R501-12-14. Additional Child Placing Agency Considerations

  (1) The Agency shall comply with all Office of Licensing rules that relate to their Child Placing Foster license.

  (2) The Agency shall comply with Background Screening Rules, R501-14.

  (3) The Agency shall recruit, train, certify, and supervise foster parents.

  (4) The Agency shall not certify a home which is licensed or certified or applying to be licensed or certified with any other Agency.

  (5) Agency owners, directors, managers, and members of the governing body shall not be certified to provide foster care services for children placed with or by the Agency.

  (6) The Agency shall verify completion of all of a foster parent's training requirements, including but not limited to CPR/First Aid training and training regarding the requirements of R501-12, prior to issuing an initial or renewal certification and prior to placing a foster child in the home.

  (7) The Agency shall train each foster parent regarding the Agency's policies and procedures prior to placing a foster child in the home.

  (8) The Agency shall provide the Department with identifying information of all certified foster homes via the DHS/DCFS Provider website located on the Human Services DHS/DCFS Employee website and shall report their list of homes annually and upon request.

  (9) The Agency shall maintain documentation of the initial and annual home studies of the foster parent's home.

  (10) The Agency must have a written agreement with the foster parent(s) which includes:

  (a) the expectations and responsibilities of the Agency, staff, foster parents and limitations of authority;

  (b) the services to be provided to and by the foster parent;

  (c) the provision of medical, remedial, treatment, and other specialized services to the child;

  (d) the financial arrangements for children placed in the home;

  (e) the authority foster parents can exercise over children placed in the home; and

  (f) actions which require staff or DHS authorizations.

  (11) The Agency shall monitor and keep detailed documentation regarding foster parents' compliance with R501-12.

  (12) The Agency shall document all announced and unannounced visits to the home, including an initial safety inspection and a minimum of one unannounced safety inspection annually in addition to any announced or unannounced visits to the home.

  (a) Each safety inspection completed by the Agency shall be documented on the DHS Home Inspection Checklist, or a similar form that contains all of the DHS form contents.

  (b) The Agency shall coordinate with the Office when checklist items are not compliant to determine which actions should be taken.

  (c) The Agency shall maintain all completed checklists and compliance monitoring documentation in the provider files.

  (13) The Agency shall investigate all complaints and alleged violations of this rule. The Agency shall provide documentation to the Office of Licensing of any investigations into complaints and alleged violations of R501-12.

  (14) The Agency shall provide written notification to each foster parent that informs the foster parent of the rights and responsibilities assumed by a foster parent who signs as the responsible adult for a foster child to receive a driver license, as described in Section 53-3-211. The Agency shall maintain documentation in the foster parent's file, signed and dated by the foster parent, acknowledging receipt of a copy of this written notification.

  (15) The Agency shall have and comply with written policies and procedures regarding the denial, suspension, and revocation of a foster parent's certification to provide foster care services, which must include written notification of the foster parent's appeal process.

  (16) The Agency shall provide documentation to the Office of Licensing and DCFS of any denial, suspension, revocation or other agency-initiated termination of a foster parent's certification. Documentation shall be provided within two weeks of the action.

  (17) The Agency shall not grant any variance to this R501-12 or any other regulation without the prior written consent of the Director of the Office of Licensing.

  (18) The Agency shall certify foster parent(s) for a specific time period that does not exceed one year prior to placing any foster children in the home. Documentation of certification dates shall be made available to the Office of Licensing as requested.

  (19) The Agency shall provide ongoing supervision of certified foster parents to ensure the quality of care they provide.

  (20) The Agency shall participate with the child's legal guardian and the foster home to obtain, coordinate, and supervise care and services necessary to meet the needs of each child in their care.