and mail contact with family. Non-disciplinary case planning issues are accepted;

c. Lewd or obscene language;

d. Derogatory comments about the child, the child's family, race, or gender;

e. Restriction to a room for more than a short period of time without periodic observation;

f. Restriction to a dark room or area;

g. Locked isolation;

h. Physical injury or threat of bodily harm;

i. Humiliating or degrading action;

j. Extremely strenuous work or exercise;

k. Mechanical or chemical restraints; nor

l. Corporal punishment.

5. Physical restraint shall be initiated only by a trained person; only to prevent injury to the child, other people, or property; and shall not be initiated solely as a form of discipline.

6. A child shall not be allowed to administer discipline, except teen parents may discipline their own children under the supervision and guidance of the foster parent.

7. Searches of a child or a child's personal property shall be for reasons limited to safety and security of children and foster family, or in cases of suspected theft.

8. Any searches requiring removal of clothing shall be done in privacy.

306 Foster Parent Qualifications

1. In a two-parent home, both shall be joint applicants, each sign the application, and participate in the approval process.

2. Foster parents shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

3. The stability of the foster family shall be evaluated and determined to be appropriate.

4. Foster parents shall be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of caring for children.

5. The physical health of the foster parents shall be equal to the stress inherent in the care of special needs children, as evidenced by the physician's statement.

6. The foster family shall provide documentation of sufficient financial resources to meet their needs.

7. All family members under eighteen (18) years of age in the household shall have proof of current health immunizations, or an exemption in accordance with the Arkansas Department of Health.

8. When routine childcare is needed, foster children shall attend licensed childcare or have an agency-approved caregiver.

307 Content of the Home Study

1. The agency shall complete a home study for each foster home.

2. The agency shall conduct at least one (1) scheduled in-home interview for each household member to observe family functioning and assess the family's capacity to meet the needs of children in foster care.

3. The agency shall interview every age-appropriate member of the household.

4. The home study shall include the following information:

a. Motivation: the individual's motivation for becoming foster parents;

b. Household Composition: the full legal names, birth dates, relationships to one another, and a brief physical description of everyone residing in the home;

c. Housing: Address, location, and type of structure, as well as the upkeep and housekeeping standards, sleeping arrangements, length of time at residence, and future residence plans of the facility's occupants;

d. Safety Hazards: an assessment of the safety of the home and grounds including water hazards, swimming pools, hot tubs, dangerous pets, and other hazardous items and areas;

e. Income and Expenses: employment history for the last six (6) years (duration, salary, duties, title, degree of job security, and hours), other sources of income, monthly living expenses, outstanding debts, and insurance;

f. Health: current health of each family member, including prior illnesses or medical problems; disabilities; clinic or doctor utilized and frequency of use; counseling (dates and purposes); and hospitalization for alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or mental illness;

g. Education: parents' educational attainment, future educational plans, and parenting classes attended;

h. Childcare Arrangements or Plans: current arrangement or proposed arrangement as it relates to their working hours and income;

i. Child Rearing Practices: purpose of behavior management; behavior guidance practices; how they show affection; and how they handle stress, allowance, chores, and homework;

j. Daily Schedule;

k. Social History: highlights and verification regarding action of marriages and divorces, children, relationships' support system, future plans, any significant extended family members not living in the home, and any significant personal, developmental, personality, or legal problems;

l. Family Activities: religious interests, social organizations, activities with children, and family roles;

m. Impressions, Conclusions, and Recommendations: evaluate the family's situation and ability to provide for a child based on the information obtained during the home study; and

n. Approval: if the agency approves the foster parent(s), the agency shall recommend in the home study the number, age, gender, and other characteristics of children for whom the home is approved to provide care.

5. The placement agency may require further documentation or evaluation to determine the suitability of the home.

308 Physical Requirements of the Home

1. The foster home shall have access to community resources needed by foster children.

2. The foster home shall be clean and free of hazards.

3. The foster home shall have a continuous supply of sanitary drinking water. If the source is not a municipal water system, the water shall be tested and approved annually by the Arkansas Department of Health. This approval will be added to the foster home case record.

4. The foster home shall have at least one (1) flushing toilet, one (1) sink with running water, and one (1) bathtub or shower with hot and cold running water.

