Or. Admin. R. 413-203-0025 – Assessment to Complete a Relative Certificate of Approval

(1) To Issue a Relative Certificate of Approval to an individual who has not been issued a Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval:
1. (a) Complete requirements in 413-203-0020; and
2. (b) Complete requirements in 413-203-0025.
(2) To complete the assessment of a relative applicant that has been issued a Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval and issue a Relative Certificate of Approval, the certifier must complete the following activities as soon as possible, but no later than 60 days from the date the Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval is issued, unless the certificate has been extended under section (3) of this rule.
1. (a) Ensure completion of a fingerprint based criminal records check of national crime information databases on each relative applicant and each other adult member of the household, and, at the Department's discretion, any individual under 18 living in the home when there is reason to believe they may pose a risk to a child in the care or custody of the Department placed in the home.
  1. (A) Complete a weighing test and fitness determination of any new criminal history information obtained pursuant to OAR 413-208-0025.
  2. (B) If appropriate, obtain approval to continue with the certification assessment when an applicant or other adult member of the household has a criminal conviction.
  3. (C) If a relative applicant or other adult member of the household has a disqualifying conviction under OAR 413-208-0010 to 413-208-0035 or the authorized designee makes a negative fitness determination with respect to the individual, the Department must proceed to issue a proposed and final order denying certification, unless the application is withdrawn by the relative applicant.
  4. (D) Document the information considered, and the decision, on a form approved by the Department.
2. (b) Ensure completion of child abuse history background checks for each relative applicant and each other adult member of the household, as follows:
  1. (A) If a relative applicant or other adult member of the household has lived outside the state of Oregon obtain a child abuse history background check from each state where the individual resided in the five years preceding the date on the application for certification from the Department.
  2. (B) Assess any safety concerns raised by information learned from the child abuse history background check in Oregon and if applicable, another state.
  3. (C) When a relative applicant or other member of the household has been identified as the perpetrator or alleged perpetrator, or respondent of abuse to a child in a child protective services assessment founded disposition, substantiated disposition, unable to determine disposition, or inconclusive disposition or a similar disposition from another Department division, agency, or state, consult with the certification supervisor about whether to seek approval from the Child Welfare Program Manager to continue with the certification assessment:
    1. (i) If the decision is to seek approval, the Child Welfare Program Manager must consider the information and the safety concerns and may approve or deny continuing the assessment;
    2. (ii) If the decision is to deny continuing with the assessment, the Department may terminate the assessment process and, unless the application is withdrawn, proceed to deny the application.
    3. (iii) Document the information considered, including the safety concerns assessed, and the decision, on a form approved by the Department.
    4. (c) Verify completion of Relative Orientation, including Mandatory Reporter Training required within 30 days of issuance of a Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval;
    5. (d) Verify completion of Safe Sleep Training, if a child 12 months or younger is placed in the home required within 30 days of issuance of a Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval;
3. (e) Gather information from a minimum of two personal references for the applicant; and
4. (f) Complete a Relative Home Study on a form approved by the Department.
(3) If the above requirements are not completed within 60 days:
1. (a) The Child Welfare Program Manager or designee may approve a 30-day extension of the Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval.
2. (b) The Foster Care Program Manager or designee may approve an extension longer than 30 days of the Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval.
(4) If the certifier has completed all of the activities in section (1) and (2) of this rule and the Relative Home Study has been approved, the Department may issue a Relative Certificate of Approval.
(5) The Department must assess a relative applicant and determine whether to approve the relative application or deny the relative application within 60 days of Department receipt of a completed relative application unless:
1. (a) The application is withdrawn by the applicant;
2. (b) The Child Welfare Program Manager or designee extends the assessment period, no greater than an additional 60 days or;
3. (c) The Foster Care Program Manager or designee extends the assessment period for longer than 120 days or;
4. (d) The Department has issued a Relative Temporary Certificate of Approval.
(6) To approve a relative applicant as a potential adoptive resource, the certifier must:
1. (a) Complete the activities required by OAR 413-203-0020(1);
2. (b) Complete the activities required by OAR 413-203-0025(2);
3. (c) Determine the standards of OAR 413-120-0246 have been met; and
4. (d) Approve an adoption home study.
(7) When evaluating a relative applicant as a potential adoptive resource:
1. (a) OAR 413-203-0020(1)(c) does not apply; and
2. (b) the 60-day timelines in OAR 413-203-0025(2), (3) and (5) do not apply.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 418.005 & ORS 409.050

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 409.050

History

CWP 49-2026, minor correction filed 03/20/2026, effective 03/20/2026
CWP 18-2026, minor correction filed 02/25/2026, effective 02/25/2026
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