Attachment A: Guide for Conducting Foster/Kinship Family Assessments

Beginning the Assessment

The agency has a responsibility:

To provide enough information so that applicants can make a knowledgeable decision about becoming foster parents;
To interpret the assessment process as one in which together the Division and the prospective foster/kinship parents can determine potential for successful foster parenting;
To convey information to the applicants so that they may learn about the kinds of children they can best serve;
To exchange information in such a way that the agency and applicants can mutually determine whether or not it is desirable that the study be continued;
To convey to applicants that a portion of the licensing record is a matter of public record and therefore open to review. Information that is protected by law and requires a court order or written consent of the applicants/resource parents before disclosure includes: social security number; juvenile records and arrest records; personally identifiable information regarding mental illness and other medical conditions and treatment. Included in this would be substance abuse, HIV and AIDS, and other information on personal health;
To share the importance of gaining training for the job of foster parenting, just as anyone would for any other job;
To assure compliance with licensing regulations, beginning with sharing a copy of it with applicants.

The study must be completed within 120 days of receipt of the application and shall consist of:

Joint and separate interviews with the applicants; children, and all others in the home. There shall be a minimum of four separate in-home consultations during the pre-service training. The total number of hours spent conducting visits shall consist of at least ten hours.
Compliance with the physical aspects of licensing regulations must be determined.
A minimum of three references, confirmed on reference forms;
A completed Foster Family Profile (CD-56);
Review of Family Support Division (FSD) screens. The county should begin the review by using the following screens:
- SCLR - Department of Social Services (DSS) data base (access with name, sex, and date of birth),
- KDCN - Protective Services (PS) inquiry (accessed by DCN),
- IPAR FSD information (accessed by DCN),
- FPAR - Food Stamp (FS) information (accessed by DCN),
- OVCI - Claims and Restitution (CARS) information (accessed by DCN),
- MCASI – Child Support System. Access from MACSS; enter MDCM, then enter MCASI and DCN.

When information is found regarding an applicant, the system inquirer should continue using other pertinent screens to gather as much data as possible to assist in the decision-making process.

Review FACES screens regarding history with the Division. Start with Call/Case Prior History Search.

Steps to be Followed for Licensure

The following steps shall be completed for every applicant and adult household member (age 17 and older). Supporting documentation of each step is to be filed in the licensing record.

NOTE: The same steps are to be followed in completion of any ICPC assessment as are followed for licensure as referenced in Memos CD04-63 and CD07-44.

The Child Abuse/Neglect background screening will continue to be done by the local Children’s Division (CD). Staff will conduct child abuse and neglect background checks in every state where each household member 17 years of age and older has resided since the age of 17. The search can be conducted by accessing the Department of Social Services 50 states web page or Public Human Services Agency Directory and clicking on each appropriate state to obtain contact information for the purpose of verifying any child abuse/neglect history in that state for each household member 17 years of age and older since they were 17 years of age.
Each household member 17 years of age and older must register with the Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR). The registry is maintained by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). It will search the following systems:
1. CA/N records (findings of ”Preponderance of Evidence” court adjudicated”, or prior to August 28, 2004, “Probable Cause“ findings),
2. Employee Disqualification List, maintained by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS),
3. Child-care facility licensing records maintained by DHSS,
4. Residential living facility and nursing home records, maintained by DHSS,
5. Employee Disqualification Registry maintained by Department of Mental Health;
6. Foster parent licensing records, maintained by the Children’s Division (CD); and
7. ex Offender Registry information maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP).
  - Give the applicant a “Worker Registration Form” for each adult in the household to register with the FCSR. Copies of the form can be ordered from the warehouse or downloaded at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/FCSR/.
  - Instruct the applicant to register as quickly as possible by submitting the completed form and a photocopy of their social security card to the Missouri Department of Health, Fee Receipts Unit, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102. The form may be faxed to 573-522-6981 to ensure a priority response.
    If no social security card is available, the only acceptable substitute is a driver’s license (if the SSN is used as the ID number); a military ID; a MO HealtlhNet card; or the Social Security Administration (SSA) statement provided when application is made for a replacement card (as long as it has the SSN identified, the name appears on the statement and it is initialed or signed by a SSA representative).
    
