New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services › Subchapter C - Social Services › Article 3 - Child-care Agencies › Part 444 - Host Family Homes › Subpart D - Administration of Host Family Home Program › Section 444.13 - Duties and Responsibilities of Host Family Homes

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) Approved host family home providers must
			   execute an agreement with the Agency that approved the host family home
			   stipulating that the host family home will:
(1) enable children cared for in the host
			   family home to mingle freely and on equal footing with other children in the
			   household and in the community, to be accepted as members of the household and
			   to share in its pleasures and responsibilities;
(2) arrange for children of school age to
			   attend school regularly, as required by the Education Law;
(3) never leave children under the age of 10
			   years alone without competent adult supervision, nor children above that age
			   except as might reasonably be done by a prudent parent in the case of his or
			   her own children;
(4) except as
			   permitted by the Agency, never use a host family home to care for more than two
			   infants under 2 years of age, including the host family home provider's own
			   children, except in those cases where the host family home provider has
			   demonstrated the capacity to do so and a sibling or halfsibling group would
			   otherwise have to be separated;
(5)
			   provide children with nutritious, wholesome, and prepared food, served at
			   regular hours. Children cared for in the host family home must be permitted to
			   eat meals in the same manner as other family members with due consideration to
			   their age and special needs;
(6)
			   keep the clothing of children cared for in the host family home in condition of
			   repair and cleanliness;
(7) provide
			   for each child cared for in the host family home with sufficient individual
			   towels and toilet articles suitable for the child's age and gender and
			   individual drawer and closet space;
(8) provide a suitable, well-lighted place
			   for children of school age for home study;
(9) recognize and respect the religious
			   wishes of the parent of the child cared for in the host family home, and
			   endeavor to protect and preserve their religious faith, including making
			   provision for the child to attend services conducted in the child's religious
			   faith and to receive instruction in such faith, unless the parent expressly
			   requests otherwise in writing;
(10)
			   endeavor to cooperate with the Agency and inform such agency of any incident or
			   event that affects or may affect the child's adjustment, health, safety, or
			   well-being;
(11) provide a family
			   atmosphere of acceptance, kindness and understanding, and endeavor to give each
			   child the support, attention, and recognition that facilitates adjustment to
			   the host family home and that promotes the child's normal
			   development;
(12) permit an
			   authorized representative of the Agency to enter the host family home to
			   investigate complaint regarding care of such child;
(13) inform the Agency of any changes in
			   family composition, or number of persons residing in the home and any
			   substantive changes in the physical home comprising the host family
			   home;
(14) cooperate with the
			   parent/child's plan to see and/or talk with each other, as established by the
			   child's parent and the host family home; and
(15) cooperate with the Agency and the
			   child's parent on the return of the child to the parent upon termination of the
			   designation of "person in parental relation".