5. An operational smoke detector is required for each bedroom.

6. An operational chemical fire extinguisher must be readily accessible near the cooking area of the home.

7. The foster parents shall practice and document emergency evacuation drills with each new child entering the home and repeat at least quarterly thereafter.

8. All heating units with hot external areas shall be screened or otherwise shielded.

9. The home shall have at least one (1) exterior door that exits directly to the outside, or an alternate fire escape route.

10. The home shall have an operational telephone that is accessible to children. Working cell phones kept on the premises are acceptable.

11. Each child shall have adequate space for storing clothing and personal belongings.

12. All household pets shall have proof of current rabies vaccinations as required by Arkansas law.

13. All firearms shall be maintained in a secure, locked location or be secured by a trigger lock.

14. All ammunition shall be secured and locked separately from firearms unless they are stored in a safe (for example, a handgun safe or a long gun safe).

15. The foster home record shall contain an agency-approved safety plan for any noted hazards. The safety plan shall be signed by all caregivers in the foster home and an agency representative.

16. A current floor plan of the home with room dimensions for all rooms used for sleeping shall be in the foster home record.

17. Manufactured homes, used as foster homes, shall have an agency-approved plan for tornado safety. The safety plan shall be signed by all caregivers in the foster home and an agency representative.

18. The foster home shall be a house, a mobile home, housing unit, or apartment occupied by an individual or a family.

19. The foster home, grounds, and all structures on the property shall be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition and be in a reasonable state of repair within community standards

20. The foster home interior and exterior must be free from dangerous objects, dangerous conditions, and hazardous materials.

21. All poisonous materials, cleaning supplies, other hazardous materials, and alcoholic beverages, shall be stored in an area not readily accessible to children, as appropriate for the age and development of each child.

22. The foster home shall have proper trash and recycling disposal.

23. The foster home shall be free of rodent and insect infestation.

24. The foster home shall be equipped with a functional kitchen that includes a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator, a stove, and an oven.

25. The foster home shall have adequate lighting and ventilation.

26. The foster home shall have a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning source, maintained in safe operating condition, that keeps the temperature a minimum of sixty-five degrees (65°) and a maximum of eighty-five degrees (85°).

27. The foster home shall be free of obvious fire hazards such as defective heating equipment or improperly stored flammable materials.

28. There shall be an operational smoke detector on each level of occupancy of the foster home.

29. There shall be a carbon monoxide detector on each level of occupancy of the foster home and near all sleeping areas.

30. The foster home shall have a safe operating water heater that has a recommended temperature at or below one-hundred and twenty degrees (120°) as tested at the plumbing fixture nearest the water heater.

31. The foster home shall maintain adequate first aid supplies for emergencies.

32. Foster parents shall maintain a list of emergency telephone numbers, including poison control, and shall post it in a prominent place.

33. Foster parents shall not permit a child to enter a pool area unless accompanied by an adult.

34. The foster home record shall contain a water safety plan for supervision of children during water activities. The plan shall be signed by all caregivers in the foster home and an emergency representative.

35. Swimming pools shall be enclosed or shall have an approved manual or power operated child safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials adopted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Please note that solar pool covers and winter pool covers are not safety covers. The American Safety for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (1996) requires that a pool cover be able to hold a minimum of 485 pounds per five (5) square feet in order to qualify as a safety cover.

36. In ground pools without an approved child safety cover shall be protected by an enclosure (wall, fence, or barrier) that surrounds the pool area.

37. Unless local code provides otherwise an enclosure shall meet the following;

a. Entirely enclose the pool area;

b. Be at least 4 feet high

c. Swimming pools must have their methods of access through the barrier equipped with a safety device, such as a bolt lock.

38. The wall of a house or other building shall not be used in lieu of barrier to the pool with the exception of a solid wall that does not contain any doors. When a wall is used as a barrier the remaining three sides shall be protected by an enclosure (wall, fence, or barrier) that surrounds the pool area or have an approved child safety cover. The enclosure shall meet the following:

a. Entirely encloses the pool area;

b. Be at least 4 feet high;

c. Swimming pools must have their methods of access through the barrier equipped with a safety device, such as a bolt lock.

39. All above ground pools shall have non-climbable exterior side walls with a minimum height of 4 feet and have access ladders or steps that are removable and able to be secured when the pool is not in use.

