Section 148-16 and 15-15-3 - LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIALIZED CHILDREN'S FOSTER HOMESA.QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FOSTER PARENTS AND RESPITE PERSONNEL1 The foster family shall have an ongoing, predictable income to assure that the home is maintained in conformity with the requirements of these regulations. The Department will consider licensure without requiring any other outside source of income in limited circumstances. Foster families who provide foster care through licensed child care placing agencies will needed to furnish the Department with a statement of predictable income from that agency to assure that the household is maintained in compliance with predictable income. The income statement will indicate the actual income received from the placing agency. The foster family will also submit a statement describing how the family would remain financially stable during times when the child placements in the home are less than full capacity.2 The primary caregiver shall have had verifiable experience working with moderately to severely handicapped children. Such experience shall be from one or both of the following: a. One year of experience as a licensed family foster home parent.b. Six months work experience with moderately to severely handicapped children.3 Foster parents shall participate in ongoing training of at least 36 hours for the licensee(s)' combined hours of training, with a minimum of at least 12 of those hours completed by the secondary foster parent, if applicable, within the two-year licensing period. The training must be related to the special needs of moderately to severely handicapped children. At the time of initial and renewal licensure, the Foster Care Licensing Worker will provide the licensee(s) with a list of required training and of approved training options. Documentation of required training must be provided to the Foster Care Licensing Worker at the time of license renewal.4 The foster family shall not care for adult boarders or roomers or operate under any other license to provide child care. The only allowable exception to this rule would be to allow the foster family's former foster child to continue residing in the home as an adult or to allow the former foster child to return at a later date to live in the home. Exception to this rule must receive prior approval from the Foster Care Licensing Supervisor.
B.NUMBER AND AGES OF CHILDREN IN CARE1 The total number of children in a Specialized Children's Foster Home may not exceed 4, including the family's legal children under 16 years of age, with no more than 2 children under the age of 2. The maximum number of licensed slots cannot exceed 3. Two of those licensed slots may be used for children who require therapeutic level care. The third licensed slot is intended for a child who is placed for respite care or for a child, who at time of placement needed therapeutic level care and has made improvement and no longer requires therapeutic level care. The only exception to the two therapeutic placement limit is if this child exhibits a significant change in behavior and it is determined that therapeutic level care is indicated or if a sibling placed requires therapeutic care. Exception to this rule must receive prior approval from the Program Administrator.2 The only exception, which may be made to the number and ages of children, is to allow siblings to be placed together. The exception is applicable only when adequate space is available in the foster home. In order for an exception to apply there must either be a sibling already placed in the home or one vacant licensed slot. The Foster Care Licensing Supervisor must approve requests for exception to the limit.10-148 C.M.R. ch. 16 and 15, § 15-3