New York State Office of Children and Family Services CLEARANCE FOR CERTIFIED OR APPROVED FOSTER HOMES Stage Population Criminal History Records (DCJS and FBI)1 Statewide Central Register (SCR)2 Staff Exclusion List (SEL) Initial application for certification or approval3 and Re-openings of certified or approved foster homes4 Prospective Foster Parent(s) Yes Yes Yes Persons 18 years of age or older residing in the home of the prospective foster parent(s) (*includes persons in foster care 18 of age or older) Yes Yes Yes Annual renewal of certification or approval5 Foster Parent(s)6 No No No Persons 18 years of age or older who reside in the home of the certified or approved foster parent(s) (*includes persons in foster care 18 years of age or older) Required if: a person residing in the foster home turns age 18 after the preceding certification or approval; or a person 18 of age or older comes to reside in the foster home the preceding certification or approval; and the person did not have a DCJS and FBI criminal history check completed previously No No Any time after the certification or approval of the original foster parent6 Adult spouse who enters the home and applies for certification or approval as a certified or approved foster parent Yes Yes Yes Pub-5183ii (10/2017) 1 See 16-OCFS-ADM-20. 2 SCR check includes NYS SCR check and out of state SCR checks of persons who resided in another state within 5 years of the initial application or application for reopening. 3 18 NYCRR 443.7. 4 18 NYCRR 443.10. 5 18 NYCRR 443.10. 6 18 443.10(c).
Age? Gender? Interests? OCFS-5183F (4/2018) PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVIEW – tO BE COMPLETED BY the Home finder with EACH APPLICANT individually The purpose of the psychosocial interview is to explore the applicant’s history and current psychological/social factors and their impact on the capacity, willingness and readiness to safely care for a child in foster care; and to develop support plans where applicable. In this section, questions are provided as guidance only. Workers will need to use their engagement and assessment skills to explore these areas, using the questions and guidance below as relevant and applicable. Applicant’s responses should be provided in narrative format in the space provided below. Personal History Areas for consideration: Familial history and relationships with all household members and extended family (Genogram) Family relationship Childhood experiences and defining moments Traditions and religion/spirituality Marriage/Dating history
(4/2018) Coping Skills and Stress Management Areas for consideration: Life experiences of loss and/or trauma Infertility (if applicable) Coping strategies and stress management Impact of life experiences on current functioning Sample Questions: Many of the most successful foster/adoptive parents have experienced loss and trauma in lives that has helped them become the people they are today. Has this occurred in your life? What impact has it had on you then and now? What challenges has it posed for you? When experiencing challenging times, what resources do you use to cope? Who helps you? How do you know when you are getting stressed out; what cues do you notice, physically, socially, cognitively?