ARC 1808C
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT[441]
Adopted and Filed
Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code section 234.6, the Department of Human Services amends Chapter 117, “Foster Parent Training,” and Chapter 200, “Adoption Services,” Iowa Administrative Code.
These amendments provide for a preservice training specific to Native American families to increase the number of licensed Native American families available for the placement of Native American children who come into the child welfare system.
The Department’s recruitment and retention contractor has subcontracted with the Native Families for Native Children to use the new Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanence: Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (TIPS-MAPP) curriculum as the preservice training for Native American families. The current rules specify at least 30 hours of the PS-MAPP preservice training curriculum. The TIPS-MAPP curriculum is an updated curriculum that incorporates trauma-informed care and Native American culture. In the future, the Department may change the 30-hour preservice training curriculum, such as this new TIPS-MAPP, and may make other changes to the 30-hour preservice training curriculum. For now, the amendments eliminate the name of the specific preservice training to allow the Department to choose a different preservice training without having to change the administrative rules.
Notice of Intended Action was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin as ARC 1706C on October 29, 2014. The Department received no comments during the public comment period. These amendments are identical to those published under Notice of Intended Action.
The Council on Human Services adopted these amendments on December 10, 2014.
These amendments do not provide for waivers in specified situations because requests for the waiver of any rule may be submitted under the Department’s general rule on exceptions at 441—1.8(17A,217).
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
These amendments are intended to implement Iowa Code section 237.5A.
These amendments will become effective March 1, 2015.
The following amendments are adopted.
	Item 1. Amend subrule 117.1(1) as follows:
	117.1(1) Preservice training requirement. Each individual foster parent applicant shall complete the entire “Partnering for Safety and Permanence: Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting” (PS-MAPP) curriculum developed by the Child Welfare Institute 30-hour preservice training as approved by the foster family program manager.
	a. 	Applicants shall complete PS-MAPP the 30-hour preservice training before receiving a license for the first time.
	b. 	Applicants shall retake PS-MAPP the 30-hour preservice training if they do not complete the curriculum within 24 months after initially commencing it.
	c. 	The department may waive the PS-MAPP preservice training requirement in whole or in part when the department finds that:
	(1)	The applicant has completed relevant training or has a combination of relevant training and experience that is an acceptable equivalent to all or a portion of the required preservice training; or
	(2)	There is good cause for the waiver based upon the circumstances of the child and the applicant.
	Item 2. Amend subrule 117.1(2) as follows:
	117.1(2) Preservice training program approval requirements.
	a. 	No change.
	b. 	Length. The entire PS-MAPP preservice training program shall total at least 30 hours of contact between leaders and participants. The department’s recruitment and retention contractor shall devise a procedure for applicants to make up any portions of the preservice training which that are missed.
	c. 	Instructors. The program shall be team taught by at least one foster or adoptive parent and one casework staff person. All instructors shall be certified PS-MAPP leaders or as approved by the adult, children and family services division administrator or designee.
	d.  to f.  No change.
	g. 	Training records. A record of the applicants who begin and complete the training and of the training program evaluations shall be submitted to the recruitment and retention contractor at the end of each 30-hour PS-MAPP preservice training session.
	Item 3. Amend rule 441—117.2(237), introductory paragraph, as follows:
441—117.2(237) Required orientation. All foster parent applicants shall attend orientation before attending PS-MAPP the 30-hour preservice training and before a foster child is placed in their home. Orientation shall not count toward the required 30 hours of preservice training.
	Item 4. Amend paragraph 200.4(4)“a” as follows:
	a. 	Completion of at least 30 hours of “Partnering for Safety and Permanence: Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting” (PS-MAPP) preservice training and the self-study course, “Universal Precautions in Foster and Adoptive Family Homes,” before placement of a child. These training requirements apply to families who are adopting special needs children who are under the guardianship of the department.
	(1)	Foster parents licensed before December 31, 2002, who have been caring for a foster child in their home for at least six months and who have been selected to adopt that child may have their participation in adoption training waived by the service area manager or designee.
	(2)	Relatives who have cared for a related child for at least six months and who have been selected to adopt that related child may have their participation in the PS-MAPP preservice training waived by the service area manager or designee.
	(3)	The department may waive the PS-MAPP  30-hour preservice training requirement in whole or in part when the department finds that:
	1.	The applicant has completed relevant training or has a combination of relevant training and experience that is an acceptable equivalent to all or a portion of the required preservice training; or
	2.	There is good cause for the waiver based upon the circumstances of the child and the applicant.
	(4)	If the adoptive parents are accepting placement of a child who is at high risk of becoming or is HIV positive, they shall also complete the “Caring for Children With HIV” course.
	(5)	Applicants must retake PS-MAPP the 30-hour preservice training if the adoption approval process is not completed within 24 months after PS-MAPP the preservice training is initially completed.
[Filed 12/10/14, effective 3/1/15]
[Published 1/7/15]
Editor’s Note: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 1/7/15.