Visiting Family – If the Partner Provider uses private family homes for visitation by

Visiting Family – If the Partner Provider uses private family homes for visitation by children during weekends, holidays or vacations, to support family or community connections, the Partner Provider must develop written policy and procedures, including forms to be used in approving and utilizing these homes, to address the following: 1. Visiting families must have limited involvement and decision-making authority over the day-to-day activities of the children with whom they visit. Decisions about the safety, permanency and well-being of the child must be made by the primary caretaker parent, legal guardian, or MDCPS. 2. Visiting home policies and records must include the following: a. Child’s specialist must give prior written approval for all visits; b. A completed application listing demographic information and the family’s reasons for requesting to be a visiting family home; c. A site visit and home assessment which addresses safety issues to include pictures of the home and a safety checklist; d. Documentation that a visiting child must have their own bed and must not share a bedroom with any adult or persons of the opposite sex; e. Two (2) written references which indicate the family can provide proper temporary care and supervision for a child; f. Partner Providers must submit a MACWIS Inquiry Data Sheet to the MDCPS Congregate Care Unit; g. Criminal background check, Central Registry check, and fingerprinting on all household members ages eighteen (18) years and older; h. A written and signed agreement which states the roles and responsibilities of both the Partner Provider and family; i. A signed statement agreeing to confidentiality regarding the child’s situation and circumstances; j. A signed statement from the parent or legal guardian authorizing the child’s participation in a visiting family home program; k. Employees of MDCPS may not be utilized as visiting family homes; and l. Visits must not exceed fourteen (14) consecutive nights. 3. Prior to visitation, the Partner Provider must discuss with the visiting family the child’s likes, dislikes, needs, behavior and health issues including any allergies and medications. 4. The Partner Provider must provide the visiting family with emergency contact names and telephone numbers. 5. The child must agree to each visit. 6. After visitation, the Partner Provider must talk with the child to determine their feelings and experiences and must be recorded in the child’s records.