Illinois Administrative Code › Title 89 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part 402 - LICENSING STANDARDS FOR FOSTER FAMILY HOMES › Section 402.16 - Meeting Basic Needs of Children

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a)
				All children in the foster family shall be treated equitably.
b) Children shall receive supervision
				appropriate to their developmental age at all times. All children in the foster
				home shall be protected from exploitation, neglect, and abuse. Suspected child
				abuse or neglect shall be reported to the supervising agency and to the
				Department immediately.
c) Foster
				parents are expected to use normalcy parenting and the reasonable and prudent
				parent standard for decision-making regarding the child's participation in
				extracurricular, cultural and social activities that are appropriate for the
				child's normal growth and development and enrichment. Normalcy parenting
				empowers foster parents to make decisions about appropriate activities without
				seeking approval or consent from the caseworker or guardian. Foster parents
				must still seek consent in other areas where specific State or federal laws
				limit consent authorization. A foster parent is not liable for harm caused to a
				child in care who participates in an appropriate activity approved by the
				foster parent, provided that the foster parent has acted as a reasonable and
				prudent parent in permitting the child to engage in the activity.
d) Foster parents shall provide the child
				with enrichment and expanded learning opportunities to explore a wide variety
				of interest areas to expand his or her knowledge of learning possibilities that
				may lead to the child's systematic and lifelong involvement in one or more
				interest areas. Foster parents are expected to use normalcy parenting and the
				reasonable and prudent parent standard to support the child's pursuit of his or
				her areas of interest.
e) Foster
				parents shall make every effort to preserve family ties between siblings,
				recognizing their need for stability and continuity of relationships, and the
				importance of sibling contact in the development of each child's identity.
				Foster parents shall help and support children in developing a relationship
				with their siblings, including siblings with whom the children do not yet have
				a relationship, and encourage and facilitate contact between the
				siblings.
f) Each child shall be
				given the opportunity to develop social relationships through participation in
				schools, and other community and group activities. Each child shall have the
				opportunity to invite friends to the foster home and to visit in the home of
				friends.
g) Foster parents shall
				use normalcy parenting and the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decide
				if a child in care can visit overnight with friends or relatives of the child
				or foster parents. Foster parents are authorized to approve visits that do not
				exceed 48 hours away from the foster parents' care. Visits of more than 48
				hours must be approved by the DCFS Guardian.
h) Personal allowance money shall be
				available to the children based upon the child's age and ability to manage the
				money. Adolescents may be allowed to earn additional spending money.
i) Foster parents shall assist the child in
				the proper handling of money.
j)
				Each child shall have the opportunity to learn to assume some responsibility
				for himself and for household duties in accordance with his age, health, and
				ability. No child shall be permitted to do tasks which are hazardous, dangerous
				or risk harm to the child.
k) The
				supervising agency shall immediately be notified of any situation that affects
				the care of the child, including but not limited to death, serious illness,
				incarceration, death of a child or any other significant occurrence.