40. Swimming pools shall be equipped with a life saving device such as a ring buoy.

41. All portable pools (inflatable and wading pools) shall be fenced or emptied after every use.

42. Swimming pools that cannot be emptied after each use shall have a working pump and filtering system.

43. Hot tubs and spas shall have locking safety covers that are locked when not in use.

309 Sleeping Arrangements

1. Each household occupant shall have a bedroom that provides privacy

2. Each bedroom shall have at least fifty (50) square feet of floor space per occupant.

3. Each bedroom used for foster children shall have a window to the outside that can serve as an emergency escape.

4. Bars, grills, grates, or other items that block access to the window are permitted only if they can be removed from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or force greater than that required for normal operation of the window. In this event, each such bedroom shall have a working smoke detector.

5. No more than four (4) children shall share a bedroom.

6. Each foster child shall be provided a safe bedroom (appropriate for the child's age and needs) that includes a bed with a mattress, sheets, a pillow, a pillowcase, and adequate cover, all in good condition, and similar to those provided to other household members.

7. Children of the opposite sex shall not share the same bedroom if either child is four (4) years of age or older, except for a teen parent in foster care with her child.

8. No children shall share a bed if either child is four (4) years of age or older.

9. Children under six (6) years of age cannot occupy a top bunk.

10. Foster children, except infants under two (2) years of age, shall not share a sleeping room with adults; this age would increase through four (4) years of age for a grandparent to the child or a teen parent in foster care with her child.

11. All cribs used for children shall have current certification of compliance with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.

12. Children twelve (12) months of age and below shall be placed flat on their backs to sleep, in accordance with American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, to lessen the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (If a child rolls over on their own, the facility is not required to reposition the child.) If there is a medical reason a child cannot sleep on their back, a signed statement from the child's physician shall be in the file stating the reason, the sleep position indicated, and the time frame required.

13. Bedding shall be changed at least weekly, or more often if needed.

14. Foster parents shall not co-sleep or share a bed with a foster child of any age, including infants.

310 Approval of Foster Homes

1. A foster home can be approved only by one (1) agency.

2. At least three (3) positive personal references shall be obtained on the foster family including at least one (1) from a relative and one (1) from a non-relative.

3. Each member of the foster family shall have a physical exam within twelve (12) months before the initial approval.

4. Foster parents shall be trained in crisis prevention and intervention before a child is placed in the home.

5. Pre-service training shall include the following topics:

a. Legal rights;

b. Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of foster parents;

c. Agency structure, purpose, policies, and services;

d. Laws and regulations as related to foster homes or foster children;

e. The impact of childhood trauma;

f. Managing child behaviors;

g. Medication administration; and

h. The importance of maintaining meaningful connections between the child and parents; including regular visitation.

6. Prior to the placement of children in their home, foster parents shall complete at least thirty (30) hours of skill-based pre-service training (excluding CPR and First Aid) consistent with the agency's treatment methodology and the needs of the population served.

7. Foster parent(s) shall have a current certificate of completion of First Aid and CPR before a child is placed in the home. The training shall require hands-on, skill-based instruction, as well as practical testing. Training and certification that is provided solely online will not be accepted.

8. Foster parents shall provide documentation that they carry homeowner's or renter's insurance and general liability insurance.

9. Foster homes shall not also operate as child-care family homes.

10. Foster homes shall not provide compensated care for any non-related adults in the foster home, unless providing transitional care for a person placed in care prior to eighteen (18) years of age.

11. There shall be an annual approval letter from the approving agency in the foster home record.

12. If a foster home moves from one (1) placement agency to another all requirements for opening a new foster home shall be met.

13. Foster parents must be able to communicate with the foster child, the placement agency, health care providers, and other service providers.

14. At least one (1) foster parent in the home must have functional literacy, such as having the ability to read medication labels.

311 Selection of Foster Home

1. The agency shall select the home that is in the best interest of the child, is the least restrictive possible, and is matched to the child's physical and emotional needs. The placement decision shall be based on an individual assessment of the child's needs.

2. No children shall be placed in a foster home unless there is an approval letter in the record from the approving agency.

3. The agency shall place children only in approved foster homes.

4. When a placement agency places a child with another placement agency, the receiving agency shall maintain a record for and provide casework services to the children placed into their foster homes.

