Sec. 07.05.02.05. Application for Foster Parent Certification

A. Foster parent applicants shall be single individuals or couples who may be employed.

B. A prospective foster parent shall sign and date an application indicating a willingness to be a certified foster parent.

C. An appropriate agency employee shall conduct one or more documented application interviews with the applicant alone or in a group with other applicants. The interviews shall include a discussion of the following:

(1) Definition and goals of foster care;

(2) Differences between foster parenting and parenting one's own child or adopting a child;

(3) Reasons children receive foster care services;

(4) Characteristics of birth parents, their problems, needs, rights, and responsibilities;

(5) Potential impact of foster care responsibilities on the applicant;

(6) Requirements for foster care certification as described in Regulations .05-.12 of this chapter and in agency policy;

(7) Agency's policy on discipline;

(8) Applicant's assessment, with the agency, of the potential for foster parenthood;

(9) Number and characteristics of foster children for whom the applicant is best suited;

(10) Financial requirements of foster parents; and

(11) Financial obligations of the agency to foster parents and foster children.