    Registrants (and all their adult household members) who are foster parents, respite providers, or are applying to provide those services must check the foster parent box in Section A to avoid having to pay the registration fee.
  - The licensing worker may telephone the FCSR at 1-866-422-6872 to make a background screening request. Generally information will be available within two weeks. An oral report will be given at the time of the call and will be followed with a written report to both the requestor and the registrant within 48 hours.
  - Registration is Only Required Once. If completing a background screening for re-licensure, the worker
    can do one of the following: access the FCSR on-line with the assigned ID and password (preferred), or call the FCSR at 1-866-422-6872
    The CSW obtains on-line access by:
    1. Completing the MULES (Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System) access form.
    2. Sending the completed signed form to the FCSR, attention Chief. This form can be sent via email to FCSR@dhss.mo.gov or fax the signed form to 573-522-6981.
    In response the FCSR will:
    1. Assign an ID number and password to the CSW to be used exclusively for access to the FCSR. This ID and password are autonomous from the worker’s current ID and passwords used for logging on to the state computer system, FACES and PROD. The password is on a 30-day expiration cycle and the worker will have to update it every 30 days, just as with the PROD password.
    2. Contact the CSW after the form has been processed. The phone call will consist of instruction regarding logging on the registry and how to run the background check. The phone call will be followed by an E-mail confirmation.
State and national criminal record checks will be completed for each household member age 17 or older, or any person under the age of 17 who has been certified as an adult. Fingerprints are now required. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) will complete a state criminal record check and then electronically send the fingerprint images to the FBI for a national search of criminal records.
The criminal record check may reveal open and closed record information on individuals consisting of arrests, prosecutor and court actions, correctional supervision, and release. All felony and serious misdemeanor arrests including sexual offender registration information as defined under 589.400, RSMo. All alcohol and drug related traffic offenses are considered reportable criminal offenses.

The Children’s Division Background Screening Investigative Unit (BSIU) will maintain a log of all criminal background checks completed on alternative care providers and applicants.
The address of residence of the resource home will be entered at the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s sexual offender list located on the web at: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Root/index.html. The search will determine if a sexual offender is registered as residing at the address of the resource home.

The Division is now utilizing the electronic scan service for the collection of fingerprints. The service is called Missouri Applicant Processing Services, or MOAPS. Applicants must register with MOAPS to schedule their appointment to have their fingerprints scanned. The process for registration is as follows:

Contact MOAPS to schedule the appointment. This may be done by telephone or via the Internet.
- To schedule by phone, call 1-866-522-7067.
- To schedule via the Internet, go to www.ibtfingerprint.com then click on the state of Missouri icon and follow the directions.
The provider will need to inform MOAPS they are being printed for the Children's Division.
MOAPS staff will request additional identifying information. This information includes:
1. Full name of applicant
2. Date of Birth
3. Social Security Number
4. ORI number - MO920360Z
5. OCA code – This information is county specific and has been provided to each county.
6. Reason Printed – 210.487 RSMo (Foster, Relative and Kinship Care Providers Only)
Once MOAPS has collected the information, a date and time for the appointment will be set. The electronic scan method is the preferred method of obtaining criminal background checks. However, the card and ink method will still be available in special circumstances. Staff should be aware that this method will result in delays in receiving the criminal history. No one may be licensed or have their license renewed until criminal background results have been received. The Missouri State Highway Patrol public window is no longer an option for having fingerprints completed and therefore staff should not refer applicants or providers to the Highway Patrol to have prints completed.

The Division can not pay for criminal background checks completed on respite care providers, biological parents or for court ordered studies on private adoptions and guardianships. If fingerprints need to be completed on any of these persons, the cost for the electronic scan $56.95 from August 28, 2007 until September 30, 2007. Effective October 1, 2007, the fee will be $52.20 due to a reduction in the cost for FBI checks. This fee will be collected by MOAPS. They may also choose to have card and ink prints completed. If this method is utilized, a check or money order, made payable to Missouri State Criminal Records and Identification Division must be attached to the cards. These cards should be sent to the Children’s Division Background Screening Investigative Unit (BSIU) for processing. The cost for these screens will be $44.00 from August 28, 2007 thru September 30, 2007. Effective October 1, 2007, the cost will decrease to $39.25 due to a decrease in the FBI fee.