5. Foster homes shall not have more than two (2) children under two (2) years of age, including the foster parent's own children.

6. The number of children placed into one (1) therapeutic foster home shall not exceed two (2), except to keep a sibling group together In that case, up to a maximum of three (3) children may be placed into the home. The sibling group shall be the only children placed into the therapeutic foster home. There shall be no more than five (5) total children in the home, including the foster parent's children. This includes placement or respite care. In the case of an emergency respite placement that would exceed capacity, the agency shall notify the Licensing Unit the next business day.

7. Before placing more than one (1) child (therapeutic or otherwise) in a home, the agency shall consider extraordinary problems and needs of each child (for example, violent behavior, sexual offenses, and seizure disorders). Justification of the appropriateness of placing a child in a home with another child shall be documented.

8. Non-therapeutic foster children may be placed into therapeutic foster homes under any of the following circumstances:

a. The non-therapeutic foster child is a sibling of the therapeutic foster child;

b. The non-therapeutic foster child is the child of the therapeutic foster child;

c. The non-therapeutic foster child was previously a therapeutic foster child placed in the foster home; or

d. The non-therapeutic foster child is placed as an emergency placement for a maximum of twenty-one (21) days.

9. Before placing a non-therapeutic foster child into a therapeutic foster home with a therapeutic foster child, the agency shall consider the potential risk to the non-therapeutic foster child. Justification of the appropriateness of placing a non-therapeutic child in a home with another therapeutic foster child shall be documented. The agency shall maintain Section 200 standards in reference to the non-therapeutic foster child's record and the services the agency provides to the child.

10. No new placements of children shall occur with foster parents who have not satisfied the annual training requirements. Administrative-level staff designated by the agency Director may grant an exemption to this restriction for up to sixty (60) days. The administrator shall review the quality of care provided by the foster parents and the reasons for failing to complete the training on time in deciding whether to grant an exception.

312 Continued Training of Foster Parents

1. Each therapeutic foster parent shall complete at least twenty-four (24) hours of skill-based training annually, excluding CPR and First Aid.

2. Documentation verifying annual training shall indicate the date, number of hours, the name of the source, the topic, and the title.

3. Each foster parent shall maintain a current certificate of successful completion of hands-on, skill-based CPR and First Aid. Training and certification that is provided solely online will not be accepted.

4. Foster parents shall participate in ongoing training to receive instruction that supports their parental roles and ensures the foster parent is up to date with agency and licensing requirements.

NOTE: Annual training may include without limitation, child-specific training or issues relevant to the general population of children in foster care.

313 Therapeutic Foster Parent Responsibilities

1. Foster parents shall be responsible for providing the level of supervision, care, and treatment necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of each child placed into their home, considering the child's age, individual differences and abilities, surrounding circumstances, hazards, and risks.

2. Foster parents shall provide each child with adequate and nutritious food.

3. Foster parents shall provide regular activities to promote the physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional development of the children in their care.

4. Foster parents shall provide each child with their own clothing that is clean, well-fitted, seasonal, appropriate to age and gender, and comparable to community standards.

5. Foster parents shall allow foster children to acquire and keep personal belongings.

6. Foster parents shall fully cooperate with the child placement agency's case plan for each foster child, including visitation.

7. Foster parents shall provide routine transportation for each child.

8. Foster parents shall participate in case planning and case plan reviews.

9. Foster parents shall attend school conferences concerning a foster child and notify the placing agency of any situations that may affect the case plan or require agency involvement.

10. Foster parents shall notify the child placement agency promptly of serious illness, injury, or unusual circumstances affecting the health, safety, or welfare of the foster child.

11. Foster parents shall cooperate with the child placement agency and the Licensing Unit in conducting inspections and investigations and shall provide information required to verify compliance with rules.

12. Foster parents shall maintain absolute confidentiality of private information about each foster child and the birth family.

13. Foster parents shall give advance notice to the agency of any major changes that affect the life and circumstances of the foster family, including a change of residence, when possible.

14. Foster parents shall keep periodic photographs, a record of the child's memberships, activities, and participation in extracurricular school or church activities, trophies, awards, ribbons, etc. for each foster child. These items shall be provided to the child upon change in placement.

15. Foster parents shall be provided with a written list of duties clearly detailing their responsibilities.

16. Foster parents shall be responsible for implementing in-home treatment strategies specified in each child's treatment plan.

