DCF 56.20 DCF 56.20 Evaluation of Level 3 to 5. At least annually, a foster parent who operates a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification and the licensing, placing, and supervising agencies shall develop written evaluations of the care and supervision provided to a child and the overall performance of all individuals involved in the child’s care. The evaluations shall be used to improve the quality of the child’s care and the foster care program. Copies of any evaluations shall be maintained at the licensing agency and at the foster home.

DCF 56.20 History History: EmR1050: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: cr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11.

DCF 56.21 DCF 56.21 Respite care for foster parents.

DCF 56.21(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to care provided in either of the following circumstances:

DCF 56.21(1)(a) (a) Services or emergency care provided to a foster child during a planned absence of the foster parent for more than 48 hours.

DCF 56.21(1)(b) (b) Care for a foster child during the foster parent’s absence that is paid for by a licensing, supervising, or placing agency.

DCF 56.21(2) (2) Licensing agency responsibilities. A licensing agency shall do all of the following:

DCF 56.21(2)(a) (a) Develop policies and procedures to govern the agency’s respite care program.

DCF 56.21(2)(b) (b) Inform a foster parent of the process to be used to fund respite care prior to the first placement of a child in a foster home.

DCF 56.21(2)(c) (c) Assist and intervene when issues arise between a foster parent and the respite care provider if the parties are not able to resolve those issues.

DCF 56.21(2)(d) (d) Keep documentation of a respite care provider’s qualifications in the foster parent’s file at the licensing agency.

DCF 56.21(2)(e) (e) For respite care in foster homes with a Level 3 or 4 certification, the licensing agency shall do all of the following:

DCF 56.21(2)(e)1. 1. Develop, in consultation with foster parents, a pool of respite care providers that will be used when respite care is provided. If the respite care is to be provided in a foster home, the foster parent may approve the use of a particular respite care provider.

DCF 56.21(2)(e)2. 2. Provide training and support to respite care providers.

DCF 56.21(2)(e)3. 3. Consult with a foster parent and the child’s social worker or supervising agency caseworker to develop a respite care schedule for a specific child and provide the schedule to the respite care providers.

DCF 56.21(3) (3) Respite care provider qualifications. A respite care provider shall have the following qualifications:

DCF 56.21(3)(a) (a) Be at least 18 years of age and at least 5 years older than any foster child being cared for by the respite provider, except if the respite care provider is a relative of the child, be at least 3 years older than the child.

DCF 56.21(3)(b) (b) Have direct care experience or training in working with children with conditions similar to those of the foster child for whom the respite care provider will be caring.

DCF 56.21(3)(c) (c) Be physically able to provide the care needed.

DCF 56.21(3)(d) (d) Be flexible and willing to work varied, atypical hours.

DCF 56.21(3)(e) (e) Be able to reliably get to and from respite care assignments.

DCF 56.21(3)(f) (f) Have the ability to do all of the following:

DCF 56.21(3)(f)1. 1. Accept responsibility.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)2. 2. Work independently.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)3. 3. Exercise good judgment.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)4. 4. Maintain confidentiality.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)5. 5. Manage the varied medical, behavioral, and other care needs of the foster children for whom the respite care provider will be caring.

DCF 56.21(3)(g) (g) Reside in a home that meets the physical, safety, and environmental needs of the foster child for whom care is to be provided if the respite care is to be provided in the respite care provider’s residence.

DCF 56.21(3)(h) (h) Authorize the licensing or supervising agency to conduct a criminal records check as described in s. DCF 56.05 (1) (f).