Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 6 - Division of Family and Children's Services › Chapter 1 - DFCS Policy Manual › Section 18-6-1-F - Licensure Policy › Section 18-6-1-F-VI - ONGOING SUPPORT

Current through June 25, 2024
Licensed Resource Parents need regular ongoing
					 consultation and supervision. These functions run concurrently with placement
					 activities. Supervision and consultation should be provided via a team approach
					 involving both Licensure Specialist and the County Worker monitoring the
					 child's placement.
The Licensure Specialist will support Resource Families by
					 being involved in the following activities:
* Participating with Resource Families in FTMs which
					 address:
* Permanency issues;
* Issues in working with the birth family; and
* Issues regarding the care of the child.
* Providing ongoing active support in order to strengthen
					 the placements and prevent disruptions in the Resource Home.
* Initiating FTM when placement is at risk of disrupting.
* Assessing and securing services for Resource Parents to
					 prevent and reduce stress and family crisis.
* Encourage Resource Families' active participation in
					 FTM(s), foster care reviews (county conferences) and court hearings.
The Licensure Specialist will make weekly contact for the
					 first month of the first placement into a newly licensed Resource Family.
The Licensure Specialist will maintain ongoing monthly
					 contact (face to face, telephone, letter, email, etc.) with each licensed
					 resource.
Ongoing monthly contact with all Resource Families will
					 focus on:
* Working with birth family toward maintaining connections
					 and achieving the child's permanency plan;
* Discipline issues with child;
* Marital issues brought about with placement;
* Provision of available services necessary to maintain
					 placement; and
A.
Monitoring and
				  Renewal
A Home Environment Checklist is a tool used to guide
					 on-going assessments of Resource Homes for continuing compliance with home
					 environment standards. The Home Environment Checklist shall be completed by the
					 Licensure Specialist every six months after licensing the home.
The Home Environmental Checklist should be completed by a
					 County Worker during a home visit at any moment the worker thinks there should
					 be a check completed. Documentation of the Home Environment Checklist should be
					 entered by the Worker in the Resource Family file in MACWIS within thirty (30)
					 days of completion.
If the County Worker uncovers a concern, the concern must
					 be reported to the Licensure ASWS and/or Licensure Specialist within three (3)
					 working days.
The following shall be monitored during such assessments
					 (See also section II.B.1.a of this policy section):
1. The home shall be well heated/cooled and
				  well ventilated.
2. At all times
				  the home shall have a working telephone, mobile or landline.
3. The home shall be safeguarded, inside and
				  out, against hazardous chemicals, cleaning materials, toxic substances,
				  hazardous objects, equipment, medications, and firearms.
4. The home and premises shall be free of
				  rodent and insect infestation.
5.
				  A home shall not rely on portable space heaters as the sole source of heat and
				  shall not use such space heaters during sleeping hours. The home's fireplaces,
				  floor furnaces, freestanding stoves and open-faced heaters shall be screened or
				  otherwise adequately guarded.
6.
				  The home shall have protective covers for all electrical outlets not in use in
				  all areas occupied by children age 6 and under or any mentally challenged
				  child.
7. The home shall have a
				  well maintained outside play area, clean and free of hazards to the health and
				  physical well-being of the family.
8. The home shall have a continuous supply of
				  clean drinking water. If the water is not from a city or community water
				  supply, the Resource Parent(s) shall provide evidence that a state or local
				  health authority has approved the water system.
9. All licensed homes must have a functional
				  sewage system.
10. The home shall
				  have interior plumbing with running warm and cold water.
11. There shall be no exposed wiring within
				  the home.
12. All household
				  members are included in the Resource Home case file.