17. Foster parents shall keep an ongoing written record of each child's behavior and progress toward treatment goals.

18. Foster parents shall ensure that each child has sufficient sleep for their age and physical condition.

19. Foster parents shall instruct each child in good grooming and personal hygiene habits.

20. Foster parents shall ensure each child is provided with opportunities for regular recreational activities and exercise.

21. Foster parents shall provide each child with age- appropriate activities and equipment.

22. Foster parents shall monitor and time limit the use of television, videos, computer games, and other screen time activities.

23. Foster parents shall adhere to the placement agency's reasonable and prudent parent standard.

314 Medications

1. The agency shall have an intervention policy that is non-medical, unless a specific medical condition is indicated.

2. When psychotropic medications are prescribed by a physician, they shall be used in concert with other interventions.

3. Foster parents shall administer medications only in accordance with directions on the label.

a. All over-the-counter medications shall be stored in an area not readily accessible to children, according to the age and development of each child in the home.

b. All prescription medications excluding Epi-pens, inhalers, and Glucagon kits shall be locked. An age appropriate and developmentally capable child may be provided or have access to non-narcotic prescriptions with an approved safety plan.

Examples include without limitation, birth control, acne creams, and topical creams.

4. Medication shall be stored in accordance with pharmaceutical recommendations.

5. Foster parents shall be aware of possible side effects of all medications administered to foster children.

6. All medications shall be logged by the foster parent at the time the medication is administered.

7. The medication logs shall include:

a. Child's name;

b. Time and date;

c. Medication and dosage; and initials of the person administering the medication.

8. All currently prescribed medication shall be provided at placement.

315 Transportation

1. Foster families shall have their own transportation available.

2. Any vehicles used to transport foster children shall be maintained in compliance with motor vehicle laws and be insured.

3. Children shall be transported only by foster parents or persons approved by the foster parents who possess a valid driver's license.

4. Children shall be transported according to Arkansas law, including without limitation, use of safety belts, child safety seats, and smoking restrictions.

316 Visitation

1. The agency that has legal responsibility for the child shall develop a visitation plan that specifies when and how visits will occur between the child and the parents.

2. The child placement agency shall carry out the visitation plan to meet the terms of the plan.

3. Foster parents shall allow foster children and their families to communicate according to the child's case plan.

317 Staffing Requirements, Staff Training & Support

1. Primary responsibilities of program staff shall include treatment planning, leadership of the treatment team, case management, clinical and administrative supervision, twenty-four-hour crisis intervention, and discharge planning.

2. The therapeutic foster care agency shall employ a Clinical Director who shall be clearly responsible for implementation of treatment planning and service delivery. The Clinical Director shall have a master's degree in a human service field, have two (2) years' experience in placement or treatment, and shall be currently licensed in Arkansas as a mental health professional (as recognized by Arkansas Medicaid).

3. The therapeutic foster care agency shall employ at least one (1) caseworker who shall coordinate the implementation of the treatment plan. The caseworker shall either have a bachelor's degree in a human service field or be a mental health paraprofessional. The caseworker shall be supervised by the Clinical Director.

4. The agency shall assign a caseworker to each child to be responsible for doing assessments, treatment planning, and casework services.

5. No caseworker shall be responsible for managing more than twelve (12) children's cases.

6. All casework staff shall be trained in crisis prevention and intervention as well as CPR and First Aid within the first sixty (60) days of employment.

7. All casework staff shall be provided with eight (8) hours of orientation either prior to employment or within the first week of employment, that shall provide an overview of the following areas:

a. The agency's policies and procedures;

b. The client's rights, including confidentiality;

c. How to handle medical and non-medical emergencies;

d. The caseworker's clinical limitations;

e. How to document clinical information in the child and family records; and

f. General information regarding commonly prescribed medications and their side effects.

8. The agency shall provide twenty-four-hour on-call crisis intervention support to supplement the support provided by the caseworker.

318 Child Placement Agency Responsibilities

1. The child placement agency (agency) shall provide the foster parents with the information necessaryto provide adequate care to each foster child.

2. The agency shall provide foster parents with instructions for contacting agency personnel any time.

3. The agency shall ensure that casework staff visits with the child face-to- face, at least once per week, during the first three (3) months after the child's placement with the agency, and at least every other week thereafter.

