Virginia Administrative Code › Title 22 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Agency 40 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Chapter 131 - STANDARDS FOR LICENSED CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES › Part V - Provider Homes › Section 22VAC40-131-180 - Home study requirements

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A.
				  The licensee shall require that all persons applying to be a resource, foster,
				  adoptive, treatment foster care, or short-term foster care family home provider
				  submit to the licensee a complete application containing elements required by
				  this regulation and in accordance with requirements prescribed by the
				  department.
B. Upon receipt of a
				  provider application, the licensee shall review the application for
				  completeness and notify the applicant of the status of the
				  application.
C. Upon the licensee's
				  determination that the provider application is complete, the licensee shall
				  begin the process of gathering and assessing information for use in the final
				  decision related to whether the applicant and home meets all required elements
				  for approval.
D. The licensee shall
				  conduct a minimum of three face-to-face interviews on three separate days with
				  each applicant.
E. At least one of
				  the face-to-face interviews shall be conducted in the home of the applicant
				  and, if there are two applicants, at least one face-to-face interview shall be
				  conducted with both applicants present.
F. At least one face-to-face interview shall
				  be conducted with all individuals who reside in the home of the
				  applicant.
G. The licensee shall
				  obtain and document a minimum of three references on each applicant from
				  persons who have knowledge of the applicant's character, his applicable
				  experience with children, and his experience in caretaking of others. At least
				  one reference shall be from a nonrelative.
H. The licensee shall obtain from the
				  applicant information regarding previous applications submitted to another
				  public or private child-placing agency and whether as a result of the previous
				  applications, he was approved by another public or private child-placing agency
				  as a provider.
I. The licensee
				  shall obtain from the applicant a signed authorization allowing the previous
				  child-placing agency to release information to the licensee about previous
				  applications, his child-caring performance as an approved provider, and current
				  status as a provider. The signed authorization and information received shall
				  be filed and maintained in the applicant's file.
J. The home study conducted by the licensee
				  shall be documented in the file of the applicant and shall include the
				  following components:
1. All
				  department-required information including:
a.
				  Sworn disclosure statement or affirmation, results of background checks in
				  compliance with applicable state and federal laws;
b. Tuberculosis screenings in compliance with
				  requirements of the Virginia Department of Health for the applicant and all
				  other household members who come into contact with the children as described in
				  22VAC40-131-290 K; and
c. Driving records obtained from the
				  Department of Motor Vehicles for the applicant and all adults who are expected
				  to transport children.