The family foster parent may provide care for up to 6 children, including the foster parent's own children who are under 18 years of age and residing in the home. There may be no more than 2 children under the age of 2, including the foster parent's own children. Exceptions to this requirement may be made by the department or the child placement agency to keep siblings together, to place a child with a foster parent who is a relative, to allow a parenting youth in foster care to remain with the youth's child, to allow a child who has an established meaningful relationship with the family to remain with the family, or to allow a family with special training or skills to provide care to a child who has a severe disability or special needs. The maximum number of 6 children may be waived for a period of up to 10 days for emergency placements or respite care.

Source: 4 SDR 2, effective July 25, 1977; 7 SDR 66, 7 SDR 89, effective July 1, 1981; 11 SDR 101, effective February 3, 1985; 39 SDR 220, effective June 27, 2013; 41 SDR 218, effective June 30, 2015; 47 SDR 24, effective September 10, 2020.

General Authority: SDCL 26-6-16 (1)(5)(6) .

Law Implemented: SDCL 26-6-16 (1)(5)(6) .

Prior versions effective: 2015-06-30, 2013-06-27.