Licensing of Foster Care Homes
A. Prospective foster parent applicant is provided with information and application materials.
1. An applicant who is interested in providing care for a specific child will be asked to contact the child's primary service worker. Primary service worker, supervisor and administrator must provide written agreement for the applicant to be licensed as a resource for the specific child (refer to DCYF Policy 900.0025, Kinship Care).
2. If a child is already residing in an unlicensed kinship foster home, or if it appears that the best interests of the child will be served by placing the child in the home prior to licensing, the Department may authorize the placement in the home pending licensure for a period not to exceed six (6) months in accordance with procedures outlined in DCYF Policy 900.0025, Kinship Care.
B. Upon receipt of the completed application packet, the licensing worker ensures that the following steps are completed in accordance with the standards outlined in the RI DCYF Foster Care and Adoption Regulations for Licensure.
a. Licensing worker must review nationwide and statewide criminal records checks of the applicants and household members as part of the licensing process and document in the home study the impact on the safety and service needs of any child to be placed in the home.
b. Licensing worker cannot proceed with the licensing process if a caretaker or member of the household has a history of disqualifying or non-disqualifying information. The licensing worker must review this information with his or her supervisor to determine if the licensing process should proceed.
c. Results of this review, including justification for proceeding with the licensing process, must be documented in a Provider Activity Note (PAN).
a. Licensing worker must review the DCYF case record(s) relating to any foster care applicant(s) and all household members, including records relating to the applicants and household members as children and juveniles, as part of the licensing process and document in the home study the impact on the safety and service needs of any child to be placed in the home.
b. Licensing worker cannot proceed with the licensing process if a caretaker or member of the household has a history of disqualifying or non-disqualifying information. The licensing worker must review this information with his or her supervisor to determine if the licensing process should proceed.
c. Results of this review, including justification for proceeding with the licensing process, must be documented in a Provider Activity Note (PAN).
3. Child Abuse and Neglect Registry Check of State Central Registry in each state that the prospective caretaker(s) and any other adult(s) living in the home have resided in the preceding five years (refer to DCYF Policy 700.0105, Clearance of Agency Activity).
a. Licensing worker must review information received from the State Central Registry in each state that the prospective caretaker(s) and any other adult(s) living in the home have resided in the preceding five years.
b. Worker must document the results of the check on the DCYF #035.
c. If another state does not maintain a registry or if the state has an Administration for Children and Families (ACF) approved delayed effective date, worker must document on the DCYF #035 and this will not affect licensure.
i. If another state does maintain a registry and is unwilling to provide this information, a license may not be issued until the information is received.
ii. Worker must document on the DCYF #035 and inform the licensing administrator or designee, who will notify the ACF regional office.
d. Licensing worker must review the history of disqualifying and non-disqualifying information with his or her supervisor to determine if the licensing process should proceed.
e. Results of this review, including justification for proceeding with the licensing process, must be documented in a Provider Activity Note (PAN).
4. DCYF #037, Physician’s Reference, which indicates that the applicant is physically, mentally and emotionally competent to be a foster parent. Licensing worker must directly contact a physician in any case in which the Physician’s Reference is ambiguous or raises questions regarding the suitability or competence of the applicant to be licensed as a foster parent.
5. In the event that the DCYF #036 identifies that an applicant is currently engaged in behavioral health treatment, the licensing worker shall obtain the necessary releases and contact the treatment provider to obtain information on the status of treatment and the suitability or competence of the applicant to be licensed as a foster parent.
6. Personal reference letters from three (3) individuals, two (2) unrelated to applicant(s)
7. Fire inspection
8. Foster Parent Training
9. Foster Care/Adoption Home study
a. The Foster Care/Adoption Licensing Home Study DCYF #053 is completed by the licensing worker.
b. The applicant completes the DCYF #036B, Adoption & Foster Care Self-Assessment Questionnaire
c. The home study includes at least two (2) home visits by the individual responsible for completing the home study. All household members must be interviewed during the home study process.
C. The licensing administrator or designee reviews the completed licensing packet and decides if the license will be granted.
1. If the decision is to grant the license, the license is prepared and forwarded to the newly licensed foster parent(s).
2. If the decision is to deny the license, the applicant is notified in writing.
D. Licensing information is entered in the Licensing record.
