South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 114 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Article 49 - CHILD PLACING AGENCIES REGULATIONS › Section 114-4980 - Procedures and Practices of Child Placing Agencies

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
A. Foster Home Licensing/Relicensing
(1) Child placing agency foster homes shall
			 be licensed/relicensed in accordance with R.
			 114-550
			 C(1).
(2) Foster Home Licensing
			 procedure is as follows:
(a) The child placing
			 agency shall utilize the regulations established by the Department to conduct
			 the foster home investigations;
(b)
			 The child placing agency shall record the licensing study in their foster home
			 records and make results available to the applicant(s);
(c) The child placing agency shall notify the
			 applicant(s) in writing if the license is denied or revoked;
(d) The Department may issue a license based
			 on the foster home study and retains the sole authority for issuing, denying
			 and revoking that license.
(3) Foster Home Relicensing procedure is as
			 follows:
(a) The child placing agency shall
			 conduct annual relicensing studies on all licensed foster homes to determine
			 continued compliance with the regulations;
(b) The Department may issue, deny or revoke
			 a license based on the relicensing study.
(4) Monitoring Foster Homes. The child
			 placing agency shall monitor all of its licensed foster homes for compliance
			 with the foster home regulations established by the Department.
(5) Complaints in Licensed Foster Homes. When
			 receiving a complaint which may indicate possible violations of the foster home
			 regulations, the child placing agency shall:
(a) Conduct an investigation to assess
			 compliance with applicable licensing rules;
(b) Send a written report to the foster home
			 stating findings, conclusions, and any anticipated action affecting the
			 license;
(c) Notify the Department
			 of the complaint with pertinent information and the identity of both the
			 complainant and the foster home;
(d) Notify the Department of its
			 recommendation as to revocation or continuation of the license;
(e) The Department will investigate
			 complaint(s) according to established policy and procedure.
(6) With regard to child
			 protective services, the child placing agency shall report any suspected cases
			 of abuse or neglect to the local Department of Social Services, as required by
			 law.
(7) Amendments to a Foster
			 Home License. The child placing agency shall utilize the regulations
			 established by the Department whenever there is an amendment to the foster home
			 license.
(8) Recommendations to
			 Revoke a License. The child placing agency shall maintain on file an assessment
			 that includes the specific regulation(s) violated and the act of violation to
			 support their recommendation for revocation.
(9) Selection of Home
(a) The child placing agency shall select the
			 most appropriate home for a child consistent with the family assessment, the
			 child's needs, and the terms of the license;
(b) If the child is placed, must be placed
			 with a licensed provider;
(c) The
			 child placing agency shall not place children in licensed foster homes which
			 are in use by another agency without written permission of that
			 agency.