Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 148 - OFFICE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES › Chapter 19-A - RULES FOR THE LICENSURE OF PRIVATE NON-MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS-CHILD PLACING AGENCIES WITH AND WITHOUT ADOPTION PROGRAMS › Section 148-19-A-2 - LICENSING PROCEDURES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. A facility shall
				not place children unless it shall have a license issued by the Department
				authorizing such activity.
B. The
				governing body and the administrator of the Private Non-Medical Institution -
				Child Placing Agency shall be responsible for complying with Maine Statutes and
				all rules adopted pursuant thereto (Title 22 M.R.S.A., sub-title 6).
C. A license shall be effective only at the
				address given on the license. A change of physical location from which a
				licensed PNMI- Child Placing Agency operates shall require written notification
				to the Department. The Department may re-issue a corrected license for the
				remaining period of the license.
D.
				Applications for a license shall be made to the Department on a form prescribed
				by the Department.
E. If there is a
				change of operator or administrator or location of the facility, the license
				becomes void and a new application for a license must be filed with the
				Department prior to the change, or immediately after the change if the change
				was not planned.
F. Following the
				receipt of an application, the Department will evaluate to determine that the
				PNMI- Child Placing Agency is in compliance with the rules for Private
				Non-Medical Institution -Child Placing Agencies specified in Parts 10 through
				17.
G. At the time of applications
				the Department will request criminal history records from the Department of
				Public Safety, Bureau of Identification, for all persons who are making
				application for a license.
H. Three
				letters of reference will be required from persons in the community to assist
				the Department in evaluating the suitability of the administrator of the PNMI-
				Child Placing Agency at the time of the original application.
I. The references shall include two
				references from persons with training and experience in the field of social
				work administration to indicate the qualifications and degree of experience of
				the administrator, and one character reference from an unrelated person.
				Additional letters of reference may be required at the discretion of the
				Department prior to the issuance of a license.
J. The applicant may withdraw the application
				at any time during the application period upon notification to the Department.
				The Department shall acknowledge all withdrawals in writing.
K. The Department shall have the right to
				monitor the Private Non-Medical Institution - Child Placing Agency to determine
				continuing compliance with the rules.
L. Private Non-Medical Institution -Child
				Placing Agencies seeking renewal of a license shall make application 60 days
				prior to the date of expiration in order that necessary licensing procedures
				may be completed to assure the continuity of the license. A licensing study of
				the PNMI- Child Placing Agency with respect to continuing compliance with these
				rules will be made at renewal time by a representative of the
				Department.
M. The administrator
				shall be responsible for reporting to the Department any changes which might
				affect the status of the license.
N. As part of the application or renewal
				process, the applicant or licensee shall provide appropriate releases of
				information so that the Department may obtain relevant information to ascertain
				whether the applicant or licensee is in compliance with these Rules.
O. In some instances there are no common
				definitions as to degree of compliance with rules. When such instances occur in
				these rules, the determination of compliance or non-compliance with rules shall
				be made at the discretion of the Department.
P. The PNMI- Child Placing Agency shall
				cooperate with the licensing department in any investigation involving the
				PNMI- Child Placing Agency or persons receiving services from the PNMI- Child
				Placing Agency.
Q. The PNMI- Child
				Placing Agency shall post the license in a place clearly visible to any person
				entering the PNMI- Child Placing Agency.