12.3 Foster and Adoptive Home Applicant Assessment

For Relative/Fictive Foster Homes

The R&C worker: 

1. ​ ​Verifies that a foster and adoptive home parent who drives should: 
1. ​Possess a valid driver’s license; 
2. Possess a proof of liability insurance; and 
   
3. Abide by passenger restraint laws. 
2. ​Verifies proof of the applicant's United States (US) citizenship or legal immigrant status;
3. Verifies each applicant is at least twenty-one (21) years old.; 
4. If a foster and adoptive home applicant is not twenty-one (21) years of age, the applicant may be approved through an exception by the SRA or designee if the applicant is:
1. At least age eighteen (18); 
   
2. Able to meet the needs of the child; and 
3. Able to provide a placement in the best interest of the relative/fictive child.​
5. Refers to the legal status documentation for proof of citizenship or legal immigrant status;
6. Conducts background checks as specified in SOP 12.4 Background Checks for Foster and Adoptive Parents;
7. Ensures the relative/fictive applicant completes a foster parent application and completes the SAFE questionnaire;
1. ​Completes a minimum of three (3) meetings with the applicant(s). A minimum of one (1) meeting will be in the home of the applicant and the other two (2) meetings may be virtual unless there are concerns identified by the FSOS. The meetings are structured as follows: 
1. Home visit one (1) - Introductory get acquainted interview, discussion regarding SAFE Questionnaire I (QI), and home environment requirements; Virtual visits two (2) - The R&C worker administers the SAFE Questionnaire II (QII). QII is never out of the sight of the R&C worker; ₁₀ 
2. Observes both relative/fictive applicants or a single parent applicant while completing QII. The applicant(s) is instructed they may not talk or discuss the questionnaire; 
3. When QII is completed, the R&C worker immediately interviews each relative/fictive applicant one-on-one, separately, and privately. No children or other adults should be in the home when QII is administered. QII interviews should be no longer than forty-five (45) minutes each. 
8. ​Following each interview, complete a psychosocial inventory utilizing the SAFE Desk Guide (with the exception of compatibility) and SAFE methods of documentation; 
9. All household members must disclose current mental health and/or substance misuse issues, including any history of drug or alcohol misuse or treatment; ​
   
10. If there are concerns about the health of the applicant(s), documentation may be requested for each adult member of the applicant’s household, stating that the individual is free of:
1. ​​Communicable or infectious disease; or 
2. A condition that presents a health risk or safety threat to a child placed in the applicant’s home; 
11. ​Obtains the following documents from a relative/fictive applicant who does not have custody of his/her children: 
1. ​​A copy of the visitation order; 
   
2. A copy of the child support order; and ​
3. Proof of current payment of child support; 
   
12. ​​Assesses during the applicant's in-home interview: 
1. The relative/fictive applicant's home environment and prerequisites as outlined in SOP 12.13 Home Environment Prerequisites​; 
2. Participation of the other non-familial household members in the decision to foster or adopt; 
3. Expectations regarding changes or added responsibility; and 
4. The effect on the applicant's birth children. 
   

​Procedure for Non-Familial Foster Home

​​The R&C Worker:

1. Verifies that the non-familial foster and adoptive home applicant is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; 
2. Verifies proof of the applicant's US citizenship or legal immigrant status; 
3. Refers to the legal status documentation for proof of citizenship or legal immigrant status; ¹ 
4. Obtains verification from the non-familial applicant of any previous divorce(s), death of a spouse, and present marriage; ₂ 
5. Verifies that a foster and adoptive home parent who drives should: 
1. Possess a valid driver’s license; 
2. Possess a proof of liability insurance; and 
3. Abide by passenger restraint laws. 
6. Ensures that the non-familial applicant's attendance at the information meeting is documented in TWIST; 
7. Provides a non-familial foster/adoptive applicant packet to all applicants who wish to pursue fostering or adopting a child. The packet includes: 
1. The application; and
   
2. Informed consent and release of information and records; 
   
8. ​Conducts background checks as specified in SOP 12.4 Background Checks for Foster and Adoptive Parents; ​
   
9. Obtains a DPP-170 Financial Information for Foster Adoptive Parents; 
10. Ensures that all adult household members complete the DPP-107 Health Information Required on Foster and Adoptive Home Applicants or Adult Household Members, within the last year: The DPP 107 shall document: 
    
1. ​​​The general health of the parent;
   
