Idaho Administrative Code › Title IDAPA 16 - Health and Welfare, Department of › Rule 16.06.02 - CHILD CARE AND FOSTER CARE LICENSING › STANDARDS FOR FOSTER HOMES › Section 16.06.02.402 - FOSTER PARENT QUALIFICATIONS AND SUITABILITY

Current through August 31, 2023
Foster parents must be physically and emotionally suited to
				  care for children and to deal with the problems presented by children placed
				  away from their own parents, family and homes. An applicant for licensure as a
				  foster parent must meet the following: (3-28-23)
01.
Minimum Age
. Be twenty-one
				(21) years old or older. (3-28-23)
02.
Character
. Be of good
				character. (3-28-23)
03.
Communication
. Be able to communicate with the child, the licensing
				agency, and health care and other service providers. (3-28-23)
04.
Personal Attributes and
				Experiences
. Have the maturity, interpersonal qualities, temperament and
				life experiences that prepare the foster parent to provide foster care.
				(3-28-23)
05.
Availability
				for Child Placement
. Express a willingness to provide care for the kind
				of children the children's agency has available for placement.
				(3-28-23)
06.
Knowledge and
				Skill
. Demonstrate an understanding of the care that must be provided to
				the children served by the children's agency or express a willingness to learn
				how to provide that care. (3-28-23)
07.
Child Care and Supervision
.
				Have adequate time to provide care and supervision for children.
				(3-28-23)
08.
Income and
				Resources
. Have a defined and sufficient source of income and be capable
				of managing that income to meet the needs of the foster family without relying
				on the payment made for the care of a foster child. (3-28-23)
09.
Health
. Have the physical,
				intellectual, and emotional health to assure appropriate care of children.
				(3-28-23)
10.
Harmonious Home
				Life
. Establish and maintain a harmonious home life to give children the
				emotional stability they need. No marital or personal problems may exist within
				the family that would result in undue emotional strain in the home or be
				harmful to the interest of children placed in the home. (3-28-23)
11.
Literacy
. At least one (1)
				adult caretaker in the home must have functional literacy. (3-28-23)
12.
Acceptance of Foster
				Children
. Demonstrate a willingness and ability to accept a child into
				the home as a member of the family. (3-28-23)
13.
Family Supports
. Demonstrate
				a willingness, and ability, to work with a foster child's legal family, future
				family, relatives, or Indian tribe. (3-28-23)
14.
Compliance with Licensing
				Rules
. Demonstrate a willingness and ability to comply with the
				licensing rules for foster homes. (3-28-23)
15.
Illegal Substance
. Foster
				Parents will not use any illegal substances, abuse alcohol by consuming it in
				excessive amounts, or abuse legal prescription or nonprescription drugs, or
				both, by consuming them in excessive amounts or using them contrary to
				medication instructions. (3-28-23)
16.
Nicotine Use
. Foster Parents
				and their guests will not smoke or vape in the foster family home, in any
				vehicle used to transport the child, or in the presence of the child in foster
				care. (3-28-23)