7 AAC 56.550. Foster home study

(a) An agency shall conduct a foster home study for all family applicants being considered as a foster family home or foster group home of the agency. The home study report must state the number of interviews and visits included in the home study process. The home study process must include at least the following:

(1) one face to face interview with all individuals living in the home of the applicant;

(2) one on-site home visit;

(3) an assessment of the capabilities, willingness and readiness of the prospective foster parent to properly parent a child not born to the individual.

(b) The agency shall obtain available information about the foster home applicants regarding

(1) motivation for providing foster care;

(2) level of preparedness for foster care, including how the family responded to orientation and other preparation information;

(3) physical, mental, emotional, and other health status information of all individuals living in the home in relation to the family's ability to properly parent a child in foster care;

(4) results of a check for all adults living in the home of abuse, violence or criminal background and an evaluation of the suitability of the home in light of any finding of such history;

(5) quality of marital and family relationships in relation to the family's ability to properly parent a child in foster care;

(6) attitude of the extended family and friends regarding foster care, adoption or guardianship;

(7) applicant's feelings about the applicant's childhood and parents, including any history of abuse or neglect and the applicant's resolution of such experience;

(8) values, feelings, and practices in regard to parenting, child discipline, and care;

(9) sensitivity to, and feelings about, children and youth who have committed delinquent acts or who may have been subjected to abuse, neglect, separation from, and loss of their biological family;

(10) sensitivity to, and feelings about, birth families of children in foster care and expectations and capacity to have an on-going relationship with the birth family;

(11) sensitivity to, and feelings about, different socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic groups in relation to the family's ability to properly parent a child in foster care and to assist in maintaining the cultural or ethnic identity of children from different backgrounds;

(12) sensitivity to, and feelings about, maintaining sibling relationships;

(13) expectations of, and plans for, children in foster care; and

(14) behavior, background, special needs status, or other characteristics of a potential child in foster care that the family can and cannot accept and why, and a discussion of the prospective foster parents' preparation, willingness, and ability to provide proper care for such a child.

(c) Child placing workers responsible for the foster home study shall evaluate information obtained during the study process and shall make specific recommendations about the family's capacity to work with children. The recommendations must address characteristics of children appropriate for placement in the foster home, including age, sex, special needs, and number of children.

History: Eff. 1/1/2001, Register 156

Authority: AS 44.29.020

AS 47.35.010

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