Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-113.3 - Licensing procedure
(1)
Application. Applications for an initial license to operate a
foster family home shall be submitted and processed as directed in rule
441-112.3 (237). In addition to the application form, the applicant shall submit
the following forms during the licensing process:
a. Form 595-1396 for each person living in
the home who is 14 years of age or older, as required by rule
441-113.13 (237).
b. Form 470-0720
to satisfy the requirements of rule
441-113.11 (237).
c. Form 470-0693, if applicable.
d. Form 470-5097. The applicant or the
recruitment and retention provider shall complete a drawing of the floor plan
of the family's home.
e. If
licensed to drive, a copy of the driver's license and motor vehicle
insurance.
(2)
Orientation. Applicants shall attend an orientation provided
by the recruitment and retention contractor as described in rule
441-117.2 (237).
(3)
Record
checks. Before beginning preservice training, applicants shall pass at
least the local record check procedures as specified in rule
441-113.13 (237).
(4)
Home
study. The worker for the recruitment and retention contractor shall
complete a family home study.
a.
Process. Information for the home study is gathered primarily
through the required preservice training as described in rule
441-117.1 (237). Tribal agencies
may also be involved in conducting home studies for American Indian and Alaska
Native children . 42 U.S.C.A.
Section 671(a)(26)(B)
provides that any receiving state must treat any tribal home study report as
meeting the requirements imposed by the state for the completion of a home
study.
(1) The worker shall hold at least
three face-to-face interviews with the applicant with one of the interviews
taking place in the applicant's home.
(2) The worker shall hold at least one
face-to-face interview with each member of the household in the applicant's
home to observe family functioning and to assess the family's capacity to meet
the needs of the child (ren) in foster care. The worker will determine whether
to interview or just observe each household member based on the household
member's age and development.
(3) A
physical inspection of the home is required. The worker shall use Form 470-0695
to complete the physical inspection of the home to verify compliance with the
licensing and regulation standards in this chapter.
(4) Reference checks shall be conducted as
described at rule 441-113.14 (237).
b.
Family assessment topics.
The assessment of the prospective foster family shall evaluate the family's
ability to parent the special needs child (ren). The assessment shall include
the following:
(1) The applicant's motivation
for foster care and whether the family has biological, adopted, or foster
child (ren).
(2) The attitude of the
family and the extended family toward accepting the child (ren).
(3) The applicant's emotional stability;
marital relationship and history, including verification of marriages and
divorces; family relationships; and compatibility.
(4) The applicant's ability to cope with
problems, stress, frustrations, crisis, separation, and loss.
(5) Medical, mental, and emotional conditions
that may affect the applicant's ability to parent the child (ren); treatment
history; current status of treatment; and the evaluation of the treatment.
Applicants and all household members must disclose any past or current mental
health or substance abuse issues, or both. The department may require further
documentation or evaluation, or both, to determine the suitability of the
home.
(6) Any child (ren) who are
household members must be up to date on immunizations jointly recommended by
the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American
Academy of Family Physicians, unless the immunization is contrary to the
child (ren)'s health as documented by a licensed health care
professional.
(7) An evaluation of
the applicant's willingness to accept the child (ren) who have medical problems
(such as a communicable disease), an intellectual disability, or emotional or
behavioral problems. The applicant shall complete the department form to
indicate choices about caring for any child (ren) who have or are at risk for a
communicable disease and other medical problems.
(8) The applicant's ability to provide for
the child (ren)'s physical, medical, and emotional needs; to respect the
child (ren)'s ethnic and religious identity; and to support the child (ren)'s
overall well-being.
(9) The safety
of the child (ren) in relation to any animals that live on the applicant's
property.
(10) The adjustment of
any child (ren) in the home, including their attitudes toward foster care and
adoption, relationships with others, and school performance.
(11) An assessment of the applicant's
disciplinary techniques and practices.
(12) The applicant's financial information
and ability to provide for the child (ren).
(13) The applicant's attitude toward the
birth parents and siblings of the child (ren) placed in foster care.
(14) The applicant's commitment to and
capacity to maintain significant relationships of the child (ren) in foster care
and work with the child (ren)'s parents when the permanency goal is
reunification.
(15) Any history of
substance use or substance abuse by family members or members of the household,
including treatment history and current status of treatment.
(16) Any history of abuse by family members
or members of the household, including treatment history, current status of
treatment, and how this issue would affect the applicant's ability to be a
foster parent.
(17) Any criminal
convictions of family members or adults in the household and the evaluation of
the criminal record.
c.
Written report. The recruitment and retention contractor shall
prepare a written report of the family assessment using Form 470-5436. Form
470-5436 shall include a recommendation for the number, age, sex,
characteristics, and special needs of the child (ren) the family can best parent
and any other pertinent information in making the licensing recommendation. The
home study shall be maintained in the foster family record.
(5)
Decision. The
department worker shall use the home study to approve or deny a prospective
family as an appropriate placement for the child (ren). The department worker
shall notify the family of the licensing decision using Form 470-0709.
a. Upon approval, the department shall issue
the applicant a foster family home license as described at rule
441-112.4 (237). The license
shall indicate the licensed capacity for the number of child (ren) approved for
placement in the foster family home under subrule 113.4(1).
Notes
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