3.1 Foster/Kinship Family Assessment
NOTE: This procedure will be followed for kinship, foster family and foster family group home assessments.
After the Children's Service Worker receives the completed Foster/Adopt Home Assessment Application, CS-42, and the Foster Family Profile, CD-56 the CSW should complete, process and enter the SS-60, Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource form.
Initiate action within 30 days of receipt of the application by:
- Beginning pre-service training;
- Face-to-face contact; or
- Group informational/orientation meeting.
Begin mutual selection process by personal interview.
Complete assessment using:
- Attachment A for foster/kinship families;
- Home study on kinship caregiver; and
- Attachments A and F for foster family group homes.
- A Resource Home and Safety Checklist, CS-45 should be completed on all homes.
Establish compliance with licensing rules.
- 13 CSR 35-60.010 through 13 CSR 35-60.060 for foster/kinship families;
- 13 CSR 40-72.010 for foster family group homes;
NOTE: A child may be placed in a kinship/relative home prior to licensure, but only after a safety inspection of the home, Child Abuse/Neglect screening, and MULES background checks are completed. (See Section 4.12 for background screening procedures for family and agency arranged kinship care, and Attachment A of this section for detailed fingerprinting procedure). The kinship family will be paid a maintenance payment equal to the traditional foster care payment rate from the date of placement while all the licensing requirements are met. This shall be no longer than 90 days. Until the home is fully licensed, the maintenance payment is made with state-only funds; IV-E reimbursement cannot be made. Kinship providers are required to complete STARS or STARS “For The Caregiver Who Knows The Child” training as a condition of licensure. Kinship parents who become licensed are eligible for professional parent incentive payments (PPMN).
Complete assessment and recommendation within 120 days of receipt of application.
NOTE: Keep licensing assessment (any data which supports licensure decision) separate from ongoing narrative completed during the course of the year (i.e., entries regarding foster parents, foster children, or biological parents) which does not effect licensure status. Licensing assessment is a matter of public record, and thus, open for viewing. However, certain sections contain sensitive information that is protected from routine public viewing without a court order or written consent by the foster parents. (See sections 610.010(6), 610.021, 610.032.1, 211.321.1, 610.120, 191.656.1, 630.140, 192.067, 192.667.3, 192.739, 620.010.14(7), RSMo).
Obtain applicant’s signature on assessment indicating agreement; applicant retains one copy.
- Update, process/enter Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Report, SS-60,
- Complete Foster Parent Identification Card CW-203, and
- Obtain signed, “Cooperative Agreement for the Purchase of Professional Foster Care Services”, CM-14.
The licensing worker must also register each foster/kinship parent applicant with the Family Care Safety Registry prior to licensure.
License Issuance
Recommend issuance of license to foster/kinship parents for up to two-year period.
License Denial
Recommend denial using the Resource Home Adverse Action Report (CS-20), through supervisory lines to the Regional Director:
- Include a summary of the licensing rules on which the decision is based.
- When an adverse action is CA/N related, submit a copy of the Child Abuse/Neglect Investigation/Family Assessment Summary CPS-1, and the CPS-1A, Safety Assessment (Part B).
- When recommended adverse action is denial, submit a copy of the home study to the Regional Office.
- Receive confirmation from the Regional Director/designee of denial decision.
- Notify applicant, by personal contact, of recommended adverse action.
- Notify applicant by registered mail with the Notification of Resource Home Adverse Action letter, CS-20a of adverse action taken and of procedure for fair hearing.
- Submit Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Form, SS-60 to close if no response within thirty (30) calendar days of written notice or after agency decision is upheld in fair hearing process.
License Maintenance and Renewal
The Children's Service Worker should encourage the foster/kinship parent to set up a bookkeeping system whereby detailed records are kept of expenditures for tax purposes.
The assessment should be updated any time there is a significant change in the family situation within two (2) weeks of the Children’s Service Worker being notified of the change. A significant change would be a change in household composition, move from one residence to another, major physical changes in the home, death of family member, debilitating illness of a household member, etc. If the update is due to a physical move or physical change in residence, reference must be made to licensing regulation compliance. If the household contains weapons, the worker must personally observe that the storage of the weapons complies with Division policy and foster home licensing rules.
A new Foster Family Profile, CD-56 is to be completed at the time of license renewal, unless there is already a current up-to-date profile in the file. The CD-56 is to be updated when there are changes in the household composition that impact the information gathered on the form.
In order to comply with Council on Accreditation (COA) standard G5.8 Contagious and Infectious Diseases, the following protocols have been put in place:
- If a foster parent is exposed to blood or other potentially infectious material, they would need to be evaluated for exposure to communicable diseases, such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Foster parents who have experienced an exposure should receive the Hepatitis B vaccine.
- If a foster parent is exposed to tuberculosis, they should receive a baseline PPD two-step skin testing as directed by their doctor. If they are positive, the foster parent should receive a baseline chest x-ray and be provided the opportunity to receive anti-TB medications for the infection per recommendations from public health authorities.
