Section R6-5-6904. Licensing Requirements

A.      Consultation. Individuals, association, institutions or corpora- tions considering the establishment of a Child Placing Agency shall consult the Social Services Bureau of the department about such plans:

1.        Before a specific program is developed;

2.        Before filing a petition for corporation; and

3.        Before an application is filed.

B.       Application. Individuals, associations, institutions or corpora- tions shall make written application to the Department for a Child Placing Agency license.

C.      Fingerprints

1.        All members of the Child Placing Agency staff having contact with the foster children must be fingerprinted, and the fingerprints submitted to the Department for a criminal records check.

2.        A license for a Child Placing Agency will not be issued, or will be revoked, if any staff member, having contact with foster children has ever been convicted of a sex offense, has been involved in child abuse, child neglect, selling narcotics, or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, or has a substantial criminal record.

D.      Demonstration of need for services in the community. Evi- dence of need shall consist of:

1.        Communication from community leaders in the field of child welfare indicating a need for the services proposed by the applicant or

2.        Recent research data establishing a need for the services being proposed by the applicant.

E.       Licensing study

1.        A study will be made as required by A.R.S. § 8-505(C) by an authorized representative of the Department to evaluate the potential and actual ability of the Child Plac- ing Agency to provide services to children according to the Standards prescribed in this Article.

2.        To obtain this information, the authorized representative of the Department must make at least one visit to evaluate the agency setting and interview the Director and staff.

3.        In addition, the authorized representative of the Depart- ment shall review documentary evidence provided by the Executive Director of the Child Placing Agency regard- ing agency operation and services to be provided.

F.       Provisional license

1.        A provisional license shall be issued to any Child Placing Agency that is temporarily unable to conform to all licensing standards, and where the deficiencies are minor, correctable and not potentially injurious to the safety or welfare of the children served, and where the agency agrees to correct the deficiencies, and where there is a demonstrated need for the services.

2.        A provisional license is valid for up to six months and may not be renewed.

3.        Prior to the expiration of the provisional license, a review of Standards will be conducted by the Department to determine eligibility for regular licensing. The Child Placing Agency must meet all licensing standards for the issuance of a regular license.

G.      Regular license

1.        The license is valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually.

2.        Each license shall state in general terms the kind of child welfare services the licensee is authorized to undertake; and the number of children that can be received or placed and supervised in foster homes, their ages and sex, and the geographical area the agency is equipped to serve (A.R.S. § 8-505(D)).

H.      Supervision by the Department. The Department shall provide training, consultation and technical assistance to Child Placing Agencies.

Historical Note

Adopted effective August 31, 1978 (Supp. 78-4).