(a) In the event that a current TFC foster home wishes to become a Division of Children and Family Services foster home, the Resource Worker will:

1. (1) Request a referral on the family from the TFC provider;

2. (2)

   1. (A) If the referral is positive, ensure that all required Division of Children and Family Services background checks (i.e., Child Maltreatment Central Registry check, Adult Maltreatment Central Registry check, Division of Arkansas State Police criminal record check, Federal Bureau of Investigation background check, and vehicle safety check) are in place and current.
   2. (B) Complete appropriate CHRIS screens (see Procedure VII-C1);
3. (3) Once background checks have been verified, conduct an in-home consultation visit (see Procedure VII-C2) with the family;

4. (4) Verify that the family has completed:

   1. (A)

(i) Preservice training with the TFC provider.

1. (ii) If the family did not complete preservices training with the TFC provider, refer the family to MidSOUTH for preservices training upon successful completion of all background checks and the in-home consultation visit (see Procedures VII-C3: Initiation of Pre-Service Training and VII-C4: Pre-Service Training);

   1. (B)

      1. (i) CPR and standard first aid certification.
      2. (ii) First Aid and CPR training and certification will only be accepted from a certified trainer associated with the:

(b) (b) National Safety Council; or

1. (c) (c) American Red Cross.

   1. (iii) First aid training provided through the National Safety Council must be the standard first aid, not basic first aid.

      1. (iv) If the family does not have current CPR and standard first aid certification, assist the family in accessing appropriate training; and

   2. (C)

      1. (i) Fifteen (15) hours of continuing education related to fostering within the past calendar year.
      2. (ii) If the family has not earned fifteen hours (15) hours of continuing education within the past calendar year, they are responsible for obtaining the remaining hours.
      3. (iii) However, the time spent during the in-home consultation visit and orientation may count toward the fifteen-hour continuing education requirement;
2. (5) If the family will not be attending preservice training, ensure that the individual conducting the home study receives the completed SAFE questionnaire I;
3. (6) Arrange for a SAFE home study to be completed on the family (see Procedure VII C-5: Home Study);

4. (7) If the family’s SAFE home study is approved, ensure that:

   1. (A) The CFS-475: Initial Checklist for Foster/Adoptive Home Assessment is completed, that any safeguard measures deemed necessary have been implemented; and
   2. (B) Any requested alternative compliances or policy waivers have been approved;
5. (8) Invite the County Supervisor to accompany them on the final face-to-face visit and final visual inspection of the home;
6. (9) Conduct a final face-to-face visit with the prospective foster parents and a final visual inspection of the home (preferably with the County Supervisor);
7. (10) Provide the family with an approval packet;

8. (11) Review the Division of Children and Family Services approval packet which includes:

   1. (A) Stamped envelopes addressed to the appropriate county office;
   2. (B) Examples of the completion of travel documentation that must be submitted monthly;
   3. (C) Copy of the Code of Ethics;
   4. (D) Copy of the Arkansas Practice Model;
   5. (E) CFS-381: Training Record Log;
   6. (F) Medication log;
   7. (G) Child inventory log;
   8. (H) Fire drill log;
   9. (I) CFS-352: Medical, Dental, Vision, Hearing, and Psychological Episodic Visits;
   10. (J) After hours contact sheet;
   11. (K) Foster Care Board sheet; and
   12. (L) Appropriate Foster Parent Association contact information;
9. (12) Complete the CFS-462: Initial Foster Family Agreement with the family;
10. (13) File the CFS-462: Initial Foster Family Agreement in the foster home record; and

11. (14)

    1. (A) Enter a disposition as to the approval/denial of the foster home within three (3) working days of receipt of the Area Director‘s approval or denial.

    2. (B) If the recommendation is approval, then:

       1. (i) If the orientation has not already taken place, schedule a date for a country or area orientation session for newly approved foster parents;
       2. (ii) Complete provider alternate care screen in CHRIS if family has determined they are willing to serve as an informal respite home and, using CFS-419: Foster Family Support System (FFSS) Information, enter all appropriate identified foster care family support system individual members including information on their cleared background checks (see 9 CAR § 40-814, alternate care for children in out-of-home placement);
       3. (iii) Enter begin date on availability status on provider status screen and request approval on provider service detail screen in CHRIS;
       4. (iv) If the family has indicated interest and been approved to foster children/youth with specific characteristics, identify the appropriate disability willing to accept selection under the preferences tab in the provider services/admission criteria button; and
       5. (v) File the approval letter in the foster home record.

    3. (C) If the recommendation is denial, then:

       1. (i)

(b) (b) See 9 CAR § 40-807, denial of a resource home applicant, and document in provider contact information screen in CHRIS;

1. (ii) End date the foster family service on the provider services tab selecting the appropriate reason for end date; and

   1. (iii) Specify why the home was denied in the comment box on the provider services tab.

(b) The County Supervisor or designee is encouraged to participate in the final face-to-face visit and final visual inspection of the home with the Resource Worker.

1. (c)
2. (1) The Area Director or designee will if appropriate, approve the Resource Worker‘s Request for approval in provider service detail screen in CHRIS to finalize the approval of the foster family.
3. (2) Upon approval, CHRIS automatically provides the foster family approval letter to be printed, mailed, and filed in the foster home record.