416-530-0040 Foster Parent Qualifications Applicants must: (1) Be at least 21 years of age; (2) Meet the qualifications and standards described in these rules and OAR chapter 416, division 800; (3) Certify in writing that the applicant meets the qualifications and standards described in these rules and OAR chapter 416, division 800 and has disclosed all potentially disqualifying information to OYA; (4) Be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States; (5) Demonstrate the following personal qualifications: (a) Be a responsible, stable, emotionally mature adult who exercises sound judgment and displays the capacity to meet the mental, physical, and emotional needs of adjudicated youth placed in foster care; (b) Understand the behaviors of adjudicated youth; (c) Have knowledge and understanding of non-punitive discipline and ways of helping an adjudicated youth build positive personal relationships, self-control, and self-esteem; (d) Have respect for an individual’s values, lifestyle, philosophies, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and cultural heritage; (e) Be able to realistically evaluate which adjudicated youth they can accept, work with, and integrate into their family; (f) Have a support network that could include family, friends, the neighborhood, and the community; and (g) Provide appropriate supervision to ensure community safety. (6) Be physically and mentally able to perform the duties of foster care; (a) OYA may require a medical statement from a physician verifying that the applicant or any member of the household is physically capable of supervising and caring for adjudicated youth. (b) OYA may require the applicant to consent to the release of psychological, medical or physical, drug and alcohol, or other reports and evaluations to OYA for the consideration of the applicant's ability to supervise and care for adjudicated youth. (c) If an applicant has a history of alcohol or substance abuse, the applicant must be able to provide evidence that the applicant has been substance-free and sober for at least two years prior to applying for certification. (7) Be free from a professional or personal conflict of interest. If the applicant is an OYA staff or works in a professional capacity which may contribute to a conflict of interest, the application and home study must be approved by the OYA Community Services assistant director, or designee; and (8) Not have any documented incidents of abuse or neglect that resulted in a founded or substantiated disposition by the Oregon Department of Human Services within the last five years. OYA must conduct child abuse registry checks at the time of certification and re-certification, at the time a foster home certified by another agency wishes to serve OYA adjudicated youth, and when OYA deems it necessary for the safety of adjudicated youth in the home. Any founded or substantiated findings of abuse or neglect prior to the last five years must be reviewed by the Foster Care Program manager and Community Services assistant director for considerations of certification. The length of time between findings and application for certification, factors contributing to the findings, mitigating or aggravating circumstances, and applicant references must be considered. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 420A.025 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 420.888 - 420.892 History: OYA 1-2024, amend filed 03/22/2024, effective 03/22/2024 OYA 1-2016, f. & cert. ef. 3-2-16 OYA 1-2014, f. & cert. ef. 1-15-14 OYA 2-2007, f. & cert. ef. 7-13-07 OYA 5-2006, f. & cert. ef. 3-20-06 OYA 26-2005(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 11-8-05 thru 5-7-06 OYA 15-2004, f. & cert. ef 11-12-04 OYA 16-2002, f. & cert. ef. 10-11-02 OYA 5-2002, f. & cert. ef. 1-18-02 OYA 1-2000, f. & cert. ef. 4-4-00 OYA 2-1995, f. 12-19-95, cert. ef. 1-2-96