N.H. Admin. Code § He-C 6347.11

Current through Register No. 1, January 2, 2025

Section He-C 6347.11 - Requirements for Adolescent Care Credential

(a) In addition to being in compliance with He-C 6446, a foster parent seeking an adolescent care credential shall:

(1) Have at least one year of experience as a foster parent;

(2) Provide one written reference from a professional, such as a currently licensed foster parent, physician, therapist, or teacher who has personal knowledge of the foster parent's ability to observe and assess adolescent behavior;

(3) Provide one written reference from a CPSW or a JPPO who is familiar with the foster parent's experience and knowledge of working with adolescent children in foster care; and

(4) Complete 22 hours of DCYF-approved pre-service training related to adolescent care, including information on:

a. Introduction to being an adolescent foster home;

b. Caring for adolescents;

c. Understanding adolescent development and attachment; and

d. The foster parent's role in future planning and preparing youth for adulthood.

(b) A foster parent providing adolescent care shall complete a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training during the 2year licensing period, 12 hours of which shall focus on enabling the foster parent to strengthen or develop competencies to meet the needs of the youth in their care.

(c) A foster parent providing adolescent care shall provide enhanced support for a youth placed in his or her home by:

(1) Providing modeling and instruction to the youth on adult living preparation including:

a. The development of life skills;

b. The process to identify and access resources;

c. Assisting the youth in gaining employment and volunteer opportunities;

d. Assisting the youth in applying to college or a career training program and with other aftercare planning as needed;

e. Supporting the youth participating in extracurricular activities and opportunities for the DCYF's adolescent program sponsored activities; and

f. Assisting the youth with transition and post care planning at least 6 months before the youth will leave foster care;

(2) Implementing the adult living preparation process in consultation with the CPSW or JPPO and the youth by:

a. Completing the DHHS curriculum for preparing youth for adulthood with the youth; and

b. Developing an adult living preparation plan with the youth by completing and submitting the "Adult Living Preparation Plan" Form 1695 (January 2015 edition), signed by both the provider and the youth;

(3) Ensuring that the youth has opportunities and supports to meet his or her case plan goals for permanency, including but not limited to:

a. The opportunity to make positive connections with family, friends, and community members including a commitment to a long-term relationship and connection to the youth beyond the DCYF closure of the youth's case or when the youth attains the age of 18 years or 21 years if jurisdiction is extended pursuant to RSA 170-E:53; and

b. Collaborating with the CPSW or JPPO and the court in identifying a primary caring adult for the youth, if the court-ordered permanency goal is another planned permanency living arrangement, in compliance with the New Hampshire circuit court's "Protocols Relative to RSA 169-C Post- Permanency Hearings for Older Youth with a Permanency Plan of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA)" available at https://www.courts.state.nh.us/fdpp/Protocols-Relative-to-RSA-169-C.pdf;

(4) Supporting the foster children's bill of rights as set forth in RSA 170-G:21 by signing and submitting to DCYF Form 1960 "Bill of Rights for New Hampshire Youth in Care" (August 2015 edition);

(5) Providing care and supervision for no more than 2 youths who require adolescent foster care services at any one time; and

(6) Participating in planning for the youth in care by attending:

a. Scheduled monthly meetings with DCYF staff and the youth in the home;

b. Treatment team meetings, school meetings, including individualized education program meetings, family assessment and inclusive reunification review meetings, and court reviews; and

c. The youth's 90 day transition meeting as requested by the youth.

(d) DCYF with the assistance of the youth and the foster parent providing adolescent care shall complete the documentation for the adult living preparation plan as follows:

(1) The "Needs Assessment for Adult Living," Form 1690 (January 2015) within 30 days of placement. The completed, dated, and signed form shall be dated and signed by the youth and the youth's CPSW or JPPO;

(2) A life skills assessment provided by DCYF within 30 days of placement;

(3) A career assessment provided by DCYF, within 60 days of placement;

(4) The "Adult Living Preparation Plan," Form 1695 (January 2015), submitted within 60 days of placement and updated annually thereafter, which shall incorporate the results of the career assessment in (3) above and any follow-up tasks to be completed by the youth or member of the treatment team. The completed form shall be signed and dated by the youth and the foster parent; and

(5) The "Post Care Plan" Form 1984 (June 2020), 30 days prior to the youth's 18th birthday, or within 30 days of the youth's planned discharge if the youth will not discharge upon the youth's 18th birthday. The completed form shall be signed and dated by the youth, the youth's CPSW or JPPO, and any other individual who has reviewed the form such as the parent and placement provider.

(e) If acting as the current placement provider, a foster parent providing adolescent care shall complete necessary documentation as follows:

(1) Track daily living skill acquisition, and school and employment attendance;

(2) By the 10th of each month, complete and submit to the CPSW or JPPO a written monthly report on the progress of the youth towards the goals established in the "Adult Living Preparation Plan," Form 1695 (January 2015); and

(3) For each calendar month, complete a Form 1969 "Monthly National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Checklist" (June 2020) and submit to the CPSW or JPPO, documenting support provided for the NYTD categories as follows:

a. Academic support;

b. Budget and financial management;

c. Career preparation;

d. Employment programs and vocational training;

e. Family support and healthy marriage education;

f. Health education and risk prevention;

g. Housing education and home management;

h. Mentoring; and

i. Post-secondary educational support.

N.H. Admin. Code § He-C 6347.11

(See Revision Note at part heading for He-C 6347) #9266, eff 9-20-08

Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 41, Filed October 13, 2016, Proposed by #11181, Effective 9/19/2016, Expires 3/18/2017.

Amended by Volume XXXVII Number 15, Filed April 13, 2017, Proposed by #12134, Effective 3/18/2017, Expires 3/18/2027.

Amended by Volume XL Number 28, Filed July 9, 2020, Proposed by #13055, Effective 6/16/2020, Expires 6/16/2030.