Ariz. Admin. Code § R21-6-331 - Requirements for Certification to Provide Specialized Services

A. A license for a foster parent is a regular license.

B. If the foster parent has met the additi onal requirements for certification to provide specialized services, OLR shall document the area of certification on the regular license. If more than one person is identified on the license, both shall meet the additional requirements for certification to provide a specialized service; except the foster parent who is not the primary care giver is exempt from compliance with subsections (E)(1)(a), (E)(2)(a) and (b), (E)(3)(b) and (c), and (E)(4).

C. The foster parent shall comply with the requirements specified in this Section to renew the certification.

D. The certification to provide a specialized service:

1. Does not change the renewal date of the regular license; and

2. Shall expire at the next renewal date of the regular license.

E. The classes of foster homes that provide specialized services and the certification requirements are:

1. Receiving Foster Home. This is a home in which the licensed foster parent receives a foster child with limited notice and provides care for a limited period of time. The foster parent for a receiving foster home shall:

a. Have three months' successful experience in child welfare, foster care, health care, education, or a related profession as approved by OLR. "Successful experience" means that the foster parent has been responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of a child for a minimum of 20 hours per week without any negative actions, such as termination for cause;

b. Assist the Child-Placing Agency in assessing the needs of each foster child placed on an emergency basis;

c. Assist the Child-Placing Agency in transitioning the foster child to another care setting.

d Shall be prepared to accept a foster child, according to the capacity and terms of the foster home license, 24 hours per day, seven days per week; and

e. May be approved to simultaneously provide receiving care, family foster care, and respite care so long as the total number of children in the foster home at any time does not exceed the number approved in the regular foster home license, or any of the other limitations of the regular foster home license

2. Medically Complex Foster Home. This is a foster home that is licensed with a maximum capacity of three foster children, and each foster parent has completed specialized training to provide care to foster children identified by the Department as having medically complex needs. Children with medically complex needs include those who have or are at risk for chronic physical or developmental conditions and who require health-related services beyond that required by children in general. The foster parent for a Medically Complex Foster Home shall:

a. Have one of the following minimum experience or education:

i. One year's experience as a licensed foster parent; or

ii. Licensed or certified as a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or certified nursing assistant; or

iii Three months' successful experience in child welfare, foster care, health care, education, or a related profession as approved by OLR "Successful experience" means that the foster parent has been respond for the health, safety, and well-being of a child or adult with medically complex needs for a minimum of 20 hours per week without any negative actions, such as termination for cause; or

iv. A bachelor's or graduate degree in healthcare, such as medicine or nursing.

b. Not have employment or commitments that interfere with the foster parent's ability to meet the foster child's medical needs and schedule;

c. Use adaptive equipment and encourage the foster child to use adaptive equipment to facilitate the child's participation in daily living activities;

d. Provide the foster child with opportunities to participate in community activities on a regular basis unless there is a compelling medical reason not to do so;

e. Develop and follow an alternate supervision plan, approved by the Department, Child Placing Agency, and the licensing agency, if the foster parent is not available to provide primary care and supervision to foster child h with medically complex needs The alternate supervision plan shall include:

i. The name of each adult, age 18 years and older, who can provide supervision if the foster parent is not

ii. Information about the foster child's medical, physical, or behavioral health condition that is necessary to provide care;

iii. Medication that is prescribed to be administered to the foster child while the foster parent is not present and any relevant instructions for the administration of that medication;

iv. Specialized training necessary to provide care and supervision; and

v. Emergency contact information for the foster child, including a means to contact the foster parent, the licensing agency, and the Child Placing Agency.

f. In addition to the training specified under R21-6-303, complete a minimum of 18 hours of training approved by the Department, prior to certification that includes:

i. An overview of the assessment categories for children defined as having medically complex needs by the Department;

ii. Medical and health care issues, procedures, and techniques;

iii. The purpose and safe use of medications;

iv. Overview of medication interactions and potential medication reactions; and

v. Positive behavior development;

g. Complete training to care for the special needs of a foster child, as indicated in the placement agreement; and

h. In addition to the training specified under R21-6-303, complete a minimum of 12 hours of specialized training prior to license renewal related to the medically complex needs of children and other approved topics by the Department that include:

i. Medical and health care issues, procedures, and techniques;

ii. The purpose and safe use of medications;

iii. Overview of medication interactions and potential medication reactions;

iv. Positive behavior development; and

v. Specialized training related to the medically complex needs of children.

