Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-39-.06 - Foster Family Homes

(1) A child-placing agency with authority to approve foster homes and to place children in approved foster family boarding homes or foster family free homes shall:

(a) Have a licensed social worker to conduct all approvals and subsequent reapprovals of foster homes.

(b) Approve only foster homes that meet the requirements of the Minimum Standards for Foster Family Homes: Principles, Regulations and Procedures.

(c) Make all placements of children through the approved child-placing agency and with knowledge and consent of the custodial agency.

(d) Notify in writing the local County Department of Human Resources in which the foster family home is located that said home has been approved. The County Department shall also be notified when the home is no longer approved.

(e) The State Department of Human Resources, Family Services Partnership, Office of Foster Care, is to be notified when a DHR employee, State Office or County Office, or DHR Official makes application to become a foster care provider. The homes of DHR Officials or DHR employees shall not be approved for use as a foster home provider if there is a possible conflict of interest situation, e.g., personnel that engage in the placement or supervision of foster children, or personnel that regulate the licensing or approval of homes or facilities for the placement of children. The State Department of Human Resources will provide a written statement regarding whether there is a possible conflict of interest.

(f) A licensed child-placing agency shall not conduct or approve a foster home study on any of its employees or officials, which includes board members, volunteers or anyone else who has direct affiliation with the agency. Arrangements must be made with another licensed child-placing agency or licensed social worker to conduct and approve the study, make a placement, provide post-placement supervision and for reapproval of the home.

(g) Maintain individual foster family home records on each home used by the child-placing agency in accordance with Paragraph I. 4.

(h) Establish a policy that the child's worker will have contact with the child at least every three months and will evaluate and update the case plan/ISP every six months.

(i) Share written evaluations when another agency is working with the family. The child-placing agency shall share written evaluations of the child and his/her situation with the agency working with the family at no greater than six month intervals.

(j) Provide written protocol on the matching of children and foster families and documentation to support placement of children. Placement shall be made only after careful consideration is given as to how well the prospective foster family will meet the child's needs and preferences.

Author: Jerome Webb

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-39-.06

Effective October 16, 1989. Repealed and New Rule: Filed October 7, 2002; effective November 11, 2002.

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 38-7-1 through -17, §§ 41-22-1 through -27.