Court Opinion

ID: 4829064
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-22 16:44:49.9273+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:02.425928
License: Public Domain

I concur to affirm the juvenile court's judgment denying custody to the great aunt and great uncle of a dependent child. I write specially to point out that, in September 1999, the Alabama Legislature enacted § 38-12-1 et seq., Ala. Code 1975, establishing the "Kinship Foster Care Program." Section 38-12-2(c), Ala. Code 1975, provides that the State Department of Human Resources ("DHR") "shall establish eligibility standards for becoming a kinship foster parent." However, in the nearly nine years since this act took effect, DHR has not promulgated eligibility standards or adopted rules and regulations specifically applicable to this program.1
Section 12-15-71(a)(3)c, Ala. Code 1975, also requires DHR to investigate relatives of a dependent child to determine if the relatives are "qualified" to receive and care for the child. The term "qualified" is not defined in the statute or in the corresponding regulations promulgated by DHR. In order to comply with the federal *Page 869 
Adoption and Safe Families Act, 42 U.S.C. § 671, DHR adopted certain criteria governing who may be considered for foster care; those criteria are found in Ala. Admin. Code, Rule660-5-29-.01 et seq. (DHR Social Services Div.). However, those criteria have not been made specifically applicable to relative placements or to the Kinship Foster Care Program.
I have previously pointed out DHR's failure to act on this legislative mandate. See, e.g., J.B. v. Cleburne CountyDep't of Human Res., 991 So.2d 273 (Ala.Civ.App. 2008) (Moore, J., writing for the court); and K.N.F.G. v. LeeCounty Dept of Human Res., 983 So.2d 1108
(Ala.Civ.App. 2007) (Moore, J., dissenting). I again urge DHR to comply with § 38-12-2(c) by establishing eligibility standards for becoming a kinship foster parent.
1 A review of the Alabama Administrative Code revealed only three regulations promulgated by DHR's Social Services Division referring to kinship foster care: Ala. Admin. Code, Rule660-5-47-.02, Rule 660-5-50-.03, and Rule 660-5-50-.05. However, those regulations do not establish standards specifically applicable to the Kinship Foster Care Program.