1. (a) A kinship caregiver shall provide the licensing agency with advance notice, when practicable, of a change made to any of the following, but in any case, no later than 4:00 PM on the next business day after the change occurs:

   1. (1) Residential or mailing address;
   2. (2) Home or cell phone number;
   3. (3) Marital status;
   4. (4) Employment status;
   5. (5) Household composition, including pets and all household members;

   6. (6) Physical environment of the home which might affect safety including by not limited to:

      1. a. Structural repairs or additions;
      2. b. Removal of a furnace or other heating source;
      3. c. The addition of a pool, pond, or other body of water;
      4. d. Construction of an attached garage;
      5. e. Installation of a wood stove or fireplace; or
      6. f. Installation of gas or propane powered appliance, including but not limited to a boiler, furnace, stove, clothes dryer, water heater, space heater, or fireplace; and
   7. (7) Any circumstances which might violate a licensing requirement of He-C 6447.

2. (b) A home shall have a working carbon monoxide detector with an alarm, maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, on each level of the home in which there are sleeping areas, within 2 business days of any the following changes:

   1. (1) Construction of an attached garage;
   2. (2) Installation of a wood stove or fireplace; or
   3. (3) Installation of gas or propane powered appliance, including but not limited to a boiler, furnace, stove, clothes dryer, water heater, space heater, or fireplace.

3. (c) When it is not possible for a kinship caregiver to provide advance notice to the licensing agency, the kinship caregiver shall notify the licensing agency within 7 calendar days of the occurrence of any of the following:

   1. (1) Changes listed in (a) above;
   2. (2) A change in the mental, emotional, or physical health of any caregiver or household member which might affect the child’s care;
   3. (3) A caregiver’s or household member’s involvement or contact with federal, state, or local law enforcement personnel other than routine motor vehicle traffic stops unless the child in care was present during the contact;
   4. (4) A caregiver’s or household member’s involvement or contact with DCYF, including services under RSA 169-B, RSA 169-C, or RSA 169-D; and
   5. (5) Accepting placement of a child from another licensing agency or informally accepting a child for care directly from a child’s parent or guardian.

4. (d) If a kinship caregiver changes the location of their residence, in addition to the notice required in (a) or (b) above, the kinship caregiver shall, within 10 calendar days of moving residences, provide the licensing agency with a written statement via email or the United States Postal Services (USPS) verifying the effective date of the change and all current address and contact information. Upon request of the licensing agency, the kinship caregiver shall also:

   1. (1) Complete and submit an updated Form 1601 “Kinship Caregiver Agreement” (September 2025), unless the child in care is subject to the ICPC in which case the kinship caregiver shall complete and submit an updated Form 1586 “ICPC Kinship Caregiver Agreement” (September 2025); and
   2. (2) Participate in at least one home visit, as described in He-C 6447.13, to evaluate whether the physical environment complies with He-C 6447.06 and He-C 6447.08, and to assess the conditions of the home to determine whether it meets the specific needs of the child, including the child’s safety, permanency, health, well-being, mental, emotional, and physical development needs.

5. (e) Kinship caregivers shall report any use of seclusion or restraint of a child in care. The kinship caregiver shall:

   1. (1) Verbally notify DCYF by speaking with a DCYF representative as soon as practicable after the incident; and
   2. (2) Within 5 business days of the incident, complete and submit Form 1770 “Caregiver Report of Seclusion and Restraint” (September 2025) to DCYF by email to NHkinship@dhhs.nh.gov or via USPS: NH DCYF, Office of the Director, 129 Pleasant Street, Thayer Building, Concord, NH, 03301.

6. (f) A kinship caregiver shall immediately notify DCYF, by telephone call to DCYF central intake at (800) 894-5533 or (603) 271-6562, in the event of:

   1. (1) The death of a child in care;
   2. (2) The hospitalization of, or serious illness or injury to, a child in care;
   3. (3) A child in care’s unauthorized absence from the kinship care home; or
   4. (4) An unplanned childcare arrangement for a child in care that exceeds 24 hours of care.

7. (g) In addition to (f) above, in the case of death or serious injury, as defined in RSA 126:U:1, VI, to a child subject to seclusion or restraint, the kinship caregiver shall:

   1. (1) Immediately notify law enforcement and emergency services of the incident; and

   2. (2) Within 5 business days of the incident, complete and submit Form 1770 “Caregiver Report of Seclusion and Restraint” (September 2025) to the department pursuant to RSA 126-U:7-a, and in accordance with He-C 901 and the following:

      1. a. The completed Form 1770 shall be submitted by email to NHkinship@dhhs.nh.gov or via USPS: NH DCYF, Office of the Director, 129 Pleasant Street, Thayer Building, Concord, NH, 03301; and

      2. b. Within 5 business days of receipt of the completed Form 1770, the department shall, pursuant to RSA 126-U:7-a, notify:

         1. 1. The NH office of the attorney general;
         2. 2. The state's federally designated protection and advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities; and
         3. 3. The child’s parents or guardians, unless prohibited by a court order.
8. (h) A kinship caregiver shall report a child in care’s unusual or unexpected behavior, educational concerns, medical needs, special needs, or any other issues or circumstances that might influence or affect the child’s behavior, health, development, or well-being to the licensing agency no later than 4:00 PM on the following business day after becoming aware of the issue or circumstance.
9. (i) If there is a reported or observed change in the mental, emotional, or physical health of the kinship caregiver or any household member which might affect the child’s care or well-being, upon request of the licensing agency, the individual shall complete and submit Form 1722 “Medical Information Statement” (September 2025). Form 1722 is completed in 2 parts, the first by the individual and the second by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who shall then submit the completed form to the division.
10. (j) A kinship caregiver shall provide the licensing agency with at least 14 calendar days written notice prior to the date the kinship caregiver is requesting the removal of the child in care from the kinship care home.
11. (k) The information provided to the licensing agency in accordance with (a) through (j) above shall be reviewed for compliance with the requirements of He-C 6447 and shall be taken into consideration when determining whether to take action pursuant to He-C 6447.29 and He-C 6447.30.

Source. #14390, eff 9-24-25, EXPIRES: 9-24-35