Minimum Qualifications of Foster Parent(s)

PURPOSE: This rule explains who can qualify to be a foster parent. It gives the health requirements, standards of living, and personal information required. (1) Age of Foster Parent(s). Applicant(s) shall not receive a license when one (1) or both are younger than twenty-one (21) except as provided for relative care in section 210.565, RSMo. (2) Citizenship Status of Foster Parent(s). Applicant(s) who provide foster care must be a citizen of the United States, either through birth or naturalization, or be able to verify lawful immigration status. (3) Personal Qualifications Required of Foster Parent(s). (A) Foster parent(s) must be able to acquire skills and demonstrate performance-based competence in the care of children including but not limited to— 1. Understanding trauma and trauma-informed parenting; 2. Supporting families and maintaining children’s connections; 3. Understanding the child welfare system and the social, emotional, and physical impact it has on children and families; 4. Understanding the importance of cultural identity in foster care and adoption; and 5. Understanding children’s mental health issues and how substance use can impact children. (B) Foster parent(s) shall cooperate with the division in all inquiries involving the care of the foster children. The foster parents’ ability to meet these competencies shall be reevaluated at each re-licensure. (C) Foster parent(s) shall be responsible, mature individual(s) of reputable character who exercise sound judgment, display the capacity to provide good care for children, and display the motivation to foster. (4) Health of Foster Family. (A) Applicant(s) and all proposed foster family members must be determined by a physician to be in good physical and mental health. The physician shall complete a form provided by the licensing agency for each family member that verifies that the individual poses no risk to the health and safety of a foster child. If there is any question about the physical or mental health of any proposed foster family member, the licensing agency may require additional examinations or evaluations. (5) Foster Parent Training. (A) Pre-service Training. Prior to licensure, each adult with parenting responsibilities is required to successfully complete a competency based training approved by the Children’s Division. (B) In-Service Training. To maintain a foster home license each foster parent shall meet performance based criteria as part of a professional family development plan and complete a prescribed number of foster parent training hours as approved by the licensing authority during each two- (2-) year licensure period. The subject of training shall be directly tied to the foster parent professional development plan and related to the needs and ages of children in their care. (6) Personal information elicited in the home assessment shall include, but not be limited to— (A) Family size and household composition of the foster family; (B) Ethnic and racial background of the foster family; (C) Religious preferences and practices of the foster family; (D) Lifestyles and practices of the foster parents; (E) Educational practices of the foster family; and (F) Employment of the foster parents. (7) Parenting Skills Information Elicited in the Home Assessment. (A) Foster parent structures environment so that it is safe and healthy for the child. (B) Foster parent expresses positive feelings toward the child verbally and physically. (C) Foster parent recognizes and responds appropriately to the child’s verbal and physical expressions of needs and wants. (D) Foster parent consistently uses basic behavior management techniques in dealing with the child. (E) Foster parent consistently uses appropriate techniques to discipline the child and does not use or will not use corporal punishment on any child in the custody of the division. (F) Foster parent guides the child toward increasing independence. (G) Foster parent behaves in a way that recognizes the developmental stage of the child. (8) All information which is collected by the division in the licensing study will be condensed to comprise a foster home profile which will be available to team members when children are placed into the care of the division, in order for placement decisions to be made in the best interests of the child. The profile will not contain any protected health information, financial information, or information on biological or adopted children of the foster family. AUTHORITY: sections 207.020 and 660.017, RSMo 2016.* Emergency rule filed July 18, 2006, effective Aug. 4, 2006, expired Jan. 30, 2007. Original rule filed July 18, 2006, effective Jan. 30, 2007. Amended: Filed Sept. 15, 2015, effective March 30, 2016. Amended: Filed Oct. 1, 2018, effective May 30, 2019. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 2023, effective April 30, 2024. *Original authority: 207.020, RSMo 1945, amended 1961, 1965, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1993, 2014, and 660.017, RSMo 1993, amended 1995.