Arizona Administrative Code › Title 21 - CHILD SAFETY › Chapter 6 - DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY - FOSTER HOME LICENSING › Article 3 - LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR FOSTER PARENTS › Section R21-6-301 - General Requirements for Foster Parents

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 28, July 12, 2024
A. A foster parent shall:
1. Be 21 years of age or older;
2. Reside in Arizona and be lawfully present
				in the United States;
a. Each applicant shall
				present one of the documents specified under A.R.S. §
											41-1080(A)
				 and, as applicable, (E), to the licensing
				agency to demonstrate that the applicant is lawfully present in the United
				States; and
b. If an alien
				applicant has only temporary authorization to be present in the United States,
				the applicant shall provide documentation indicating that the authorization is
				valid for a minimum of one year or that the applicant has already taken steps
				to obtain authorization to remain for at least one year.
3. Live in a home in which all adult
				household members pass a background check based on:
a. A Central Registry check in Arizona and in
				the registries in other states the applicant has lived in during the previous
				five years,
b. A completed and
				notarized criminal record self-disclosure, and
c. A valid Level One fingerprint clearance
				card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).
4. Be of reputable and honest character. A
				licensing agency shall verify compliance by evaluating information provided by
				the applicant and information obtained through background checks, references,
				interviews, and records of the Department;
5. Live in a home in which all household
				members are free of medical, physical, or mental health conditions that would
				interfere with the safe care and supervision for a foster child.
a. The applicant shall demonstrate compliance
				by providing his or her licensing agency with:
i. A health self-disclosure completed by all
				adult household members before initial licensure, and at each renewal
				thereafter;
ii. A physician's
				statement for the applicant completed no more than 12 months before the license
				application is submitted via the Department's electronic database and at least
				every two years thereafter; and
iii. A physician's statement for each
				household member who will be providing care and supervision for a foster child.
				The physician shall complete the statement no more than 12 months before the
				license application is submitted via the Department's electronic database and
				every two years thereafter in accordance with R21-6-302.
b. If a health self-disclosure or physician's
				statement for a household member identifies a history of medical, physical, or
				mental health conditions, the applicant shall have the opportunity to explain
				treatments, adaptive equipment, or other accommodations used to reduce or
				eliminate any risk associated with the condition that could interfere with the
				applicant's ability to provide safe care and supervision for a foster
				child;
6. Demonstrate
				careful and sensible judgment, exercise a reasonable and prudent parenting
				standard under R21-6-307, and have the stability, maturity, nurturing skills,
				knowledge, and ability to provide safe care to a foster child. The licensing
				agency and OLR shall consider relevant factors in this assessment, including:
a. Length of time the applicant has lived in
				the current residence, and recent patterns involving relocation;
b. Length of time household members have
				lived together and their ability to accommodate each other;
c. Applicant's ability to cope effectively
				with change, stress, and anger;
d.
				Applicant's experience providing care and supervision for children or
				vulnerable adults;
e. Applicant's
				knowledge of or experience with human and child development;
f. Applicant's method of discipline with the
				applicant's own children and the applicant's willingness to use positive
				discipline; and
g. Applicant's
				willingness and ability to comply with licensing requirements;
7. Have income or resources to
				afford current expenses without regard to future reimbursement. The calculation
				of current expenses does not include the expense of caring for a foster child
				already living with the applicant.
a. The
				applicant shall demonstrate compliance by completing the financial information
				on the application for licensure and by providing the licensing agency with
				bank statements, pay stubs, income tax forms, and other financial records that
				demonstrate income and resources that meet or exceed expenses.
b. The licensing agency and OLR shall
				consider resources including:
i. A reliable
				source of financial assistance or payment, including social security, Nutrition
				Assistance (formerly known as food stamps), Cash Assistance, adoption subsidy,
				and Women, Infants and Children; and
ii. Reimbursement for medically complex and
				therapeutic homes, as certified under R21-6-331;
8. Have the support and agreement
				of all adult household members on the decision to be a foster parent;
9. Provide a safe home with sufficient space
				and privacy for a foster child, as described under R21-6-311 and
				R21-6-313;
10. Work cooperatively
				with a licensing agency and OLR; and
11. Comply with all licensing requirements
				specified in this Chapter.