The completed reports will be sent to BSIU and then forwarded to the local CD office. The MSHP response will be received first. After the FBI has completed its search, any results will be forwarded to the MSHP, who will then forward the results to BSIU.

Per FBI guidelines, FBI reports can be released to local county offices and made available in court. FBI rap sheets cannot be released to contractors or to private entities. Even if a contractor has requested the information to complete an assessment, they are not allowed access to the report. The local office will have the responsibility to convey to the contractor one of the following:

The report is clear; proceed with the assessment, or
The report revealed something that must be explored. The contractor will then be requested to refer the family to the local office before continuing the assessment. Local office staff will then meet with the applicant and determine whether the applicant will be allowed to proceed with the application. If the applicant is selected out, the local office staff must inform the family in writing and notify the contractor.
1. There is a delayed fingerprinting process that will be followed in the cases of the emergency placement of a child.
  1. The Children’s Service worker or juvenile officer must request the local law enforcement to search the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) for each adult in the household. MULES is an electronic communication system strictly used for law enforcement purposes but permission has been granted to allow the CD access to the information in cases of the emergency placement of children.
  2. The FBI has approved the use of a Purpose Code “X” to be used by law enforcement agencies that will allow the delay of fingerprints when placing a child in an emergency situation. However, fingerprints must be submitted to the FBI within 15 days of the MULES check. To meet that deadline, the Children’s Service worker must provide the placement provider with information to schedule their screening with MOAPS. When a court or Children’s Service worker approaches a law enforcement agency about providing this type of check, the law enforcement agency must determine if in fact the situation in question constitutes emergency placement or not.
  3. The Children’s Service worker or juvenile officer requesting the MULES inquiry is required to follow up with the local law enforcement agency if no fingerprints will be submitted due to a disqualifier found on the person’s criminal record and the individual is not contesting the record.
    The local law enforcement has been advised by the MSHP that it is their responsibility to maintain a dissemination log to track any delayed fingerprints. If the Children’s Division fails to notify law enforcement that the delayed fingerprints will not be submitted, our agency could lose the right to delay fingerprinting in the future.
2. Examine Case net, the Missouri State Courts Automated Case Management System, for any reference to Orders of Protection filed, either for a child or adult. There are limits to the use of Case.net. Case.net is not yet statewide so will not include all county circuit courts. Also, at this time public view does not include identifiers such as social security and birth dates; so, it is difficult to determine whether the individual you are searching is the same as one found in Case.net.
3. In locations where Case.net is not yet available, check with the circuit court for any pertinent information, including a record of Orders of Protection filed, both for a child or an adult. Additional circuit courts may need to be contacted if there is reason for concern. Any fee charged by the circuit court will be paid by the applicant.

Except for the specific felony convictions listed below, a criminal history, child abuse/neglect history, or other review information does not automatically preclude licensure. Staff should determine the relevance of all such findings to child caring responsibilities, and should seek guidance from supervisors. A supervisor must review and evaluate the background information if there is a record of conviction (other than those listed below) and/or child abuse and if the decision is to approve the home study. The supervisor's review and decision to approve/disapprove must be documented.

Felony Convictions

Staff may not approve the application of any person in which a record check reveals that a felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, a crime against children (including child pornography), or a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault or battery was determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Staff may also not approve the application of any person who in the past five years has had a court of competent jurisdiction determine a felony conviction for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense.

For the purpose of this policy, a "felony conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction" is defined as a criminal court conviction for a felony offense as defined by law in the jurisdiction that the offense took place.

In the unlikely event that it is determined that the best interest of a child would be served by placement in this setting, written approval must be obtained through supervisory lines to the Regional Office. The Regional Office must review the request and, if in agreement, forward with their recommendation to the Deputy Director for Children's Division for final consideration. Written requests should include a thorough description of the applicant’s situation and why it would be in the child’s best interest for an exception to be granted. If approved by the Deputy Director, IV-E funding may not be used and the Children’s Service Worker will be responsible for notifying the Eligibility Specialist who will ensure that state only funds are used.

Unless a new conviction occurs, this will not affect the status of any currently licensed or certified parents, however, federal funds may not be used for foster care maintenance or adoption assistance payments if any of the aforementioned conditions exist. It is imperative that in those circumstances the Children’s Service Worker notifies the Eligibility Specialist who will enter the correct fund code for state only funding.

