Standards for Licensure as a Foster/Pre-adoptive Parent

In order to be licensed as a foster/adoptive parent, a foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant must meet the following requirements: (1) A foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Department the ability: (a) to assure that a child placed in his or her care will experience a safe, supportive, nurturing and stable family environment which is free from abuse or neglect; (b) to assure that a child placed in his or her care will be provided with adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision and other essential care at all times; (c) to assure that a child placed in his or her care will be provided with routine and emergency medical and dental care; (d) to promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of a child placed in his or her care, including supporting and respecting a child’s individual identity and needs; (e) to respect and make efforts to support the integrity of a child's racial, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious background; (f) to manage the stressful situations which are frequently associated with the placement of a child in substitute care, such as the temporary nature of such placement, the integration of a child in crisis into the foster/adoptive family, and the potential return of the child to his or her family; (g) to respect and be bound by the same standards of confidentiality as the Department and its employees; (h) to accept and support the child's relationship with his or her parents, siblings and other family members and with the Department; (i) to assist a child in handling his or her situations such as removal from the home of their parent(s), placement in a new home environment, placement in a new school (when applicable), visits with parents and siblings, and possible return to the home of the parent(s) or placement in other substitute care; (j) to assure that a child placed in his or her care will be expected to attend school regularly and will have the opportunity to participate in an educational program and in extracurricular activities that meet the child’s educational and social needs; (k) to work with the Department and the foster child's parents in implementing the child's service plan in order to meet development goals and outcomes; (l) in collaboration with the Department, to develop and participate in an annual plan for trainings, education and support that will assist the foster/pre-adoptive parent in meeting the needs of the child(ren) to be placed in his or her care. (m) to draw upon community and professional resources as needed; (n) to transport children safely, within the standards set by state law; (o) to deal with difficult issues in the child’s background, and be able to talk with the child comfortably and constructively about his or her birth parents and family; (p) to have reasonable expectations of a child’s behavior and potential growth; and (q) to assume and carry out all other responsibilities of a foster/pre-adoptive parent as detailed in the standard written agreement between the Department and foster/pre-adoptive parents. (2) A foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant or any member of his or her household must be free of any physical, mental or emotional illness or handicap which, in the judgment of the Department, would impair his or her ability to assume and carry out the responsibilities of a foster/pre-adoptive parent. However, no illness or handicap in and of itself shall disqualify an individual from becoming a foster/pre-adoptive parent. (3) A foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant or any member of his/her household must have a record which is free of criminal conduct which, in the judgment of the Department, bears upon his/her ability to assume and carry out the responsibilities of a foster/pre-adoptive parent, as established by Department Policy on background checks and 110 CMR 18.00 et seq. (4) A foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant shall maintain a household that has sufficient income and appropriate fiscal management to maintain stability and security without foster or adoptive parent reimbursement or subsidies provided under 110 CMR 7.130 and 110 CMR 7.209. Foster/adoptive reimbursement and subsidy shall be used to meet the individual needs of the child. (5) A foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant must live in a home which meets the requirements for foster/pre-adoptive homes set forth in 110 CMR 7.105. (6) A foster/pre-adoptive applicant must be a citizen of the United State or been granted legal permanent resident status, asylum, refugee or other indefinite legal status by U.S. Immigration officials, unless a waiver is granted under 110 CMR 7.105A. (7) A foster/pre-adoptive applicant must meet the initial eligibility criteria set forth at 110 CMR 7.100.