Section 17-1625-10 - Issuance of certificate of approval(a) The department or agency shall issue a certificate of approval on the basis of a study which determined that the resource family home met the licensing requirements in this chapter. The certificate of approval shall specify: (1) The name and address of the persons to whom the certificate of approval is issued;(2) The maximum number of foster children permitted;(3) The period for which the certificate is effective;(4) The specific child-placing agency, when applicable; and(5) The child's name if the home has been approved for a specific child.(b) If the resource family home under study will accept only a specific child or a child for whom service is requested is already living in the resource family home, the department may issue a certificate of approval for a specific child if the home satisfactorily meets licensing requirements. (1) Studies on all resource family homes for a specific child shall be initiated prior to or on the date the child is placed or prior to or on the date the department assumed' placement responsibility of the child.(2) A provisional certificate of approval, not to exceed sixty days, unless otherwise approved by the department may be issued to a resource family home that is unable to meet all the requirements at the time of the study, if it is reasonable to assume that all licensing requirements will be met within sixty days and that there are no risks to the health, safety, or well-being of a child.(3) Placement preference shall be given to relatives who are able to meet licensing requirements for a provisional certificate of approval.(c) Depending on the amount of supervision and monitoring needed, the certificate of approval shall be effective for a period of one year from the date of issue, or the certificate of approval shall be effective for a period of two years from the date of issue, when the following criteria are met: (1) The resource family fully met all licensing requirements and will need minimum supervision and monitoring; and(2) The resource family has no health condition, physical or emotional, which may adversely affect the resource family's ability to care for children.(d) The certificate of approval shall not be transferable and shall become invalid when: (1) The person to whom the certificate of approval is issued ceases to- operate a resource family home;(2) There is a change in residence;(3) The home accepts more than the maximum number of children for which the home is approved; or(4) A specific child for whom the home was approved is no longer in the home.(e) The certificate of approval shall be available for inspection at the resource family home.(f) After the issuance of a certificate of approval, the resource family shall ensure that employees hired by the resource family to work in the resource family home comply with section 17-1625-17(a) within five working days of employment.(g) The agency may request the resource family to terminate the employment of an employee who has a criminal history or background which poses a risk to children. Refusal by the resource family to terminate the employment of an employee when requested under this section shall be grounds for revocation or suspension of a certificate of approval.(h) The licensing of a resource family home shall not obligate the agency to place children in the home. The license shall mean only that the agency has evaluated the resource family home and has determined that the resource family home meets the rules governing resource family homes.Haw. Code R. § 17-1625-10
[Eff DEC 09 2010] (Auth: HRS §§ 346-14, 346-17) (Imp: HRS § 346-17)