Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 39, September 26, 2024
(a) Each licensee
shall employ qualified staff.
(1) Each
individual working or volunteering in a child-placement agency shall be
physically, mentally and emotionally capable of performing assigned duties
necessary to maintain the health, comfort, safety and well-being of the
children and families receiving services from the child-placement
agency.
(2) Each licensee and each
staff member shall demonstrate the following:
(A) An understanding of the child-placement
agency's philosophies, purpose, services, and goals; and
(B) the necessary skills and abilities to
carry out the individual's job duties in accordance with Kansas statutes and
regulations governing child-placement agencies, foster care, and
adoption.
(b)
Each licensee shall employ an administrative program director who meets the
following minimum qualifications:
(1) A
master's degree in social work, counseling, social work administration, or a
related human service degree from an accredited school and three years'
experience in the management or supervision of child placing or residential
care personnel and programs;
(2) a
bachelor's degree in social work or a human service area of study from an
accredited school and five years' experience in the management or supervision
of child placing or residential care personnel and programs; or
(3) a bachelor's degree from an accredited
school and two years' experience in child placing or residential care services
if the administrator is responsible only for administrative functions such as
personnel and fiscal matters and is not responsible for direct supervision of
the programs and services of the agency.
(c) Each child welfare supervisor shall meet
the following minimum qualifications:
(1) Hold
a current license from the Kansas behavioral sciences regulatory board in one
of the following professional categories:
(A)
Psychologist;
(B) social
worker;
(C) professional counselor;
or
(D) marriage and family
therapist; and
(2) have
the following education and experience:
(A) A
bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of
experience in child-placing services; or
(B) a master's degree from an accredited
college or university and one year of experience in child-placing
services.
(d)
Each licensee shall employ child welfare workers to perform intake, provide
direct services to children and families, select and authorize out-of-home and
adoptive placements, and perform child assessments and family assessments
related to foster and adoptive services. Each child welfare worker shall meet
the following minimum qualifications:
(1) Hold
a current license from the Kansas behavioral sciences regulatory board in one
of the following professional categories:
(A)
Psychologist;
(B) social
worker;
(C) professional counselor;
or
(D) marriage and family
therapist; and
(2) have a
bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
(e) Any licensee may employ social
service staff to conduct licensing health and safety inspections of family
foster homes under the direction of a child welfare supervisor or a child
welfare worker. The social service staff may assist child welfare workers in
specific tasks involved in the licensing of family foster homes and the
provision of supportive services to the family. The social service staff may
assist in specific tasks involved in the delivery of services to children and
families. Each social service staff shall meet the following minimum
qualifications:
(1) Have a high school diploma
or general education degree; and
(2) have two years of experience in working
with families or children and have additional training, education, or
professional development in the area of child development, education, or
health.
(f) Each staff
member performing the duties of more than one position shall meet the minimum
qualifications for each position held.
(g) Each licensee shall ensure that the
following staffing levels are met and that requirements are stated in
child-placing agency policy:
(1) The maximum
number of staff members to be supervised by each social service supervisor to
allow for effective staff training, support, and oversight and to ensure the
delivery of program services to children and families.
(2) The maximum caseload number that each
child welfare worker shall carry to allow for all the necessary contacts and
effective services with the children, families, foster families, adoptive
families, and collateral contacts.
(h) Each licensee shall develop and provide
orientation and training for all new staff members according to individual job
duties and responsibilities to implement the policies and procedures of the
child-placement agency.
(i) Each
licensee shall provide an annual in-service training program to maintain staff
members knowledge and skills necessary to ensure compliance with the
child-placement agency's policies and procedures.
(j) If the child-placement agency utilizes
volunteers, the licensee shall develop a written plan for their orientation,
training, supervision, and use. Volunteers shall not be substituted for
qualified or licensed staff.
