Virginia Law

A. Prior to the placement of a child in a home , the licensee shall:

1. Document that the applicants are at least 18 years of age;

2. Complete and document all required components of the home study, including the completion of orientation training;

3. Consider all information gathered when assessing the applicant's capabilities to care for children;

4. Determine that the home and provider meet the requirements to be approved;

5. Ensure that approved providers have received necessary training for the types of children they will receive; and

6. Make available to the provider information necessary for the provider to make an informed decision as to whether a particular child is appropriate for them.

B. When the licensee determines that the prospective provider and the home meet the requirements for approval, the licensee shall document the type of approval. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the provider from being approved to serve multiple roles as a resource, foster, adoptive, treatment foster, or short-term foster parent unless the provider desires not to serve as a resource parent. If the provider chooses, the licensee shall allow the provider to be approved as a foster parent, adoptive parent, or short-term foster parent. Providers approved as treatment foster care parents shall have successfully completed specific and additional treatment foster care training as required by this chapter.

C. The licensee shall recommend approval or disapproval based on careful assessment of the requirements for providers specified in this chapter including information received through the home study process, the applicants' participation in the home study process, and in any orientation and pre-service training.

D. The decision to approve or disapprove the applicant shall be made in consultation with the child-placing supervisor, and the date of the decision shall be recorded in the applicants' record.

E. Within seven business days of the decision of approval or disapproval of an applicant, the licensee shall notify the applicant in writing of the decision.

F. If home approval is recommended, the licensee shall document:

1. The age and gender of children who can be placed in the home; and

2. The basis for the approval recommendation.

G. Following approval of an applicant, the licensee shall issue a certificate of approval to the provider and maintain a copy of the certificate in the provider's file. The certificate shall address each of the following:

1. Type of family home approval (resource, foster, adoptive, treatment foster care, short-term foster care, or a combination of types);

2. Issuance and expiration dates for the approval;

3. Gender, age, and number of children recommended for placement in the home; and

4. The signatures and titles of the individuals approving the home.

H. Following approval of an applicant, the licensee shall provide the following services and requirements:

1. The licensee shall provide on-going training for each provider.

2. The licensee shall supply the provider with written procedures for handling emergencies during and outside the child-placing agency's regular office hours.