1. (1) The Department must conduct an assessment to determine if a relative applicant and the home of the relative applicant meets the standards outlined in 413-203-0000 to 413-203-0145.

   1. (a) For issuance of a Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval, the Department must conduct the activities described in OAR 413-203-0020.
   2. (b) For issuance of a Relative Certificate of Approval to a relative resource parent that has been issued a Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval, the Department must conduct the activities described in OAR 413-203-0025.
   3. (c) For issuance of a Relative Certificate of Approval or approval of a potential adoptive resource, the Department must conduct the activities described in OAR 413-203-0020 and 413-203-0025.
   4. (d) The Department may share information in the home study when permitted or required by law, consistent with ORS 418.642, ORS 109.289 OAR 413-010-0035, 413-120-0016, 413-120-0220, and 413-120-0246. The Department is required to share information about a child in the care or custody of the department with the parties to the child’s juvenile court proceeding.

2. (2) A relative applicant may not be denied providing care for a relative child in the care or custody of the Department under these rules:

   1. (a) For the sole reason that the individual received child welfare services as a child;
   2. (b) For the sole reason that the individual is a person with a disability; or
   3. (c) On the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression or disability.

3. (3) The Department is not required to assess a relative applicant and may deny the application if:

   1. (a) The relative applicant has had a previous application for certification denied or a prior certificate revoked during the five years prior to the date on the application;
   2. (b) The relative applicant is seeking to care for a specific child who is not in the care or custody of the Department;
   3. (c) The relative applicant is seeking to care for a specific child, who is currently placed with a relative, and based on the best interests of the child, the Department is not seeking to move the child.
   4. (d) Notwithstanding (c) of this rule, the Department must assess applicants to be in compliance with the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act or the Oregon Indian Child Welfare Act or an order of placement preference that is required by law.
   5. (e) The relative applicant is seeking to care for a relative child residing in a state other than Oregon for whom the Department has not received a request for a home study under the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC).
4. (4) The Department may terminate the assessment process at any time and proceed to issue a proposed and final order denying certification for one or more of the reasons in OAR 413-203-0040 or, if the application is for approval to be a potential adoptive resource, deny the application for the reasons in OAR 413-120-0225.

5. (5) Any certificate issued by the Department under OAR 413-203-0000 to 413-203-0145 must include all the following information:

   1. (a) The certificate type: Relative Temporary Certificate, or Relative Certificate of Approval.
   2. (b) The name of each certified relative resource parent.
   3. (c) The address to which the certificate applies.
   4. (d) The age range (birth to 20) of any child the Department may place in the certified relative resource parent’s home.
   5. (e) The placement capacity of the certified resource parent.
   6. (f) The provider number that the Department has given the home.
   7. (g) The effective date of the certificate.
   8. (h) The signature of the approving manager.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 418.005 & ORS 409.050

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 418.005

History

CWP 20-2025, amend filed 12/23/2025, effective 01/01/2026
CWP 12-2025, adopt filed 08/07/2025, effective 08/11/2025
CWP 3-2025, temporary adopt filed 02/14/2025, effective 02/17/2025 through 08/15/2025