4. The agency shall ensure that each child in foster care has a medical exam at least annually. Medical exams need not be repeated during the year if a child moves from one facility or agency to another (provided the results of the exam are available to the receiving facility or agency).

5. The agency shall remain legally responsible for the supervision and decision making regarding foster children. Foster parents have daily responsibility for the care of the children.

6. The agency shall have a written plan that provides foster parents with timely reimbursements for costs of care and fees for services.

7. The agency shall develop respite care and babysitting policies.

8. Respite care shall occur in an agency-approved foster home and shall not exceed fourteen (14) consecutive days.

9. The agency shall have a written program description that is available to residents, parents, and guardians. The following information shall be included:

a. Program philosophy and mission;

b. Services and treatment modalities;

c. Treatment planning procedures;

d. Behavior management program and expectations of each child;

e. Admission, exclusion, and discharge criteria; and

f. Aftercare services.

10. The agency shall keep documentation that includes:

a. Prior treatment documents and intake information;

b. Assessments;

c. Master treatment plan;

d. Treatment plan review;

e. Ongoing observations;

f. Medication and physician's instructions, if applicable; and

g. Progress notes.

11. The agency shall establish procedures for hearing children's grievances.

12. If the agency receives a report of non-compliance with licensing standards, the agency shall investigate the report of non-compliance. A report of findings and any corrective action shall be maintained in the foster home record. The investigation shall be completed within sixty (60) days of receiving the report of non-compliance, unless good cause is documented.

13. The agency shall maintain a record for each foster family that contains all information and documentation required by licensing standards. This record shall include:

a. Complete and signed application;

b. Approval letter;

c. Home Study;

d. Minimum age verification;

e. Three (3) positive references;

f. Initial physical exam;

g. Pre-service training verification;

h. Initial and current criminal background, Child Maltreatment Central Registry, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) checks, as required;

i. Initial and current CPR and First Aid certification;

j. Current health immunizations of children or exemption;

k. Current auto insurance;

l. Current homeowner's or renter's insurance and general liability insurance;

m. Current rabies vaccinations for household pets as required by law;

n. Documentation of annual training;

o. Safety plans;

p. Social media confidentiality documentation;

q. Surveillance documentation, if applicable;

r. Floor plan;

s. Approved annual water system test, if applicable;

t. Approved alternative fire escape route, if applicable;

u. Documentation of quarterly monitoring visits, including unannounced visits;

v. Documentation of annual re-evaluations;

w. Reports of non-compliance with licensing standards including findings, and any corrective actions; and

x. Closing summary.

14. If the home closes, the agency shall prepare a closing summary, including reasons for closure.

15. The agency shall promptly notify Arkansas' Office of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) upon discharging a child from outside Arkansas.

16. The agency shall be aware of and approve the use of all surveillance devices used in the home.

319 Monitoring & Re-evaluation

1. The agency shall monitor the foster home at least quarterly for continued compliance with licensing standards for foster homes.

2. At least one (1) unannounced quarterly visit shall be conducted annually and shall be documented as unannounced in the foster home record.

3. The agency shall conduct an annual re-evaluation of the foster family home. Any foster home that does not substantially comply with the standards for approval shall not be approved for placement until compliance is achieved.

4. The agency shall keep documentation of quarterly monitoring visits and annual reevaluations in the foster home record signed and dated by the person conducting the visit and the foster parent.

5. If the foster family experiences any major life changes (for example, marriage, divorce, separation, health problems, death, change of residence, or change of household composition), the child placement agency shall re-evaluate the home at that time.

6. If a home is inactive or closed for one (1) year or more and desires to reopen, the agency shall:

a. Conduct a re-evaluation to ensure that licensing requirements are met;

b. Ensure that new background checks are conducted;

c. Ensure that CPR and First Aid training is current; and

d. Evaluate any major changes (See section 319.5).

320 Discharge

1. The discharge of any child shall be planned by agency staff.

2. The agency may discharge a child on an emergency basis if failure to do so could result in harm to the child or other persons or significant property damage.

3. The agency shall discharge a child to the custody of the their parent, their guardian, a person with authorization from their parent or guardian, or a person authorized by court order to assume custody of the child.