Update Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Form, SS-60 and issue amended license showing new address within already established two (2) year period.
Evaluate a foster/kinship family's continued eligibility within required license renewal time period.
A resource provider moving to another county/circuit should be placed on Administrative Hold and not receive any additional placements pending the completion of the license transfer process.
The county/circuit from which the provider has moved should notify the receiving county/circuit of the provider’s change in address, and provide necessary information on current placements. Notification and the transfer of records should occur within one week of the move. The sending county must also notify the receiving county of any weapons kept in the household.
The receiving county/circuit should schedule a home visit within two weeks of notification. A new Resource Home and Safety Checklist, CS-45 and updated home study must be completed by the receiving county. After the provider’s new home has been inspected and approved, relicensure should be granted. The Administrative Hold should be removed from the Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Report, SS-60 and provider records updated to reflect the changes.
If the resource family asks to change the age, sex or race of children to be considered for placement, update the Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Form, SS-60 and request the issuance of a new license.
NOTE: For foster family group home relicensure, allow enough lead time to receive completed inspection reports within the 90-day period prior to license expiration.
Record the reassessment and recommendation information by using Attachment E, Renewal Assessment Recording Outline.
Record all transactions of children presented for placement with a family and family’s acceptance or rejection of children including family’s reasons for decision. If a family has not had an alternative care placement for the last 12 months or longer, the worker should arrange a face-to-face meeting with the family to discuss the reason why the family has not had a placement during this time period and the types of children in CD custody needing placement. The goal of the meeting should be to work with the family so they are ready to begin taking placements. A plan should be made to address the concerns of the foster parent(s) and/or the Division. The foster parent(s) may attend additional training or may be utilized for respite care to address placement concerns. The Professional Family Development Plan (PFDP), CD-100 may be utilized for this process.
The worker should begin the process for closing the license only after working with the foster parent(s) to reach an agreement on placing children in the home and discussion with the worker’s supervisor. The worker should complete the form Resource Home Adverse Action Report, CS-20. These will be considered a voluntary relinquishment of the license, unless licensing violations are present and impact the decision to close the license, and staff should mark other in the reason for the license relinquishment. Staff should explain that the foster home has not had placements for the last 12 months or longer and that an agreement could not be reached for the placement of children in the home. If the foster family does not agree with closing the license, it should be placed on Administrative Hold until such time as the family will accept children or licensing closing or revocation can be completed. Once the Resource Home Adverse Action Report, CS-20 is completed and approved, staff should update the Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Form, SS-60 to show the license has been closed. The close reason used should be “04 - Vendor Resource Discontinued Service”. An exception can be made for Teaching Foster Parents who are not currently accepting placements since the contract for Teaching Foster Parents requires them to have a current license.
For relative and kinship care providers, the worker should determine if the providers may be utilized for the identified child(ren) in the future. The license may be kept open if there is a possibility that the relative/kin child(ren) may return to the home. If the worker and supervisor feel the family is appropriate for consideration, they may also discuss with the provider the needs of the circuit for alternative care providers to determine if the provider is interested in becoming a licensed foster home. The license should be closed if neither of these criteria is met.
Obtain signature on Renewal Assessment indicating agreement; family retains one copy.
Update, process/enter Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Form, SS-60; obtain signed Cooperative Agreement for the Purchase of Professional Foster Care Services, CM-14, and
- Recommend issuance of license to foster parents for up to two-year period, or
- Recommend issuance of license to kinship family for up to two-year period, or
- If not renewed, see license denial.
Evaluate foster family's expressed interest of becoming foster parents in the Behavioral Foster Care (BFC) program by examining necessary qualifications, and characteristics as listed in Section 4 Chapter 14 Behavioral Foster Care.
- Enroll prospective BFC foster parent in specialized BFC training.
- Assess prospective BFC foster parent's performance during specialized BFC training to determine if approval is indicated.
- Obtain and submit to the Contract Management Unit (CMU), the BFC parent's signature on the Amendment to Provide Behavioral Foster Care, CM-3
3.1.1 Administrative Hold
Administrative Hold is used in responding to certain licensing situations which will more effectively serve resource parents, the Children’s Division and most importantly, the safety of children. All suspensions on the Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource form, SS-60, require notification of an adverse action which is open to appeal. The Administrative Hold status reflects a less punitive and negative connotation and is not open to appeal.
Depending on the nature of the allegation and the risk assessment, the provider may be placed on Administrative Hold with a corrective action/support plan implemented with no other children placed in the home until the issue is resolved and the Hold status is removed. If no immediate safety risk factors exist to the children during the investigation/assessment (I/A), the children currently in the home should not be removed. If, at the time of the investigation/assessment, it is determined the child will be removed, either at the request of the resource provider or by the investigator, the Children’s Service Worker should be notified in order to schedule a Family Support Team meeting.
