Sec. 07.05.02.11. Method of Foster Parent Home Study

A. Before certifying the foster parent, the agency child placement worker shall conduct a home study that includes:

(1) At least two home visits;

(2) At least 20 hours of training for a foster parent applicant individually, or in a group of other applicants which:

(a) May be co-led by the agency child placement worker with other appropriate agency employees; and

(b) Shall include all topics described in Regulation .12 of this chapter; and

(3) The child placement worker's evaluation of the prospective foster parent which:

(a) Utilizes information in the application, training records, and interviews to assess the applicant's weaknesses and strengths; and

(b) Makes a professional judgement regarding the applicant's ability to provide a safe, healthy, nurturing environment for a foster child.

B. The agency child placement worker shall ensure and document in the application record that all required training material is provided to the applicant.

C. The application and home study used for foster parent certification, if properly updated through the annual foster parent certification renewal, may be used in place of an adoption home study.

D. The applicant shall:

(1) Sign a foster parent consent form;

(2) Meet the requirement for 20 hours of training; and

(3) Meet all agency requirements for certification as a foster parent.

E. During the home study, the agency child placement worker shall:

(1) Discuss the agency's policies on discipline and child abuse or neglect, including the:

(a) Possibility of physical or sexual victimization by an older child; and

(b) Responsibility of the foster parent for the safety of the child;

(2) Obtain and document verification of the applicant's employment and income;

(3) Obtain and document existence of the applicant's marriage and divorce certificates, if appropriate;

(4) Request a health safety inspection of the applicant's home by the health department or a State-licensed sanitarian;

(5) Request a fire safety inspection for the applicant's home;

(6) Obtain all required medical documentation from prospective foster household members;

(7) For all adults living in the applicant's home, obtain:

(a) State and federal criminal background checks; and

(b) Appropriate local department child abuse and neglect clearances;

(8) Obtain local department clearances for the applicant's child support records;

(9) If the applicant has a vehicle operator's license, obtain a copy of the applicant's driving record from the Motor Vehicle Administration;

(10) Obtain at least three individual references, one of which:

(a) May be a relative; and

(b) When a child in the household attends a school, shall be a school administrator, counselor, or teacher employed by the school attended by the child;

(11) Support the individual written references with at least:

(a) One documented face-to-face interview; and

(b) Telephone interviews with two references not interviewed face-to-face.

(12) Conduct at least two home visits with applicants in accordance with the following schedule:

(a) The first home visit shall include an inspection of the house and interviews with all members of the household; and

(b) The second home visit may include only the applicant and shall result in an agreement between the agency and the applicant about:

(i) Pursuing certification;

(ii) Discussing the final recommendation; and

(iii) Problem areas;

(13) Explore the following areas with the applicant:

(a) Motivation to provide foster care or adopt;

(b) Applicant's background, including:

(i) Childhood experiences and relationships;

(ii) Education;

(iii) Life-changing experiences;

(iv) Relationships with relatives and friends;

(v) Marital relationships;

(vi) In-law relationships;

(vii) Sibling relationships;

(viii) Relationships with the applicant's children, if any;

(ix) Former marriages, if any; and

(x) Child-support obligations, if any;

(c) Applicant's ability to cope with change and stress;

(d) When applicable, impact of infertility;

(e) Special interests and activities;

(f) Impact of applicant's religion or life philosophy on the care of children;

(g) Employment and financial circumstances;

(h) Knowledge of and experience in parenting;

(i) Attitudes toward children's discipline;

(j) Attitudes toward foster care and adoption, including:

(i) Expectations of a child;

(ii) Dealing with a child regarding foster care and adoption;

(iii) Possibility of an adoptee's need to search for the birth parents in the future;

(iv) Dealing with birth parents of either an adoptee or foster child;

(v) Impact of the law on opening records for purposes of search and reunification; and

(vi) Type of child the applicant could consider parenting, including a child's age range, special needs, and medical requirements;

(k) Home and community, including:

(i) Physical environment of the home;

(ii) Child care plans if needed; and

(iii) Attitudes of relatives, friends, and neighbors toward foster care and adoption; and

(l) Safety of the home environment based on a written instrument developed by the agency.