3. Therapeutic Foster Home. This is a foster home that is licensed with a maximum capacity of three foster children, and each foster parent has received specialized training to provide care and services within a support system of clinical and consultative services to foster children with special behavioral health needs, as identified by the Department. In addition to meeting the requirements for a regular license, the foster parent for a Therapeutic Foster Home shall:

a. Be at least 21 years of age, and

b. Have at least one of the following minimum experience or education:

i. One year's experience as a licensed foster parent;

ii. Three months' successful experience in child welfare, foster care, behavioral health, education, or a related profession as approved by OLR. "Successful experience" means that the foster parent has been responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of a child or adult with behavioral health needs for a minimum of 20 hours per week without any negative actions, such as termination for cause; or

iii. A bachelor's or graduate degree in health care, social work, psychology, or a related behavioral health field.

c. Not have employment or commitments that interfere with the foster parent's ability to meet the foster child's special behavioral health needs, including supporting the foster child and as applicable, participating in in-home and community based services;

d. Provide the foster child with opportunities to participate in developmentally appropriate community based activities on a regular basis;

e. Develop and follow an alternate supervision plan, approved by the Child Placing Agency and the licensing agency, if the foster parent is not available to provide primary care and supervision for a foster child with treatment needs. The alternate supervision plan shall include:

i. The name of each adult, age 21 years and older, who can provide supervision if the foster parent is not present;

ii. Information about the foster child's behavioral, health, medical, or physical condition that is necessary to provide care;

iii. Medication that is prescribed to be administered to the foster child while the foster parent is not present and any relevant instructions for the administration of that medication;

iv. Specialized training taken by individuals in subsection (i) that is necessary to provide care and supervision of the foster child; and

v. Emergency contact information for the foster child, including a means to contact the foster parent, the licensing agency, and Child Placing Agency.

f. In addition to the training specified under R21-6-303, complete a minimum of 18 hours of training prior to certification, approved by the Department that includes:

i. Positive behavior development and de-escalation techniques,

ii. The purpose and safe use of medications, and

iii. Overview of medication interactions and potential medication reactions.

g. Complete training to care for the special needs of a foster child, as indicated in the placement agreement;

h. In addition to the training specified under R21-6-303, complete a minimum of 24 hours of training prior to license renewal. The Department shall approve the training curriculum and coordinate the training curriculum through a licensing agency. The training shall include:

i. Positive behavior development and de-escalation techniques,

ii. The purpose and safe use of medications, and

iii. Overview of medication interactions and potential medication reactions.

4. Group Foster Home. This is a home in which all licensed foster parents are certified to provide care for six to 10 foster children for the purpose of accommodating a specific sibling group, or as otherwise provided in A.R.S. § 8-514, for over capacity placements. In addition to meeting the requirements for a regular license, the foster parent for a Group Foster Home shall:

a. Have the following minimum experience or education:

i. History of care or contact with the specific children to be placed in the Group Foster Home; or

ii One year's experience as a licensed foster parent; or

iii Three months' successful experience in child welfare, foster care, education, or a related profession as approved by OLR. "Successful experience" means that the foster parent has been responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of a child for a minimum of 20 hours per week without any negative actions, such as termination for cause.

b. Uphold the age limitations of children prescribed by R21-6-309 ;

c. Conduct a fire drill at least once every three months;

d. Have at least two full bathrooms in the home; and

e. If recommended by OLR, or the Child Placing Agency, complete advanced training on positive behavior development, de-escalation techniques, or other topics related to the specific care needs of the foster children.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R21-6-331

New section made by exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 3480, effective 1/24/2016.