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-II - RECRUITMENT OF RESOURCE HOMES

Current through June 25, 2024
The goal of recruitment is to create a pool of available
					 Resource Families who reflect the racial, cultural, and ethnic heritage of the
					 children needing care, and who are willing and qualified to meet their needs.
Recruitment activities are regionally based and will be
					 reflective of the needs of each region. Each region will develop a recruitment
					 plan that will be reviewed and modified as needed. Recruitment Methodologies
					 include but are not limited to:
1. Use
				  of media, including the internet, to create a positive perception of DFCS and
				  to create public awareness about the need for Resource Parents;
2. Child-specific, child centered, and
				  targeted recruitment strategies;
3. Licensure Specialists meeting with public
				  groups/organizations to inform them of the need and criteria to become a
				  Resource Family;
4. Engaging
				  existing Resource Families as part of the recruitment process;
5. Engaging the faith community;
6. Engaging the business community;
7. Engaging existing DFCS staff;
8. Working closely with a child
				  and/or his/her family to identify a family resource already connected to the
				  child by kinship or other established relationship;
9. Use of recruitment brochures and DFCS
				  information.
A.
Orientation and
				  Screening
The inquiry, by a prospective applicant, is the first
					 contact a prospective applicant has with DFCS requesting information about
					 resource licensing. This inquiry can be in person, by telephone, mail or
					 e-mail. Any DFCS staff may obtain resource inquiry information and relay this
					 to the Licensure Specialist via email or Mississippi Automated Child Welfare
					 Information System (MACWIS) intake. The basic information should include an
					 address and daytime phone number. A Licensure Specialist will make contact with
					 the prospective applicant within 24 hours of receiving this information. If the
					 inquiry has not been entered in MACWIS, the Licensure Specialist will enter it
					 upon receipt.
When additional intake information is needed, the
					 Licensure Specialist may send the applicant the Resource Home Inquiry
					 Application, Appendix A.
All persons who contact DFCS and are interested in
					 becoming a licensed Resource Parent will be considered. The inquiry may be
					 screened out on initial contact if the very basic requirements
					 (
See
below) are not met and the potential applicant is not a
					 kinship care placement. These basic requirements include:
* At least 21 years of age
* Number of children in the home is less than 5
* Legally married couple (not separated) or legally single
					 (not cohabitating)
* MACWIS clearance
* No known criminal history
* Legal Mississippi resident
If the above criteria are not met, the inquiry may be
					 screened out by the Licensure Area Social Work Supervisor (ASWS).
					 (
See
Appendix B for "Notice of Action Inquiry Screen Out
					 Form") A notice that the Inquiry did not meet screening qualifications shall be
					 sent by the Licensure ASWS to the family identifying the unmet criteria. An
					 inquiry screened out for one of the above reasons is not eligible for an
					 Administrative Grievance Hearing. (
See
section VII below).
If it is determined that the family may proceed in the
					 application process, the Licensure ASWS will assign the inquiry to the
					 appropriate staff within 48 hours in order to conduct licensing activities.
The Licensure Specialist will give verbal information and
					 mail or deliver a standard informational packet to the inquirer. This
					 informational packet shall include:
* An Introductory Letter from Licensure Unit
					 (
See
Appendix C);
* Brochures explaining the expectations of Resource
					 Parents, basic licensing requirements, and steps to becoming licensed;
* Information about the kinds of children in care and the
					 need for Resource Families to partner with DFCS staff and birth family;
* Contact information for DFC S staff in the county of
					 residence;
* Invitation to an orientation meeting with dates, times,
					 and places to be held within the next month.
1.
Orientation
Orientation shall be held regionally at least twice a
					 month whether in a scheduled group format with public notification or with
					 individual applicants when needed.
The Licensure Specialist shall provide potential
					 applicants with at least three (3) invitations to attend an orientation meeting
					 in their area over a period of one (1) month. All adults residing in the home
					 who will participate in the care of the child must participate in all aspects
					 of the licensing process. When a married couple applies, both spouses must
					 participate in all aspects of the process.
