Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 606 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE › Title 606 CMR 5.00 - Standards for the Licensure or Approval of Agencies Offering Child Placement and Adoption Services › Section 5.03 - Licensure

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1)
Application Fee
.
			 An application for a license to offer placement services shall be accompanied
			 by a check made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A fee schedule
			 can be obtained from the Department.
(2)
Provisional
			 License
. An applicant who has not previously operated a placement
			 agency shall apply for a provisional license and must provide the documents
			 required by 606 CMR 5.03(2)(a), (b), and (c), as applicable, and shall
			 demonstrate that services rendered by the placement agency are adequate to
			 protect the health and safety of children and families. The placement agency
			 shall agree to comply with the laws of Massachusetts, of other states, of the
			 federal government, and foreign nations and federal immigration laws if
			 applicable.
(a) All placement agencies shall
			 submit the following:
1. Evidence of the
			 applicant's compliance with
			 102 CMR
			 1.05:
Disqualifying Background
			 Information
;
2. A
			 statement of purpose as required by 606 CMR 5.04(1), including a clear
			 definition of the services provided by the agency to children, parents,
			 expectant parents, birth, foster and adoptive parents, foster and adoptive
			 parent applicants and adult adoptees, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(1)(a)5., and
			 a statement of non-discrimination, as required by
			 102 CMR
			 1.03(1):
Non-discrimination
.
3. Evidence of any agreements with other
			 child-placing or referring agencies or individuals in Massachusetts or any
			 other State;
4. A statement of the
			 ownership of the placement agency, including the names and addresses of all
			 board members as required by 606 CMR 5.04(2)(a)2.;
5. An organizational table, as required by
			 606 CMR 5.04(2)(c);
6. A written
			 plan of financial capability projected for at least a 12-month period,
			 including:
a. A projected one year operating
			 budget and documentation of sufficient funds for at least three months. An
			 operating agency must submit a current operating budget and appropriate fiscal
			 portions of contracts, if any. The operating budget must specify the salaries
			 of all full time employees, and all bonuses and other benefits. The budget must
			 also specify all rent or mortgage payments, as well as any payments for
			 vehicles owned, rented or leased by the agency. The operating budget must also
			 specify a financial plan for closure of the agency;
b. A cash flow plan including projected
			 revenue, lines of credit and cash or liquid asset reserves sufficient to enable
			 the agency to meet expenses for at least a 12-month initial period;
c. Evidence of all revenue sources and
			 amounts of revenue anticipated from these sources;
d. A copy of the agency's policy on
			 designated financial responsibility, as required by 606 CMR 5.05(3);
e. Any other evidence of financial
			 viability.
f. Agencies incorporated
			 in accordance with M.G.L. c. 180 must submit financial documents in accordance
			 with the standards set by the Public Charities Division of the Office of the
			 Attorney General.
7.
			 Grievance and appeal procedures, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(3)(g) and
			 (h);
8. A written policy and
			 procedure for internal investigations of allegations of noncompliance with EEC
			 regulations, and for reporting allegations of child abuse and neglect, as
			 required by 606 CMR 5.04(3)(d), (e) and (f);
9. A procedure for emergency communications,
			 as required by 606 CMR 5.04(3)(k);
10. Personnel policies, as required by 606
			 CMR 5.04(5)(a);
11. Job
			 descriptions and salary ranges, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(5)(b) and (c);
12 A plan for the use of
			 volunteers, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(5)(k);
13. Evidence that personnel are currently
			 licensed, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(5)(d), and are qualified to provide
			 direct services to children and families, as required by 606 CMR 5.06(2)(a) and
			 5.06(3), including the resume of the Director of Social Services, as provided
			 at 606 CMR 5.06(1);
14 A plan for
			 staff orientation, training, and supervision, as required by 606 CMR
			 5.04(5)(e), (g), and (h);
15. A
			 plan for involving birth, foster, and adoptive parents and adult adoptees, in
			 the development of agency policy, as required by 606 CMR 5.04(2)(f);
16. Procedures for the evaluation of children
			 and the development of service plans for children and their families, as
			 required by 606 CMR 5.07 and 5.08;
17. Policy regarding the provision of
			 required social services to children, as required by 606 CMR 5.06(2);
18. Policy and procedure for the selection of
			 appropriate placements, in accordance with 606 CMR 5.11(5);
19. Procedure and format for the home study
			 assessments required by 606 CMR 5.09(4) and 5.10(6), and a description of and
			 procedures for the orientation and training of foster and adoptive parents, as
			 required by 606 CMR 5.09(2) and (9), and 5.10(3) and (4);
20. Qualifications required of foster and
			 adoptive parents, as required by 606 CMR 5.09(4) and 5.10(6);
21. Physical requirements for foster and
			 adoptive homes, as required by 606 CMR 5.09(3) and 5.10(5);
22. Policy and procedures regarding payments
			 and reimbursements for the care of any child, which shall specify the method,
			 amount, and frequency of payments;
23. Copies of all written information
			 routinely provided to expectant parents, birth parents, foster and adoptive
			 parent applicants, parents, and children, including the information required by
			 606 CMR 5.08(3)(b), 5.09(1) and 5.10(1), if applicable;
24. All intake evaluation, service plan, and
			 face sheet forms and placement agreements and contracts to be used with
			 clients;
25. A plan for the annual
			 evaluation of its services;
26. A
			 plan for agency closing that includes, but is not limited to, provisions for
			 the appropriate termination or transfer of services to clients, the
			 preservation or transfer of records including evidence of a financial plan for
			 storage and transfer of records, and reasonable costs associated therewith, in
			 accordance with EEC policy;
27. All
			 other policies and procedures relative to operation of the placement
			 program.