4. The agency shall complete a discharge statement on each child (including the date of and reason for discharge) and provide a copy of it to the child's custodian.

5. Documentation of the discharge shall be maintained in the child's record.

400 CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCIES: THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE - SEXUAL REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS

In addition to all standards in Section 100, the following standards shall be met:

401 Licensing Approval & Monitoring

1. At the discretion of the Licensing Unit, a multi-disciplinary team may be asked to assist the Licensing Specialist in the initial study or during an investigation of a licensing complaint. This team may include a licensed person with professional expertise in the appropriate field.

2. At the discretion of the Licensing Unit, a multi-disciplinary team may be asked to assist the Licensing Specialist during inspections, for advisory purposes.

402 Admission

1. Each agency shall establish written criteria for admitting as well as excluding children.

2. The agency shall not admit any child for whom the agency cannot provide adequate care.

3. In order to be admitted to the program, one of the following shall be met:

a. The child has committed a sexual offense that has been found true or exempt by an official investigation by the Department of Human Services or the Arkansas State Police;

b. The child has committed an offense involving the use of power, control, threat, coercion, or intimidation;

c. The child has committed an offense in which there was at least a three-year age difference between the offender and the victim;

d. The child has a documented pattern of deviant sexualized behavior, sexual misconduct, or sexually maladaptive behaviors, as indicated by the psychosexual assessment.

4. Children admitted to the program shall have the cognitive ability to benefit from the treatment program.

5. Each child shall have a medical exam within one (1) year before admission, or an appointment scheduled within one (1) week after admission.

6. Each child shall have proof of current immunizations, a letter of exemption in accordance with the Arkansas Department of Health, or an appointment scheduled within one (1) week after admission.

7. The agency shall obtain written authority from the parent(s), guardian(s), or court before placement, or within seventy-two (72) hours if it is an emergency placement.

8. The agency shall obtain written authority for medical care for the child from the placing agent at the time of admission.

9. The agency shall comply with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children when placing or admitting children from outside Arkansas.

10. The agency shall have written policies regarding description of the target population, admission/exclusion criteria, and discharge criteria.

11. The agency shall have a written policy describing the risk levels it will accept in children with sexually maladaptive behaviors who are being considered for admission. The written policy shall also describe the therapeutic interventions it will utilize for each risk level.

403 Intake & Assessment

1. Intake information shall be completed on each child in care within ten (10) working days after admission.

2. The intake information shall include:

a. Demographic information on the child and parent(s), including name, address, birth date, gender, race, and religious preference;

b. A factual description of the circumstances requiring placement;

c. A brief social history of the family;

d. The child's current legal status or custody;

e. Any history of previous placements outside the family, if applicable;

f. An assessment of services needed to ensure the health and welfare of the child, including medical history and psychological history;

g. A description of the offense or sexually maladaptive behavior, including police reports and victim statements (if available);

h. A psychosexual assessment (if available); and

i. A discharge summary from previous rehabilitative-specific treatment (if applicable and available).

3. The agency shall obtain copies of legal documents within thirty (30) days of admission or shall document their attempts to obtain the documents. The legal documents shall include without limitation, birth certificates, social security cards, and court orders.

4. A psychosexual evaluation shall be conducted by a licensed mental health professional (as recognized by Arkansas Medicaid) who is a member of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers or has forty (40) hours of sexual rehabilitative treatment training. The evaluation shall be completed within the past twelve (12) months or within seven (7) days following the admission of the child.

5. Each child shall have been evaluated for intellectual ability, learning disabilities, and language disorders within the past eighteen (18) months. If a child is admitted without an evaluation, the evaluation shall be completed within thirty (30) days of admission.

6. A plan of safe care shall be developed for all children with physical limitations, medical conditions, or behaviors that are indicative of harm to self or others; to include without limitation: arson, physical aggression, sexual aggression, suicidal behaviors, or other selfharming tendencies.

7. This plan shall identify the behavior or problem and shall specify the safeguards that are to be implemented. A copy of the plan shall be provided to the direct caregiver(s), as well as a copy placed in the child's case file.

404 Treatment Planning

1. The agency shall develop a treatment plan for each child that includes tasks appropriate to the needs of the child, as identified in the intake information and psychosexual assessment.