At least one personal contact shall be made to potential
					 applicants prior to each orientation session to encourage attendance. If the
					 potential applicant does not attend an orientation meeting within the first
					 month of inquiry, the inquiry may be closed and the Licensure Specialist will
					 send a notice to indicate such to the family.
Orientation Curriculum will include the following:
* The process and sequence of events to become a licensed
					 Resource Family home include:
* Child abuse, criminal history, and sexual offender
					 record checks;
* Pre-service training requirements;
* References, confidentiality, cultural diversity;
* The elements of a home study;
* The role of the Licensure Specialist
* The DFCS policy to accept applications from persons
					 interested in fostering or adopting "special needs" children and the definition
					 of a "special needs" child. Foster and adoptive parents may be approved
					 simultaneously.
* The requirement to work with birth families toward
					 reuniting the child and the birth family and to work as a member of the care
					 and treatment team.
DFCS adheres to federal laws, including MEPA and the Civil
					 Rights Act of 1964 which prohibit policies procedures or actions that serve to
					 deny any person the opportunity to become a Resource Family or an adopted
					 parent on the basis of race, color, or national origin of that person, or the
					 child involved; or which delay or deny any placement of a child in foster care
					 or for adoption on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the foster
					 caregiver(s), of the adopted parent(s) or of the child involved.
Once applicants have completed Orientation and expressed a
					 desire to continue in the licensing process, the Licensure Specialist may
					 provide the family with the home study application, Form 480B
					 (
See
Appendix D) and initial home study packet documents
					 including Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) Questionnaire 1.
2.
Screening
Following orientation and receipt of Home Study
					 application the Licensure Specialist must complete the screening process, which
					 includes:
* Fingerprinting applicant;
* Local criminal background checks on all household
					 members 14 and older;
* MACWIS check for history with DFCS;
* Checking DFCS records in the county where applicant
					 resides (paper files for history prior to MACWIS);
* Child Abuse Central Registry Check Form 482
					 (
See
Appendix E);
* Record check evaluation;
* Sex Offender Registry (
http://state.sor.dps.ms.gov
)
Based on the information that is compiled during the
					 orientation and screening phase, a prospective family may be denied a license
					 by the DFCS Office Director, Regional Records Review Committee and /or
					 recommendation of the Licensure Specialist with approval by the Licensure ASWS.
					 A Notice of Action with detailed information regarding the Fair Hearing Process
					 (
See
section VII below) will be sent by certified mail to the
					 applicant.
a)
Criminal History
				  and Clearance
Any applicant or person residing in the home who has been
					 convicted of a crime or who has a pending indictment of a crime, whether
					 misdemeanor or a felony, that bears negatively upon the individual's fitness to
					 have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children, will be
					 evaluated as to their fitness to provide child care or be licensed as a
					 Resource Parent.
This evaluation will include, but is not limited to; child
					 abuse or neglect, domestic violence, crimes against children, crimes involving
					 violence which includes rape, sexual assault or homicide, physical assault,
					 battery or drug-related offenses. If one of the following felony offenses has
					 been committed, a license shall not be granted:
* Felony offense against a spouse or former spouse;
* Felony offense against children including child
					 pornography, child abuse or neglect;
* A crime involving violence, including sexual assault,
					 rape or homicide, but not including other physical assault/battery;
* Or within the last five years, a felony physical assault
					 or battery;
* Or, within the last five years, a felony drug related
					 offense.
The offenses listed above are based on the Adam Walsh
					 Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (
					 P.L.
					 109-248 ) pertaining to whether an applicant could
					 receive payment if a child is placed with applicant. Refer to The Adam Walsh
					 Child Protection and Safety Act as the official reference for this information.
					 Approval for the initial application based on The Adam Walsh Child Protection
					 and Safety Act is obtained through the Protection Unit and the DFCS Division
					 Director. Approval from the DFCS Division Director to continue the licensure
					 process does not in any way provide approval for the licensure of the resource
					 home.