2. That the applicant is free of communicable diseases; 
   
3. A condition that presents a health risk or safety threat to a child placed in the applicant's home; 
   
4. The medical ability to care for a child placed in the applicant's home;
5. All household members must disclose current mental health and/or substance misuse issues, including any history of drug or alcohol misuse or treatment; 
6. Require further documentation and/or evaluation to determine the suitability of the home if there are any indicators of current or past mental health issues or substance misuse; ₄
11. ​​Ensures that a DPP-108 Health Information Required for Foster and Adoptive Home Applicants Regarding Dependent Children is completed within the past year for any child living in the household and current within one (1) year, attesting to
1. ​The general health of the child; 
2. That the child is free of communicable diseases; and 
3. That the child is current on immunizations unless a medical exception is warranted and approved, by the director of DPP or designee; 
12. ​Ensures all children in the household are current on immunizations unless: 
1. A medical exemption (whether temporary or permanent) or provisional status has been documented and approved by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician's assistant, pharmacist, local health department administrator, registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse designee, and there is a copy of the EPID-230 Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization Status in the case file for each child's exemption; 
2. The child's parents are opposed to immunizations based on religious grounds, and there is a copy of the EPID-230A Commonwealth of Kentucky Parent or Guardian's Declination on Religious Grounds to Required Immunizations in the case file for each child's exemption; ₅ or
   
3. The immunizations have been administered, but the continued vaccination schedule was objected to based on religious grounds and there is a copy of the EPID-230A in the case file for each child's exemption. ₆
13. ​Reviews the completed DPP–107 and DPP-108 to ensure each adult and child member of the applicant household is free of any illness or condition that would present a health risk or safety threat to a child placed in the home; 
    
14. Ensures applicants demonstrate functional literacy, such as being able to read medication labels; 
15. Reviews the completed DSS-170, and verifies the foster and adoptive home applicant has a source of income sufficient to meet the applicant's household expenses and to ensure stability of the family unit that is separate from the foster care reimbursement and/or adoption assistance. Families should not be denied solely based on whether they are receiving public benefits or housing assistance. The receipt of benefits contributing to a period of stability should be taken into consideration. These situations should be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on a variety of factors, including but not limited to their current financial stability and the length of time since the bankruptcy;
16. Updates the case document TWIST screen as completed documents are received from the family; 
    
17. Obtains a foster/adoptive checklist; 
    
18. Obtains a DPP-117 Verification of Marriage and Divorce or copies of the marriage certificate or divorce decree; 
    
19. Provides the SAFE Questionnaire I after the applicant completes meeting one (1); 
20. Obtains agreement on the decision to foster or adopt a child from each adult member of the applicant’s household;
    
21. Notifies employed non-familial applicants that they will be required to have a plan for child care by the time of placement; 
22. Obtains from the non-familial applicant(s): 
1. The names of three (3) personal references including: 
1. One (1) relative; and 
2. Two (2) non-relatives. 
2. Two (2) credit references; or 
3. A current credit report; ⁷ 
23. Completes the SAFE reference letter with the personal references via mail, in person, or by telephone; 
24. Interviews the adult children of the foster and adoptive home non-familial applicant who do not live in the home in person or by telephone or the adult children may provide signed and dated letters of reference regarding the applicant’s parenting history; _{8 9}
    
25. Obtains the following documents from a non-familial applicant who does not have custody of his/her children: 
1. A copy of the visitation order; 
2. A copy of the child support order; and 
   
3. Proof of current payment of child support; 
26. Assesses the family by completing a minimum of three (3) meetings with the applicant(s). A minimum of one (1) meeting will be in the home of the applicant and the other two (2) meetings will be either in the home or virtual and at the discretion of the FSOS. The meetings are structured as follows: 
1. Home visit one (1) - Introductory get acquainted interview, discussion regarding SAFE Questionnaire I (QI), and home environment requirements; Home visit two (2) - The R&C worker administers the SAFE Questionnaire II (QII). QII is never out of the sight of the R&C worker. ¹⁰ 
1. Observes both applicants or a single parent applicant while completing QII. The applicant(s) is instructed they may not talk or discuss the questionnaire. 
2. When QII is completed, the R&C worker immediately interviews each applicant one-on-one, separately, and privately. No children or other adults should be in the home when QII is administered. QII interviews should be no longer than forty-five (45) minutes each. 
2. Home visit three (3) - Marriage or support interview. The family and others frequently residing in the home can be interviewed at this time. 
27. Following each interview, completes a psychosocial inventory utilizing the SAFE Desk Guide and SAFE methods of documentation; 
28. Upon completion of the psychosocial inventory or within five (5) working days, consults with the FSOS regarding assigned desk guide and mitigation ratings; 
    
29. Assesses during the applicant's pre-service training and in-home interview: 
1. The non-familial applicant's home environment and prerequisites as outlined in SOP 12.13 Home Environment Prerequisites; 
2. Participation of the other non-familial household members in the decision to foster or adopt; 
3. Expectations regarding changes or added responsibility; and 
4. The effect on the applicant's birth children. 
30. Upon completion of the home study requirements and pre-services, a decision regarding approval or denial shall be made as outlined in SOP 12.7 Approval and Denial of Non-Familial Foster and Adoptive Homes.  ₁₁
    ​