(a) All placement agencies shall
submit the following:
1. Evidence of the
applicant's compliance with
102 CMR
1.05: Disqualifying Background
Information;
2. A
statement of purpose as required by 606 CMR 5.04(1), including a clear
definition of the services provided by the agency to children, parents,
expectant parents, birth, foster and adoptive parents, foster and adoptive
parent applicants and adult adoptees, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(1)(a)5., and
a statement of non-discrimination, as required by
102 CMR
1.03(1):
Non-discrimination.
3. Evidence of any agreements with other
child-placing or referring agencies or individuals in Massachusetts or any
other State;
4. A statement of the
ownership of the placement agency, including the names and addresses of all
board members as required by 606 CMR 5.04(2)(a)2.;
5. An organizational table, as required by
606 CMR 5.04(2)(c);
6. A written
plan of financial capability projected for at least a 12-month period,
including:
a. A projected one year operating
budget and documentation of sufficient funds for at least three months. An
operating agency must submit a current operating budget and appropriate fiscal
portions of contracts, if any. The operating budget must specify the salaries
of all full time employees, and all bonuses and other benefits. The budget must
also specify all rent or mortgage payments, as well as any payments for
vehicles owned, rented or leased by the agency. The operating budget must also
specify a financial plan for closure of the agency;
b. A cash flow plan including projected
revenue, lines of credit and cash or liquid asset reserves sufficient to enable
the agency to meet expenses for at least a 12-month initial period;
c. Evidence of all revenue sources and
amounts of revenue anticipated from these sources;
d. A copy of the agency's policy on
designated financial responsibility, as required by 606 CMR 5.05(3);
e. Any other evidence of financial
viability.
f. Agencies incorporated
in accordance with M.G.L. c. 180 must submit financial documents in accordance
with the standards set by the Public Charities Division of the Office of the
Attorney General.
7.
Grievance and appeal procedures, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(3)(g) and
(h);
8. A written policy and
procedure for internal investigations of allegations of noncompliance with EEC
regulations, and for reporting allegations of child abuse and neglect, as
required by 606 CMR 5.04(3)(d), (e) and (f);
9. A procedure for emergency communications,
as required by 606 CMR 5.04(3)(k);
10. Personnel policies, as required by 606
CMR 5.04(5)(a);
11. Job
descriptions and salary ranges, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(5)(b) and (c);
12 A plan for the use of
volunteers, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(5)(k);
13. Evidence that personnel are currently
licensed, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(5)(d), and are qualified to provide
direct services to children and families, as required by 606 CMR 5.06(2)(a) and
5.06(3), including the resume of the Director of Social Services, as provided
at 606 CMR 5.06(1);
14 A plan for
staff orientation, training, and supervision, as required by 606 CMR
5.04(5)(e), (g), and (h);
15. A
plan for involving birth, foster, and adoptive parents and adult adoptees, in
the development of agency policy, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(2)(f);
16. Procedures for the evaluation of children
and the development of service plans for children and their families, as
required by 606 CMR 5.07 and 5.08;
17. Policy regarding the provision of
required social services to children, as required by 606 CMR 5.06(2);
18. Policy and procedure for the selection of
appropriate placements, in accordance with 606 CMR 5.11(5);
19. Procedure and format for the home study
assessments required by 606 CMR 5.09(4) and 5.10(6), and a description of and
procedures for the orientation and training of foster and adoptive parents, as
required by 606 CMR 5.09(2) and (9), and 5.10(3) and (4);
20. Qualifications required of foster and
adoptive parents, as required by 606 CMR 5.09(4) and 5.10(6);
21. Physical requirements for foster and
adoptive homes, as required by 606 CMR 5.09(3) and 5.10(5);
22. Policy and procedures regarding payments
and reimbursements for the care of any child, which shall specify the method,
amount, and frequency of payments;
23. Copies of all written information
routinely provided to expectant parents, birth parents, foster and adoptive
parent applicants, parents, and children, including the information required by
606 CMR 5.08(3)(b), 5.09(1) and 5.10(1), if applicable;
24. All intake evaluation, service plan, and
face sheet forms and placement agreements and contracts to be used with
clients;
25. A plan for the annual
evaluation of its services;
26. A
plan for agency closing that includes, but is not limited to, provisions for
the appropriate termination or transfer of services to clients, the
preservation or transfer of records including evidence of a financial plan for
storage and transfer of records, and reasonable costs associated therewith, in
accordance with EEC policy;
27. All
other policies and procedures relative to operation of the placement
program.
(b) In
addition, placement agencies offering foster care services shall submit the
following:
1. Policy and procedures for
meeting the health needs of the children served, as required by 606 CMR
5.07(1)(a)2., (1)(a)3., and (1)(a)4., and 5.07(1)(d) and (1)(e);
2. Policy and procedures for providing
psychological and psychiatric services to children and families, as required by
606 CMR 5.07(1)(f);
3. Policy and
procedures for meeting the educational needs of the children served, as
required by 606 CMR 5.07(1)(g).
(c) In addition, placement agencies offering
adoption services shall submit the following:
1. The licensee's policies and procedures to
prevent the abduction, exploitation, sale or trafficking of children including,
but not limited to, the agency's prohibition of employees or agents from giving
money or other consideration, directly or indirectly, to a child's parent(s) or
other individuals or entities as payment for a child or as an inducement to
release the child for adoption;
2.
Written procedures for legalizing an adoption, as required by 606 CMR
5.10(13);
3. Evidence of the
availability of licensed foster care, as required by 606 CMR
5.07(2)(d);
4. A plan for the
provision of post-adoption services, as provided by 606 CMR 5.07(2)(e) and
5.10(14).
