Ind. Admin. Code tit. 465, r. 2-1.5-3 – Qualifications of the foster family; general

Sec. 3. (a) Foster parents shall be persons at least twenty-one (21) years of age to whom a license to operate, maintain, or conduct a foster family home for children is granted by the department. Foster parents must have a stable living arrangement and may be a married couple, an unmarried cohabitating couple who have lived together for at least one (1) year, or a single person. For married spouses and unmarried cohabitating couples, both individuals must be approved as foster parents. If an applicant is married but separated at the time of initial application, the applicant must have lived apart from his or her spouse continuously for a minimum of a one (1) year period with no intent to reconcile, the applicant must be maintaining a separate household, and the separation must be verified by at least three (3) references.

(b) Foster parents shall be as follows:

(1) Persons whose behaviors, circumstances, and physical and mental health contribute to the safety and well-being of children.
(2) Selected on the basis of demonstrating strengths in skill areas as set out by the department that will permit them to undertake and perform the responsibilities of meeting the needs of children, providing continuity of care, and working with the department or sponsoring child placing agency.

(1) Protecting, guiding, and nurturing.
(2) Meeting physical, mental, emotional, and developmental needs and addressing any delays.
(3) Supporting relationships between children and their families.
(4) Developing partnerships with birth families, the department and its representatives, and others in the community in order to carry out case plans and establish permanency.
(5) Helping children placed in the foster family home:
1. (A) develop skills to manage loss and skills to form attachments; and
2. (B) build on positive self-concept and positive family, cultural, and racial identity.
(6) Connecting children to lifetime relationships.
(7) Working as a member of a professional team.
(8) Other skills as set forth by the department.

(d) Foster parents' ability to meet these competencies shall be reevaluated at each relicensure and at any other time at the discretion of the department or child placing agency.

(e) Foster parents shall cooperate with:

(1) the department and with the child placing agency in the overall plan for care of the child; and
(2) all inquiries from the department or the child placing agency involving the care of the child or the foster parents' license.

(f) Each foster family home shall keep a record of the following:

(1) The names of children placed in the home.
(2) The time of admission.
(3) The time of release.
(4) Any other specific information required by the department or the child placing agency.

These records shall be made readily available upon request to the department or child placing agency.

(g) The foster parents shall report to the department or child placing agency any change within the foster family home impacting the health, welfare, or general well-being of the child, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) The physical location or mailing address of the foster family home or the telephone number of the foster parents, or both.
(2) The physical condition of the foster family home or in the use of bedrooms in the foster family home as it relates to the child, or both.
(3) Employment of the foster parents.
(4) The physical or mental, or both, health of the foster parents or any household member.
(5) The marital status of the foster parents.
(6) Arrests, convictions, or child protective services assessments and the resulting findings concerning the foster parents or any household member.
(7) The ability of foster parents to care for the child.
(8) The household composition of the foster family.
(9) Temporary relocation of the foster family in the event of a disaster.

(h) A foster home license under IC 31-27-4 shall not be issued concurrently with a license or certificate for other child or adult, or both, care, except with the consent of the department.

(i) The foster family shall fully disclose all businesses conducted on the premises of the foster family home. Commercial activities that adversely affect the welfare of children are prohibited.

(Department of Child Services; 465 IAC 2-1.5-3; filed Apr 18, 2011, 11:31 a.m.: 20110518-IR-465100349FRA; readopted filed Nov 26, 2013, 4:02 p.m.: 20131225-IR-465130459RFA; readopted filed Oct 10, 2019, 10:42 a.m.: 20191106-IR-465190320RFA; readopted filed Oct 15, 2025, 10:46 a.m.: 20251112-IR-465250623RFA)