An applicant must participate in the process and tasks to
complete an initial evaluation for foster care licensure. (3-28-23)
01.
Applicant Participation. The
applicant must do all the following: (3-28-23)
a. Cooperate with and allow the children's
agency to determine compliance with these rules to conduct an initial foster
home study; (3-28-23)
b. Inform the
children's agency if the applicant is currently licensed or has been previously
licensed as a foster parent or the applicant has been involved in the care and
supervision of children or adults; (3-28-23)
c. Provide a medical statement for each
applicant, signed by a medical professional, within the twelve (12) month
period prior to initial licensure for family foster care, indicating the
applicant is in such physical and mental health so as to not adversely affect
either the health or quality of care for children placed in the home;
(3-28-23)
d. Provide the name of,
and a signed release to obtain the following information about, each household
member: (3-28-23)
i. Admission to or release
from a facility, hospital, or institution for the treatment of an emotional,
intellectual, or substance abuse issue; (3-28-23)
ii. Outpatient counseling, treatment, or
therapy for an emotional, intellectual, or substance abuse issue; and
(3-28-23)
e. Provide
three (3) satisfactory references, one (1) of which may be from a person
related to the applicant(s). An applicant will provide additional references
upon the request of the children's agency. (3-28-23)
02.
Physical and Mental Health of
Household Members. All household members must be in such physical and
mental health that the health, safety, or well-being of a foster child will not
be adversely affected. A health status report of household member may be
required from a medical professional if this appears advisable to the
children's agency. To assure the safety and well-being of children, each
household member must comply with these rules. (3-28-23)
03.
Disclosure of Information.
An applicant must provide the children's agency with the following or any
additional information the children's agency deems necessary to complete the
initial family home study: (3-28-23)
a. The
names, including maiden or other names used, and ages of the applicant(s);
(3-28-23)
b. Social Security
Number; (3-28-23)
c. Education;
(3-28-23)
d. Verification of
marriages and divorces; (3-28-23)
e. Religious and cultural practices of the
applicant including their willingness and ability to accommodate or provide
care to a foster child of a different race, religion, or culture;
(3-28-23)
f. A statement of income
and financial resources and the family's management of these resources;
(3-28-23)
g. Marital relationship,
if applicable, including decision making, communication, and roles within the
family; (3-28-23)
h. Individual and
family functioning and interrelationships with each household member;
(3-28-23)
i. Any current family
problems, including medical or mental illness, illegal drug use, prescription
drug abuse, and excessive alcohol use; (3-28-23)
j. Previous criminal convictions and valid
incidents of child abuse and neglect; (3-28-23)
k. Family history, including how the
applicant was disciplined, childhood experiences, and problem solving;
(3-28-23)
l. Child care and
parenting skills; (3-28-23)
m.
Methods of discipline; (3-28-23)
n.
The names, ages, and addresses of all biological and adopted children currently
residing in or outside the home; (3-28-23)
o. Adjustment and special needs of the
applicant's children; (3-28-23)
p.
Interests and hobbies; (3-28-23)
q.
Reasons for applying to be a foster parent; (3-28-23)
r. Understanding of the purpose and goals of
foster care; (3-28-23)
s. Prior and
current experiences with foster care; (3-28-23)
t. Emotional stability and maturity in
dealing with the needs, challenges, and related issues associated with the
child's placement into applicant(s) home; (3-28-23)
u. The attitudes toward foster care by
immediate and extended members of the family and other persons who reside in
the home; (3-28-23)
v. The
applicant's attitudes about a foster child's family and the applicant's
willingness to work with the child's family and tribe; (3-28-23)
w. Specifications of the children preferred
by the family that include the number of children, age, gender, race, ethnic
background, social, emotional, and educational characteristics of children
preferred; (3-28-23)
x. Adequacy of
the applicant's house, property, and neighborhood for the purpose of providing
foster care as determined by onsite observations; (3-28-23)
y. The applicant(s) willingness to abide by
the children's agency policies and procedures for discipline;
(3-28-23)
z. Three (3) personal
references, at least two (2) that are from persons not related to the
applicants, reflecting the applicants to be of good character and posses good
habits; (3-28-23)
aa. Training needs
of the applicant(s); and (3-28-23)
bb. The capacity and willingness to transport
a foster child in a motor vehicle. (3-28-23)