CHAPTER 113LICENSING AND REGULATION OF FOSTER FAMILY HOMES[Prior to 7/1/83, Social Services [770] Ch 113][Prior to 2/11/87, Human Services[498]]441113.1(237) Applicability. This chapter specifically relates to the licensing and regulation of foster family homes. Refer to 441—Chapter 112 for general licensing rules and regulations which apply to all foster care facilities, including foster family homes.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 237.441113.2(237) Definitions.
"Age- or developmentally appropriate activities" means activities or items that are generally accepted as suitable for children of the same chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a child, based on the development of cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for an age or age group; and in the case of a specific child, activities or items that are suitable for the child based on the developmental stages attained by the child with respect to the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of the child.
"Corporal punishment" means the intentional physical punishment of a foster child.
"Department" means the Iowa department of human services and includes the local offices of the department.
"Foster family home" means a home in which an individual person or persons or a married couple who wishes to provide or is providing, for a period exceeding 24 consecutive hours, board, room, and care for a child in a single family living unit.
"Health care provider" means a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, physician assistant or advanced registered nurse practitioner who completes a health report.
"Public water supply system (PWS)" means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.
"Reasonable and prudent parent standard" means the standard characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, and best interests of a child while at the same time encourage the emotional and developmental growth of the child, that a caregiver shall use when determining whether to allow a child in foster care under the responsibility of the state to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. For the purposes of this definition, “caregiver” means a foster parent with whom a child in foster care has been placed or a designated official for a child care institution (including group homes, residential treatment, shelters, or other congregate care settings) in which a child in foster care has been placed.
"Reasonable force" means that force, and no more, which a reasonable person in like circumstances would judge to be necessary to prevent an injury or loss.
"Recruitment and retention contractor" means the entity that contracts with the department statewide to recruit foster and adoptive parents, complete home studies, and perform activities to support and encourage retention of foster and adoptive parents, or any of its subcontractors.
"Service area manager" means the department employee responsible for managing department offices and personnel within the service area and for implementing policies and procedures of the department.
"Social work administrator" means the department employee responsible for supervising the social work staff within a department service area and for implementing service policies and procedures of the department.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 237.Related ARC(s): 8010B, 2069C, 2743C, 3185C441113.3(237) Licensing procedure. 113.3(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, DHS Criminal History Record Check, 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, Physician’s Report for Foster and Adoptive Parents, to satisfy the requirements of rule 441—113.11(237). c. Form 470-0693, Foster Care Private Water Supply Survey, if applicable. d. Form 470-4657, Floor Plan. 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. 113.3(2) Orientation. Applicants shall attend an orientation provided by the recruitment and retention contractor as described in rule 441—117.2(237). 113.3(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). 113.3(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 two 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 a child 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 the Foster Family Survey Report 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 a special needs child. The assessment shall include the following: (1) The applicant’s motivation for foster care and whether the family has biological, adopted, or foster children. (2) The attitude of the family and the extended family toward accepting a foster child. (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 a child; 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) All children 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’s health as documented by a licensed health care professional. (7) An evaluation of the applicant’s willingness to accept a child who has medical problems (such as HIV), an intellectual disability, or emotional or behavioral problems. The applicant shall complete the department form to indicate choices about caring for children who have or are at risk for HIV infection and other medical problems. (8) The applicant’s ability to provide for a child’s physical, medical, and emotional needs and respect the child’s ethnic and religious identity. (9) The safety of foster children in relation to any animals that live on the applicant’s property. (10) The adjustment of any children 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 a child. (13) The applicant’s attitude toward the foster child’s birth parents and siblings. (14) The applicant’s commitment to and capacity to maintain a foster child’s significant relationships and work with the child’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, Resource Parent Home Study. The Resource Parent Home Study shall include a recommendation for the number, age, sex, characteristics, and special needs of a child or children 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. 113.3(5) Decision. The department worker shall use the home study to approve or deny a prospective family as an appropriate placement for a child or children. The department worker shall notify the family of the licensing decision using Form 470-0709, Notice of Action: Foster Family Home. 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 foster children approved for placement in the foster family home under subrule 113.4(1). b. If the department worker does not approve the home study, the notice shall state the reasons for that decision, as listed in rule 441—112.5(237). A license denial may be appealed as described at rule 441—112.8(237).This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 237.5.Related ARC(s): 8010B, 3185C, 5064C441113.4(237) Provisions pertaining to the license. On a case-by-case basis, the service area manager or area social work administrator may waive any standard in this chapter unless:- The requirement is set in state or federal law; or
- The waiver could have a negative impact on the safety and well-being of a child placed in the foster family home.
- Infants shall always be placed on their backs for sleep.
- Infants shall be placed on a firm mattress with a tight fitting sheet that meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission federal standards.
- Infants shall not be allowed to sleep on a bed, sofa, air mattress or other soft surface. No child shall be allowed to sleep in any item not designed for sleeping. This is not referring to a child in a car seat in a car.
- No toys, soft objects, stuffed animals, pillows, bumper pads, blankets, or loose bedding shall be allowed in the sleeping area with the infant.
- No co-sleeping shall be allowed.
- If an alternate sleeping position is needed for an infant, a signed authorization with a statement of a medical reason is required and shall be submitted by a physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
- Any change in the number of persons living in the home (except for foster children);
- A move to a new home; or
- Any circumstances in the home that could negatively affect the health, safety or welfare of a child in the family’s care.