Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 148 - OFFICE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES › Chapter 20 - RULES FOR LICENSING OF CHILD PLACING AGENCIES WITH ONLY RESPITE CARE PROGRAMS › Section 148-20-2 - LICENSING PROCEDURES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Any child
				placing agency shall have a license issued by the Department authorizing such
				activity.
B. The governing body and
				the administrator of the child placing agency shall be responsible for
				complying with Maine Statutes and all rules adopted pursuant thereto (Title 22,
				M.R.S.A., Section 7701 et seq.
C. A
				license shall be effective only at the address given on the license. A change
				of physical location from which a licensed child placing agency operates shall
				require written notification to the Department. The Department will 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 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 child placing agency is in
				compliance with the rules for child placing agencies specified in Part 9
				through 17.
G. At the time of
				application, the Department will request criminal history records from the
				Department of Public Safety, State Police, 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 agency at the time of the original
				application.
I. The reference 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 references 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
				supervise the child placing agency to assure continuing compliance with the
				rules.
L. Applications for renewal
				of a license shall be made 60 days prior to the date of expiration in order
				that necessary licensing procedures may be completed to assure the continuity
				of the license. The re-evaluation of the 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.