2. The child's treatment plan shall include a diagnosis related to their sexually maladaptive behavior.

3. When a placement agency places a child with another placement agency the receiving agency shall develop a treatment plan for each child received for care.

4. The treatment plan shall be developed within thirty (30) days after placement.

5. The child's treatment plan shall contain, at the minimum:

a. Specific needs of the child;

b. Plan for meeting child's needs;

c. Special treatment issues (for example, psychotropic medications, sexual misconduct, and neurological disorders) shall be identified, with a statement of how the special needs shall be met;

d. A plan to ensure that the child's educational needs are met according to applicable state law;

e. Visitation plan, if applicable; and

f. Date of next review of the treatment plan.

6. If independence is a goal, the treatment plan shall include training in independent living skills.

7. Foster parents shall be included in treatment planning for each child

8. Foster parents shall be provided a copy of the child's current treatment plan.

9. A copy of the treatment plan shall be made available to the parent(s), guardian(s), court, or other agencies involved in the delivery of case plan services, if applicable.

10. The child's treatment plan shall be reviewed quarterly and shall be updated to reflect the child's progress.

11. If treatment services are contracted, there shall be evidence of participation by the contracted therapist in treatment planning reviews and individualized program implementation.

405 Children's Records Behavior Management

1. The agency shall keep a confidential case record for each child that includes the following:

a. Demographic information;

b. Plan of safe care, if applicable;

c. A complete intake;

d. Consents, including consent for medical care, and authority to place the child;

e. Interstate Compact information, if applicable;

f. Treatment plans and treatment plan reviews;

g. Copies of legal documents (for example, birth certificates, social security cards, or court orders) or documentation of their attempts to obtain the documents;

h. Physical exams and immunization records, or documentation of their attempts to obtain the documents;

i. Psychological reports, if applicable;

j. Psychosexual evaluation;

k. Educational reports, if applicable;

l. Disciplinary and incident reports, if applicable;

m. Records of visitation and family contacts, if applicable;

n. Documentation of casework services and child contact, current to within one (1) month of occurrence; and

o. Discharge statement.

2. Records for each child shall be kept for five (5) years from the date of discharge, unless otherwise specified by Arkansas law.

3. The agency shall have a written plan providing for appropriate supervision of children during activities away from the foster home. A copy of the plan shall be provided to the direct caregiver(s), and a copy shall be placed in the child's record.

406 Behavior Management

1. The agency shall have a written discipline policy that is consistently followed.

2. Discipline shall be directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self control.

3. Discipline shall be appropriate to the child's age, development, and history (including trauma history).

4. The following disciplinary actions shall not be used:

a. Denial of meals, sleep, shelter, essential clothing, or case plan activities;

b. Denial of parental visits or regular phone and mail contact with family. Non-disciplinary case planning issues are accepted;

c. Lewd or obscene language;

d. Derogatory comments about the child, the child's family, race, or gender;

e. Restriction to a room for more than a short period of time without periodic observation;

f. Restriction to a dark room or area;

g. Locked isolation;

h. Physical injury or threat of bodily harm;

i. Humiliating or degrading action;

j. Extremely strenuous work or exercise;

k. Mechanical or chemical restraints; nor

l. Corporal punishment.

5. Physical restraint shall be initiated only by a trained person; only to prevent injury to the child, other people, or property; and shall not be initiated solely as a form of discipline.

6. A child shall not be allowed to administer discipline, except teen parents may discipline their own children.

7. Searches of a child or a child's personal property shall be for reasons limited to safety and security of children and foster family, or in cases of suspected theft.

8. Any searches requiring removal of clothing shall be done in privacy.

407 Foster Parent Qualifications

1. In a two-parent home, both shall be joint applicants, each sign the application, and participate in the approval process.

2. Foster parents shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

3. The stability of the foster family shall be evaluated and determined to be appropriate.

4. Foster parents shall be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of caring for children with sexual behavioral problems or issues.

5. The physical health of the foster parents shall be equal to the stress inherent in the care of special needs children, as evidenced by the physician's statement.

6. The foster family shall provide documentation of sufficient financial resources to meet their needs.

7. All family members under eighteen (18) years of age in the household shall have proof of current health immunizations or an exemption in accordance with the Arkansas Department of Health.

8. When routine child care is needed, foster children shall attend licensed child care or have an agency-approved caregiver.

408 Content of the Home Study