The Family Development Specialist should be having and documenting their regular, ongoing discussions with the resource provider regarding any licensing concerns prior to a change in their licensing status. For an Administrative Hold the licensing worker should notify the provider via a phone call as soon as possible. A follow-up letter should then be sent explaining why the Hold is in effect and how it can be removed/resolved. If the Hold was requested by the provider, the licensing worker should follow up with a letter verifying their request.
Administrative Hold is required in the following circumstances:
- An Out-of-Home Investigation (OHI) is under way involving Legal Status 1 children in the resource provider’s home. The Administrative Hold should remain in effect until the investigation is concluded and all corrective actions/support plans, if any, are successfully completed and documented in the record.
- A CA/N investigation/assessment is under way involving non-Legal Status 1 children in the resource provider’s household. The Administrative Hold should remain in effect until the I/A is concluded and all corrective actions/support plans, if any, are successfully completed and documented in the record.
- Licensing concerns have been noted and a staffing is under way. The Administrative Hold should remain in effect until all corrective actions/support plans, if any, are successfully completed and documented in the record.
- A resource provider moving to another county/circuit should be placed on Administrative Hold. (See License Maintenance and Renewal in this section for additional information.)
- The resource provider has experienced a significant change in household composition, health, employment, etc. The Administrative Hold should remain in effect until the provider’s situation has been reassessed and the study has been updated. Every effort should be made to complete these actions within 2 weeks, per the Council on Accreditation (COA). The worker should document all attempts to meet this timeframe, including the provider’s specific actions of non-compliance within that time.
The Administrative Hold is available, but optional in a variety of circumstances, such as, but not limited to:
- The resource provider has had a new birth and needs time to adjust.
- The resource provider feels they need “a break”.
- The Family Support Team has recommended that the resource provider cease new placements during the period of adjustment for an adopted child.
- The resource provider has a biological/adopted child placed in residential care. Per memo CD05-22, no additional children will be placed in the home without the approval of the Circuit Manager (CM) or designee. The guidelines stated in Section 4 Chapter 5 Attachment C should be reviewed and assessed as the provider may need time to work with the child placed in residential care.
If there are questions whether an administrative hold or suspend should be implemented, staff should consult with first or second level supervisors for guidance.
The Administrative Hold code, ‘H’, is entered in field 27 on the Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Report form, SS-60.
3.1.2 Suspend/Revocation
Suspend/Revocation is defined as an action which is taken:
- In response to a CA/N report or Preponderance of Evidence finding to be applied during the time of the investigation/assessment and the allegation is severe enough to warrant removal of a child.
- As an action to be taken when revocation is recommended:
- Suspend/revocation is used whenever children in the home have been found to be in imminent risk.
- Suspend is used when the resource parent is not complying with licensing requirements and efforts (such as, but not limited to, being placed on Administrative Hold) to remedy the situation have failed (i.e.: refuse to keep training requirements current, refuse to meet licensing standards, or continued non-compliance with an Individual Support Plan).
- Suspend is used when a staffing has been held, and licensing violations are of sufficient magnitude to warrant a recommendation of suspend.
Suspend is used during the period of evaluation and consideration of amelioration.
Recommend revocation of license status using the Resource Home Adverse Action Report, CS-20 through supervisory line to the Regional Director's office.
- Identify and document the areas of non-compliance;
- In the summary, cite licensing rule(s) on which the decision is based. The summary must contain clear and cogent facts to support staff's recommendations for revocation of license.
- When adverse action is CA/N related, submit a copy of Child Abuse/Neglect Investigation/Family Assessment Summary, CPS-1.
NOTE: If it is decided the foster/kinship parents should no longer provide out-of-home care, refer the foster/kinship parents to community rehabilitative services. Immediately start revocation procedure; do not allow license simply to expire.
Receive confirmation from Regional Director of agreement with revocation recommendation.
- Notify foster/relative/kinship family by personal contact of recommended adverse action.
- Notify foster/relative/kinship family by registered mail with the Notification of Resource Home Adverse Action letter, CS-20a of revocation, citing licensing rule(s).
- Notify foster/relative/kinship parents of their right to the fair hearing process.
- Submit Vendor Licensure/Placement Resource Form, SS-60 to close if no foster/kinship parent response within thirty (30) calendar days of notice, or after agency decision is upheld in fair hearing process.
- Record revocation activities.
- Close record.
If the Regional Director/designee does not uphold revocation recommendation, continue licensure status.
NOTE: CSW must obtain the applicant's signature on the home study indicating agreement. The applicant's signature is also needed if the worker has decided to deny licensure. The signature indicates that the applicant has reviewed the assessment.
When recommending revocation, cite action taken by the agency to help the family resolve the situation causing the problem(s). Describe what services have been offered to the family and the results.
Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)
CS03-05, CS03-51, CD04-05, CD04-79, CD05-80, CD06-29, CD06-46, CD06-60