The Assessment Process Includes:

Orientation to agency and foster care program, as contained in Pre-Service Training and given through individual interviews. Completion of 27 hours of Pre-Service Training is required of each adult desiring licensure prior to issuance of a license;

Obtain photograph from family of them, including pets, if applicable, in front of their home. As this will be used in helping prepare a child for placement, include as much detail as possible. This photograph is to be placed with the Foster Family Profile (CD-56) under separate cover sheet and placed in the front of the Resource Provider record. The family’s photograph and the Foster Family Profile (CD-56) will serve as the Foster Family Profile.

An exchange of information between the Children’s Service Worker and applicant that will promote discussion to determine if the applicant is able to parent children who have different cultural needs than the applicant. This is to be done with all applicants and should not be used to discourage an applicant from parenting trans-culturally. Record all information in the assessment.

Determination of Capacity for Foster Parenting

Assessment of Motivation and Attitudes, including:

How and why the applicants became interested in becoming foster parents and why they are applying now;
Are applicants interested in adoption;
What are applicants' experiences with children;
Reactions of applicants to abusing or neglecting parents;
Do they understand the significance of the biological parents to the children? Are they willing to work with the child's biological parents and siblings;
Are applicants comfortable in accepting both their own and the children's positive and negative feelings;
Are children allowed to participate in problem solving in matters concerning their own behavior?
The reason they are interested in parenting culturally diverse children and the impact of their decision on their family, extended family, friends, and neighbors.
Assess applicant’s life style, the ability to teach a child coping skills for their cultural heritage and give a child sense of cultural knowledge, pride, and identity.

Physical and Personality Description, Observations of Applicants' Family and Individual Functioning

Life history, including:

Past relationships with parents, siblings, extended family;
Significant events, both positive and negative, as described by applicant;
Prior marital relationships, if applicable. When completing ICPC assessments/home studies, and the applicant is a birth parent, determine if an ex parte order or dissolution of marriage order exists which limits or denies custody or visitation rights. If such an order exists, it must be followed by the agency in planning for the child. Determine if the parent or relative/kin has had a criminal conviction of a felony violation of Chapter 566 (Sexual Offenses) or Chapter 568 (Offenses Against the Family) when that child was the victim (courts may not award custody or visitation to a parent who has such a conviction in a proceeding for marriage dissolution, legal separation, or child support).
Their own nationality and sense of cultural identity, knowledge of other identities, cultures, and the significance of these inter-relationships.

Current relationships:

What is the applicant’s life style practices, including sexual orientation, culture, and leisure activities;
Discuss family interaction, including husband and wife, children, and extended family; stability of marriage;
Discuss family interaction with the community, including school, neighborhood, and larger community;
What support systems are available to applicants;
Evaluate the cultural composition of the neighborhoods, including schools, churches, child care centers, and other organizations with which the child would interact. Evaluate with applicants how these resources can be used to benefit the child’s diverse cultural needs;
Relative or kinship provider ability to protect the child from the parent, and ability to maintain contact with the parent, where appropriate.
Discuss family pets and the importance of pets to the child.

Discuss family interaction with the Community, Including School, Neighborhood, and Larger Community:

What support systems are available to the applicants?
Evaluate the cultural composition of the neighborhoods, including schools, churches, child care centers, and other organizations with which the child would interact. Evaluate with the applicants how these resources can be used to benefit the child’s diverse cultural needs.

The Foster Child as a Family Member:

What is of most importance to the applicants in the maintenance of their household routines?
What behavior in a child is intolerable to them?
Can applicants set limits but at the same time remain flexible? (Some children respond best to highly structured environments and others need more freedom.)
What are the applicants' expectations of a child? (Include personality, achievement and affectional, response.)
For how many children do the applicants want to provide care? More if siblings? (Keep in mind the six children limit for foster homes; seven - twelve children for foster family group homes.)
If there are birth or adopted children, how do they feel about their parents providing care to foster children, and has this been discussed thoroughly with them? (At least one interview with children already living in the home is required and should be conducted separate from the parents.) Documentation of this interview should include with whom the worker spoke and where.
How do grandparents view the addition of foster children?
Determine applicant's understanding and knowledge of the development and behavior of children through a discussion of the following general parenting skills:
- Parent structures environment so that it is safe and healthy for the child;
- Parent expresses positive feelings toward the child verbally and physically;
- Parent recognizes and responds appropriately to the child's verbal and physical expressions of needs and wants;
- Parent consistently uses basic behavior management techniques in dealing with the child;
- Parent consistently uses appropriate techniques to discipline the child and refrains from corporal punishment;
- Parent guides child toward increasing independence; and
- Parent behaves in a way that recognizes the immaturity of the child.