Other types of_convictions or pending indictments shall be
					 considered on a case-by-case basis through the Regional Records Review
					 Committee.
b)
Evaluating Criminal Records or Substantiated Abuse/Neglect Reports
If, during the background check, it is found that an
					 applicant or household member has been a perpetrator in a substantiated Abuse,
					 Neglect, and Exploitation (ANE) assessment or through fingerprinting, or if via
					 local law enforcement checks it is found that an applicant or household member
					 has been convicted of a crime or pending indictment of a crime, the Licensure
					 Specialist shall obtain a copy of the ANE report, criminal conviction record
					 and/or law enforcement background check and follow the evaluation process
					 through the Record Review Committee. These records will be reviewed by the
					 Licensure Specialist
and
Licensure ASWS.
After allowing the applicant the opportunity to clarify,
					 or challenge the accuracy of, the information contained in the FBI
					 Identification Record or other criminal or DFCS records, the Licensure ASWS may
					 deny the application based on the consideration of all background information.
					 The findings will be documented in the applicant's resource file, and a Notice
					 of Action will be mailed to the family;
OR
The Licensure ASWS may submit all the background records
					 to the Regional Records Review Committee for further evaluation. All FBI
					 Identification Records would have been screened by the Protection Unit based on
					 the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act as it applies to licensure of
					 the Resource Home. However, the Bureau Director of Protection or DFCS Division
					 Director may request to be included on the Regional Records Review Committee.
					 This assessment along with the applicant's or household member's Criminal
					 History Justification Form will be submitted to the Regional Records Review
					 Committee to be combined with other background information.
An evaluation shall consider the nature and seriousness of
					 the crime or ANE Assessment in relation to:
1. Time elapsed since the crime was
				  committed;
2. Degree of
				  rehabilitation;
3. Likelihood that
				  the person will commit the crime again;
4. Number of crimes committed by the person
				  (history).
The Regional Records Review Committee shall convene via
					 email, by telephone conference or face-to-face within ten (10) working days to
					 review the records and make a determination on the home's eligibility to
					 proceed with licensure. The Licensure ASWS shall document the Committee's
					 findings in the applicant's resource home file and will provide the family with
					 written notification via Notice of Action (
See
section VII
					 below) of the outcome and determination of the Regional Record Review Committee
					 within five (5) days of the meeting. Approval from the Records Review Committee
					 to continue the licensure process does not in any way provide approval for the
					 licensure of the Resource Home.
The United States Department of Justice requires that
					 fingerprint images must be submitted twice before a request can be made for the
					 records to be checked using an applicant's name only. If an applicant's
					 fingerprints cannot physically be obtained, follow designated fingerprint
					 procedures for that circumstance.
3.
Employees of DFCS
DFCS employees may not be licensed for placement of
					 children who are in DFCS custody. However, exceptions are made in cases of
					 relative/ fictive kin placements.
Specific guidelines for the employee/potential relative
					 Resource Parent must be approved by the employee's immediate supervisor, RD,
					 Director of Permanency Unit, and Director of DFCS.
A written agreement of guidelines shall be a part of the
					 employee's resource home file. This agreement shall address:
					 (
See
Appendix F)
* Name of private agency responsible for licensing and
					 supervising placements made with the family;
* Method to ensure that employee will not have DFCS
					 decision-making authority over child placed in home;
* Method of supervision of any children placed in the
					 home;
* Limits agreed upon regarding children placed in the home
					 and access to MACWIS records of child and birth family.
4.
Withdrawal of Application
When a prospective Resource Family applicant desires to
					 withdraw an application the Licensure Specialist shall:
* Document the withdrawal in the file;
* Complete a
Notice of Action-Licensing
					 Decision
(
See
Appendix G);
* Obtain a written statement of withdrawal, whenever
					 possible.
5.
Confidentiality of Information
Information concerning the Resource Family may be released
					 only with the written consent of the Resource Parent. (
See
Appendix H)
A Resource Parent may request to review his/her own
					 licensing file. Access is permitted but third party information must be
					 excluded. The file may be reviewed in the presence of a DFCS worker and they
					 may receive a copy of their Home Study (not including references).
All Resource Parent applicants shall sign a
					 Confidentiality Statement (
See
Appendix I) acknowledges their
					 understanding and willingness to maintain confidentiality as they work with the
					 child(ren), families, and DFCS staff