Section 7.103 - Application to Become a Foster Parent/Pre-adoptive ParentWhenever an individual who has contacted the Department for the purpose of applying to be an unrestricted, kinship or child-specific foster or pre-adoptive parent has been deemed eligible under 110 CMR 7.100 the following procedures shall be observed:
(1) The Department shall open a file for the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant, if not previously opened, with either the Department or a Department contracted provider of foster care.(2) The Department shall provide the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant with the following materials: an application form if not previously provided during the initial screening process, and information regarding the evaluation process and the standards for licensing foster/pre-adoptive applicants, in addition to the information required by 102 CMR 5.10(1).(3) Application forms shall require at least the following information and consent: (a) the name, date of birth, social security number, address, out of state addresses in the five years prior to application date, telephone number, sex, sexual preference/orientation, ethnicity, and occupation of the applicant;(b) the name, date of birth, social security number, sex and relationship to the applicant of all household members;(c) the current physical, mental and emotional condition of the applicant and all household members;(d) the name, address and telephone number of the applicant's employer and the employer of the head of the household, if the applicant is not the head of the household;(e) the name, address and telephone number of the last physician who has examined or treated the applicant;(f) the name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s) of any physician(s), psychologist(s) or other professional(s) who has treated the applicant or other household member for any serious or chronic illness, drug abuse, or alcohol abuse;(g) any crimes of the applicant or other household member who have been charged with or convicted of;(h) any current or previous applications to become a foster or pre-adoptive parent submitted by the applicant or other household member, and the results thereof;(i) whether the applicant or any other household member has ever been identified as allegedly responsible for an incident of child abuse or neglect in a 51B investigation supported by the Department or other child protective agency;(j) the names and addresses of at least two personal references;(k) languages spoken in the household, and the language predominantly used in the household;(l) whether the applicant is seeking placement of a specific child in the home, and, if so, the name, date of birth, address, sex and relationship to the applicant and other household members' relationship to the child;(m) the consent of the applicant, and other household members if appropriate, for the Department to make collateral contacts with any individuals named in response to requests for information under 110 CMR 7.103(3)(d), (e), (f), (g) and (j) and any other individuals seen by the Department as useful to the evaluation of the application; and
(n) an agreement to allow the Department to conduct an examination of the applicant's status with the criminal offender information system as defined by M.G.L. c. 6, §§ 167 through 172.(4) The Department shall record in the foster parent/pre-adoptive applicant file opened pursuant to 110 CMR 7.103(1) the date when the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant contacted the Department for the purpose of applying to become a foster/pre-adoptive parent, and the date when application materials were given or mailed to the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant.(5) If the Department does not receive a completed application form from the foster/pre-adoptive applicant within 30 days after giving or mailing the application materials to the applicant, the Department shall attempt to contact the applicant to determine whether the applicant still wishes to become a foster/pre-adoptive parent. If, after the Department has contacted the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant, the Department does not receive the completed application form within another 30 days, or the Department determines that the applicant no longer wishes to become a foster/pre-adoptive parent, the Department shall note that fact in the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant file and close the file. If the Department was unable to contact the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant, the Department will send written notice of the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant that their file will be closed if the Department does not receive a completed application form within 30 days after mailing the notice to the applicant if the Department does not receive a completed application after the 30th day passes the Department shall note that fact in the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant file and close the file. In either case, if the individual later determines that she/he desires to be a foster/pre-adoptive, she/he shall recommence the process in accordance with 110 CMR 7.100.
(6) After the Department receives the completed foster/pre-adoptive application, the Department shall, arrange for the foster/pre-adoptive applicant to attend the Department's approved foster/pre-adoptive service orientation, education and support training program for the type of foster care they seek to provide. The training program will include, but not be limited to, the information required by 102 CMR 5.10(2). The training is designed to ensure that the foster/pre-adoptive family will provide adequate foster care (including health care), abide by the foster/pre-adoptive parent agreement, and comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. The foster/pre-adoptive applicant's participation will be recorded in the foster/pre-adoptive applicant's record.