Discipline:

How were applicants disciplined as children and by whom? Have the applicants recall some of their feelings about these methods of discipline.
Is the discipline they now use the same as they themselves received? Have they changed their methods, and if so, how and why?
Do the applicants understand corporal punishment is not allowed?

Money Management:

How do the applicants manage their money?
What are the family members' roles in management?
Do they have income sufficient to support all members of the family?

Health:

What are the applicants' attitudes toward medical care and good health practices?
If there are health problems, how do the family members cope with them? If there is a disability, how do other family members compensate?
Secure from their physician a health statement for each member of the family on the prescribed form.
History of hospitalization for either physical or emotional problems.
History of treatment for any psychiatric problem.
History of treatment for any form of substance abuse.
The physician’s statement given for each household member shall indicate whether the applicant has a communicable disease and shall further state whether the disease will present a medical risk to children and families and if the disease is easily transferred from one person to another. If the physician’s statement reveals the above we will be unable to license the individual as a foster/adopt home. There may be individual situations when a relative or kinship provider who is infected with a communicable disease can be licensed as a child specific placement with parental consent.

Employment:

Discuss employment with applicants.
If both are employed, what are the child care plans for foster and natural children?
Secure from employer a statement verifying employment and job performance, using The Employee Reference Quesitonnaire CS-101c.

Religion:

What are the applicants' religious preferences, practices and attitudes?
Would children placed in the home be allowed to pursue their own religious beliefs?

Children in the Home:

What is the applicant’s educational preference (i.e. public school, home-schooling, private schooling)?
What is the school history of each child in the home?
What are the applicant’s thoughts on the importance of education on a child’s future?
What is the development and adjustment of each?

The Home and Community:

Describe the home, adequacy of space, type of furnishings, state of repair, housekeeping conditions, the surroundings and the neighborhood. Utilize information obtained on Resource Home and Safety Checklist (CS-45).
Describe the room intended for a foster child and its furnishings and size.
Give a brief description of the community. (Consider economic level, moral influence, housing standards, health conditions, recreation, school, and church.)
Is there access to special resources such as diagnostic clinics, therapists, and special medical facilities?
For Foster Family Group Homes, complete and submit forms CS-101i, Request for Fire and Safety Inspection, and when necessary, CS-101j, Request for Sanitation Inspection, to respective agencies.

References:

References should be contacted late in the study process to avoid unnecessary embarrassment for the applicant in case of early disapproval.
At least three references unrelated to the applicant must be contacted, and confirmed on the Personal Reference Questionnaire CS-101f. If the family has children, obtain reference from each child's teacher, using the School Refernce Request CS-101e.
How long have they known the family and in what capacity?
What is the reference's opinion of the applicants' relationship with each other and the stability of their marriage?
What is the reference's opinion of the applicants' ability to parent their own children, as well as a foster child?

Evaluation

Using the statements of the applicants, the statements of the references and your own observations, assess and summarize whether these applicants are capable of meeting the needs of and providing opportunities for the healthy growth and development of a child(ren) coming into the custody of the Division.

Assess and summarize applicants' strengths and weaknesses such as:

Their capacity to make a child a part of the family;
Their capacity to work with biological parents;
Their capacity to understand and handle problems; and
Their warmth, love, understanding and ability to foster a FAMILY, not just a child.

Assess and summarize the family, the physical environment and other issues that assure compliance with foster family home licensing rules.

Recommendation

Explain recommendation, as to number, age and sex of child or children applicants could best serve to prospective foster parent;

Explain recommendation if it is to deny an individual or family as applicants, remembering that such a decision should not be a surprise to the applicants. Such a recommendation can be made any time during the study process. Also, remember that the worker should be honest with the applicant regarding the decision, recognizing the applicant's sensitivity and tolerance.