The first at-home family consultation meeting is an extension of the first telephone inquiry response. During this meeting the Children’s Service Worker continues to provide the family with more specific information about what is involved in the job of being a foster parent or adoptive parent, the process by which the Division carries out the mutual assessment, and selection outcomes. The worker also begins more in-depth discussion with the family about their expectations and motivation for considering this job at this time. During this interview the worker may identify, through conversations or review of the application, issues that may raise preliminary questions about the family’s willingness or ability to become foster parents or adoptive parents. Depending on the nature of these issues, the worker may need to explore these issues with the family during this meeting. During this meeting the worker must explain the licensing requirements including the house assessment, the Foster Family Profile, CD-56, the Family Care Safety Registry, Fingerprinting, the child abuse/neglect screens, and criminal background checks with the family, and explain which are non-negotiable and which are subject to more subjective assessment criteria. During this first in-home meeting the worker will present the Safe Sleep Practice, CD-117, Discipline Agreement, CD-119, and Resource Acknowledgement of Home Assessment & Case File Information Access, CD-128 and Notification of Hazards, CD-101, if applicable. The content is reviewed, agreed to and signed indicating agreement by the resource parent(s). In addition, the worker will discuss the dangers of co-sleeping with an infant and direct the resource provider to information presented in the PowerPoint, SIDS and Safe Sleep, located on the State Technical Assistance Team Web site.   http://www.dss.mo.gov/stat/statpres/prevention.htm.

At the end of this meeting, the family and Children’s Service Worker should both have additional information that will allow them to make a mutual decision about the next steps in the process.

During the at-home consultation meeting the Children’s Service Worker must do the following:

1. Introduce self;
2. Explain the purpose of the at-home consultation meeting;
3. Ask family about impressions so far and answer any questions; and
4. Explain the mutual assessment process.
5. Initiate necessary paperwork for the background checks, including child abuse/neglect, Family Care Safety Registry, Fingerprinting, sexual offender registry, and CaseNet. Explain that a CA/N check will be conducted in every state which each household member 17 and older has resided during the past five (5) years, per Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act.
6. Provide the applicant with the Foster Family Profile cover letter, CD-55, and Foster Family Profile, CD-56, for completion. Inform the applicant that the Foster Family Profile should be returned to the local licensing worker within 10 business days.
7. Present the Safe Sleep Practices form, CD-117; Review the information on the form and explain that the applicant(s) must agree to adhere to the practices and sign the form.
8. Present a copy of the Foster Parents Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, RSMo Section 210.566
9.    Present a copy of the Resource Parent Acknowledgement and Assurances, CD-108; Provide the five documents referenced, review the information on the form and obtain signature(s).
10.    Present the Resource Parent Discipline Agreement, CD-119; Review the information and explain that applicant(s) must agree to adhere to the agreement and sign the form.
11.    Present the two Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, HIPAA, documents, MO866-4061 and Resource Provider Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Information, CD-194, and obtain signature on the CD-194.

The Children’s Service Worker should explain the potential outcomes of the mutual assessment process, which are:

1. The Division and the family make a mutual decision to select the family into the program;
2. The Division and the family make a mutual decision to select the family out of the program;
3. The Division may feel that the family has the skills to become a foster parent or adoptive parent, but the family is not willing or does not feel it has the skills to take on the job and the family makes a decision to select-out of the program; or
4. The family is willing to become a foster parent or adoptive parent and feels they have the ability to take on the job, but the Division disagrees and does not invite the family to select-in to the program.

The Children’s Service Worker should explain that the focus of the training is to help the participants understand the skills involved in being a foster or adoptive parent. Only when the family understands what skills are needed will they have the information necessary to make an informed decision about whether they are willing or able to do the job:

• Explain the role and focus of the consultation meetings in the mutual assessment process, which are as follows:
  • Clarifying the family’s changing understanding of what the job of being a foster parent or adoptive parent entails as they learn more about the role in the pre-service training;
  • “Checking in” with the family to determine if they are still willing to take on the job as they expand their understanding of its complexities; and
  • Carrying out a dialogue with the family about their history, their current family system and networks, and how becoming a foster parent or adoptive parent will change the family system. This discussion will focus on understanding strengths and needs in regard to the family’s willingness and ability to be foster parents or adoptive parents.
• Introduce the idea of the five competencies necessary for foster and adoptive parenting which are:
  • Protecting and nurturing;
  • Meeting developmental needs and addressing developmental delays;
  • Supporting relationships between children and their families;
  • Connecting children to lifetime relationships; and
  • Working as a member of a professional team.
  • Inform the family about the non-negotiable licensing requirements.
  • Provide the applicants with a copy of the Foster Parent Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
  • Review the paperwork (Foster/Adopt Home Assessment Application, Safe Sleep Practices, Discipline Agreement, and Foster Family Profile) the family has provided or assist the family in completing the paperwork.
  • Explain to the family that the case file which is created in the licensing process and maintained for the duration of the family being licensed with the Division is an open record and available to the public upon a Sunshine Law request.
  • Watch for responses to sensitive issues, i.e., motivation, expectations, etc.
  • The Children’s Service Worker should inspect the house by walking from room to room to ensure compliance with “Physical Standards for a Foster Home.” Utilize the Resource Home and Safety Checklist, CS-45, to document any safety concerns with the household.
  • Explain the requirements for CA/N and background checks.
  • Explain the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard which requires the resource family to provide the foster youth with opportunities to participate in activities that are age- and developmentally- appropriate.

  • Determine the next steps.

     

Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 01-31-07)

CD04-79

Memoranda History:

CD07-15, CD07-48, CD07-54, CD08-55, CD09-88, CD-105, CD09-110, CD12-84, CD12-85, CD14-09, CD15-75, CD16-65