Current through August, 2024
(a) When the
department determines through the study that the applicant is in satisfactory
compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the department shall approve
the application and shall issue a certificate of approval.
(b) The certificate of approval shall:
(1) Be valid for one year; or
(2) Be valid for two years when the following
criteria are met:
(A) The institution has
been in operation for at least one year as a licensed child-caring institution
by the State;
(B) The institution
fully complied with all licensing requirements;
(C) There were no major changes in the
institutional structure or in policies and procedures relating to foster
care;
(D) The applicants and
employees of applicants have no criminal history, employment history, or
background which poses a risk to the health, safety, or well-being of children;
and
(E) There were no complaints by
the workers, clients, or the public within the past year which were
investigated and confirmed and which require closer monitoring by the
department;
(3) Specify
the name and address of the institution to which the certificate is issued, the
number, sex, and age of children for whom the institution is licensed to give
care, and any exceptions;
(4) Be
non-transferable; and
(5) Be
conspicuously posted on the premises of the institution.
(c) The certificate of approval shall be
invalid when:
(1) The person or organization
to whom the certificate of approval was issued ceases to operate the
child-caring institution;
(2) There
is a change of location;
(3) There
is a change in function; or
(4)
There is an increase beyond the maximum number or a change in the sex and age
of children from that specified on the certificate of approval.
(d) After the issuance of the
certificate of approval, the applicant shall ensure that new employees and
rehires comply with section 17-1627-6(e) within five working days of
employment.
(e) The department may
request the institution terminate the employment of an employee who has a
criminal history, employment history, or background which poses a risk to
children in care. Any such request shall be in writing and shall specify the
criminal history, employment history, or background information that indicate a
risk to children.
(1) The institution shall
notify the department, within seven working days of receipt of the request,
what action was taken. Such notification shall be in writing and shall state
the reasons for the decision.
(2)
Refusal to terminate the employment of an employee when requested by the
department may result in immediate revocation or suspension of a certificate of
approval.
