Section R501-12-15 - Additional DCFS Kinship and Specified Home Licensure Considerations(1) An applicant may apply for licensure for the placement of a specific foster child or sibling group.(2) The minimum age for a kinship specific applicant is 18 years of age and a kinship applicant is permitted to cohabitate or be legally married.(3) Only the office, an agency contracted by the department or an approved DCFS kinship home study specialist may conduct a kinship specific home study.(4) A minimum of two acceptable reference letters sent in accordance with Subsection R501-12-4(5) are required for a kinship applicant.(5) The foster parent may not accept a placement until the home study, safety inspection, and background screening approvals, are successfully completed, unless the placement is made on an emergency basis as authorized by Section 80-2a-301.(6) The office shall grant a kinship specific probationary license or initial license upon receipt and approval of a completed kinship or specific packet submitted by DCFS. (a) A kinship probationary license expires no later than the last day of the fifth month from the issue date if compliance is not met before that time.(b) The probationary licensee may receive an initial license at any time within the probationary 5 months when compliance with probationary terms is met.(c) A probationary licensee whose probationary terms are not met before the expiration of that license may either expire or extend in corrective or penalty status.(7) A kinship specific home licensee may not accept placement of any foster child other than the foster child, or relatives to that foster child, as designated on the license certificate.(8) If a kinship specific licensee desires to provide general foster care services, they shall complete the following: (a) submit written approval from their DCFS kinship support worker to become a general foster parent to the office and the DCFS contracted recruitment and training agency to initiate required training;(b) close the specific license and submit to the requirements of an initial foster care license to include:(i) complete initial foster care application; and(ii) complete foster care pre-service training series with the exception session #1, if completed within the last 2 years;(c) submit to a home study update interview with their licensor to change child-specific content to general foster parent requirements; and(d) provide any new reference letters as requested.(9) If DCFS does not support a license change, no further licensing action will be taken, unless the issue is disputed and overturned by the office director.(10) In accordance with Section 26B-2-130 and the Indian Child Welfare Act, United States Code, Title 25 Sections 1901-1963, DCFS may request reduced requirements for a kinship specific licensee by submitting a variance request outlining the rules to be varied and how the request does not impact the health and safety of the specific foster child or sibling group. This requires prior written approval by the director of the office before it may become effective.Utah Admin. Code R501-12-15
Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2014-24, effective 11/17/2014Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2015-22, effective 10/23/2015Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2018-6, effective 2/23/2018Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2018-14, effective 7/1/2018Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2020-09, effective 5/11/2020Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2020-11, effective 5/11/2020Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-04, effective 2/1/2023Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-12, effective 5/31/2023