6002 FOSTER PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

6002.1 A foster parent shall:

1. (a) Provide parental supervision and guidance appropriate to the foster child's age and developmental level;
2. (b) Provide daily essentials that are required for the health, comfort, and good grooming of a foster child, including:
3. (1) A nutritionally balanced diet adequate for the foster child's needs in growth and development;
4. (2) Adequate shelter; and
5. (3) Clothing proper for the season;
6. (c) Help the foster child cope with the anxiety of being away from his or her family, and promote the child's self-esteem and positive self-image;
7. (d) Respect the foster child and the foster child's family;
8. (e) Be sensitive to and respect the foster child's individual needs, tastes, and values, and support the foster child's religious beliefs and cultural customs;
9. (f) Involve the foster child in household activities;
10. (g) Establish clear expectations for and limits on behavior, understand and deal with negative behavior in a positive way, and reward good behavior;
11. (h) Provide or arrange transportation to and from normal daily activities, including school, appointments, sports, family visitation, social, religious, ethnic, and cultural events, and other appointments as necessary and as set forth in the foster child's case plan;
12. (i) Participate in the foster child's educational process;
13. (j) Participate in the foster child's mental, physical, and dental health care, and request and maintain a copy of a record from each health care visit;
14. (k) Have a plan for the substitute care and supervision of each foster child by a licensed foster parent or day care provider, or the equivalent in the jurisdiction in which that substitute care is provided, when the foster parent is absent from the home on a regular basis, such as for employment;
15. (l) Use baby-sitters who are sixteen (16) years of age or older. Babysitters shall be used for a reasonable amount of time, considering the age and level of functioning of the foster child;
16. (m) Utilize only substitute caregivers and babysitters in whom the foster parent has confidence that the person can appropriately care for the foster child;
17. (n) Give at least 10 business days notice to the agency when requesting removal of a foster child except in circumstances that are critical to the health and safety of the

foster child or other household member;

(o) Immediately report to CFSA and the agency any suspected incident of child abuse or neglect;

(p) Abide by the rules on discipline and control as set forth in § 6018;

(q) Notify CFSA and the agency of any criminal charges, investigations, or findings related to any crime alleged to have been committed by a household member;

(r) Assist in preparing the foster child to accept her or his permanency plan and any move from the foster home; and

(s) Maintain the confidentiality of information about the foster child and the foster child's family in accordance with § 6023.

6002.2 A foster parent, in accordance with a foster child's case plan, shall:

(a) Assist the agency in maintaining and improving the foster child's relationship with her or his family, and support this relationship by helping with family visits, which may include visits in the foster home;

(b) Maintain an attitude of respect and understanding towards the foster child's parents and family;

(c) Tell the foster child's parents about events and happenings in the foster child's daily life;

(d) Serve as a role model for the foster child's parents; and

(e) Transmit information about the foster child or the foster child's family only in accordance with §§ 6002.2(c) and 6023.

6002.3 A foster parent shall fulfill her or his obligations to the agency by:

(a) Participating in training required and approved by the agency;

(b) Working as a team member in assessing a foster child's strengths and needs, and in implementing the foster child's case plan;

(c) Keeping the agency aware of the foster child's development and adjustment;

(d) Attending case reviews and meetings as requested by the agency;

(e) Maintaining the standards of foster care required by this chapter of the DCMR;

(f) Notifying the agency for any overnight trips of more than one hundred (100) miles from the District or Columbia that the foster parent would like the foster child to take; and

(g) Notifying the agency immediately of any change or anticipated change for the foster parent or within the foster home concerning:

(1) Employment;

(2) Child care arrangements;

(3) Composition of the household;

(4) Finances;

(5) Residence or telephone number;

(6) Health status;

(7) Marital status; or

(8) Any other change which may affect the stability of the foster home or of the foster child's placement in the foster home.

6002.4 A foster parent may not provide care for an adult household member who needs assistance with at least three (3) activities of daily living unless:

(a) CFSA has determined in writing that the care of the foster child is not affected; and

(b) The care is for either a relative of the foster parent, or a current or former foster child who is eighteen (18) years of age or older, or another adult with whom the foster parent has close personal or emotional ties.

6002.5 A foster parent may not provide child day care unless CFSA has determined in writing that the foster parent has the physical and emotional strength to be responsible for the day care of one (1) or more children, in addition to what is needed for care and supervision of each foster child in the home.

6002.6 Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to preclude a foster parent from permitting a foster child to visit with the foster parent's family or friends.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 48 DCR 6617 (July 27, 2001).