Iowa Administrative Code

facilities authorized by Iowa Code chapter 237. Rules relating to specific types of facilities are located in 441—Chapter 113, “Licensing and Regulation of Foster Family Homes,” 441—Chapter 114, “Licensing and Regulation of All Group Living Foster Care Facilities for Children,” 4…

112.10(1) Mandatory reporters. All defined in Iowa Code section 232.69 who, in the scope of professional practice or in their employment responsibilities, examine, attend, counsel, or treat a child and reasonably believe a child has suffered abuse shall make a report in accordanc…

facility shall have an on-site official authorized to apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard as defined in rule 441—202.1(234). Within one year of being identified as an authorized on-site official, each authorized official shall complete the same department-approved tr…

entity being considered for licensure or employment by a licensee on a facility campus where children reside to determine whether any applicant has any founded child abuse reports or criminal convictions or has been placed on a sex offender registry. This rule is intended to impl…

“Administrator,” when used for matters related to licensing, means the administrator of the division of adult, children and family services. “Administrator’s designee:” 1. For group facilities, the administrator’s designee is the chief of the bureau of child welfare and community…

112.3(1) Right to apply. Any adult individual or agency has the right to apply for a license. a. Foster family care. A person wishing to apply to be a foster parent shall contact the department’s recruitment and retention contractor in the applicable service area to request an ap…

112.4(1) A new license shall be obtained when the licensee moves or the facility is remodeled. 112.4(2) A new license shall be requested when the facility wishes to be licensed for a different number of children. 112.4(3) When corrective action is completed on or before the date …

112.5(1) The department shall deny the license application when: a. The minimum standards set forth in these rules are not met and a provisional license is inappropriate or disapproved by the administrator or administrator’s designee. b. For just cause. c. The applicant, as a sol…

112.6(1) Mandatory. The department shall revoke the license for the following reasons unless subrule 112.6(3) applies: a. When the facility is misusing funds furnished by the department. b. When the facility is operating without due regard to the health, sanitation, hygiene, comf…

112.7(1) Time frame for provisional licenses. The administrator may issue a provisional license for not more than one year when a licensee’s facility does not meet the requirements of this chapter and the licensee submits a written corrective action plan that is approved by the a…

shall be given to applicants and licensees in accordance with 441—Chapter 7. Any issues of placement or payment are independent of the licensing decision and right of appeal. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 237.5.

112.9(1) Types of suspension. There are two types of suspension of a license. a. Emergency suspensions are to prevent persons from providing foster care by suspending their license until it is revoked or denied. b. Time-limited suspensions are to prevent persons from providing fo…

family homes. Refer to 441—Chapter 112 for general licensing rules and regulations which apply to all foster care facilities, including foster family homes. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 237.

113.10(1) Information about the child(ren). Foster parents shall maintain a separate folder of information on the child(ren) placed in the home. This folder shall be provided to the department or the child(ren)’s parent or guardian when the child(ren) leave the placement. The fol…

113.11(1) Health report required. The foster parents shall furnish the licensing agency with a health report on the family completed no more than six months before the application for licensure. The report shall include information on all family members, including foster parents,…

113.12(1) Age. a. Foster parents shall be at least 21 years of age. b. The age of foster parents shall be considered as it affects their ability to care for a specific child and function in a parental role. 113.12(2) Income and resources. The foster family shall have sufficient i…

anyone who is 14 years of age or older living in the home of the applicant. The purpose of the record checks is to determine whether any of these persons has any founded child abuse or dependent adult abuse reports or criminal convictions or has been placed on the sex offender re…

113.14(1) At least three additional unsolicited references shall be checked for all foster family home applicants in addition to a minimum of three references provided by the applicant. Required references shall include a minimum of one relative and one nonrelative. 113.14(2) Res…

113.15(1) The department’s recruitment and retention contractor shall make unannounced visits during periods of the day when the child(ren) and foster parents would normally be at home and awake, unless there has been a specific complaint about the family and care of the child(re…

113.16(1) Daily routine. The daily routine shall promote good health and provide an opportunity for activity suitable for the child(ren) with time for rest and play. 113.16(2) Clothing. a. Any child(ren) should have their own clothing. b. Any child(ren) shall have training and he…

113.17(1) Medical and dental care. Foster parents shall keep the child(ren)’s department case manager informed of any medical and dental appointments and treatments prescribed for the child(ren). a. Foster parents shall contact the child(ren)’s parents to engage them in the proce…

113.18(1) Foster parents’ methods of training and discipline. The home study evaluation of each foster parent applicant shall include a discussion and a written report of the foster parents’ methods of training and discipline. Discipline shall be designed to help the child(ren) d…

113.19(1) Supervision and arrangements for emergency care. a. Foster parents shall provide supervision of the child(ren) in preadoptive placement as dictated by the individual child’s specific needs. b. In case of emergency requiring the foster parents’ temporary absence from the…

“Age- or developmentally appropriate activities” means activities or items that are generally accepted as suitable for children of the same chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a child, based on the development of cog…

recruitment and retention contractor within seven working days of: 1. Any change in the number of persons living in the home (except for the child(ren) placed in the home); 2. A move to a new home; or 3. Any circumstances in the home that could negatively affect the health, safet…

113.3(1) Application. Applications for an initial license to operate a foster family home shall be submitted and processed as directed in rule 441—112.3(237). In addition to the application form, the applicant shall submit the following forms during the licensing process: a. Form…

or area social work administrator may waive any non-safety licensing standard for a kinship caregiver or grant a variance for any standard for a non-kinship caregiver in this chapter unless: 1. The requirement is set in state or federal law; or 2. The waiver or variance could hav…

113.5(1) General standards. The foster home shall be safe, clean, well ventilated, properly lighted, properly heated, and free from vermin and rodents to ensure the well-being of the child(ren) residing in the home. 113.5(2) Grounds. a. There shall be safe outdoor space provided …

113.6(1) Food preparation and storage. Food preparation areas shall be clean, and the home shall have kitchen facilities with a sink, refrigerator, stove, and oven in safe operating condition. 113.6(2) Public water supply. The water supply is approved when the water is obtained f…

113.7(1) Fire protection for bedrooms. Any floor of a house, including the basement, shall be equipped with the following: a. At least one UL (Underwriter’s Laboratory)-approved smoke detector. On floors that are used for sleeping, the smoke detector shall be in a location where …

113.8(1) Preservice training. All foster parent applicants shall complete the following training before licensure and the placement of the child(ren) in their home: a. Orientation pursuant to rule 441—117.2(237); b. Preservice training pursuant to rule 441—117.1(237); c. Preservi…

113.9(1) Support by foster parents. Foster parents shall support the involvement of biological or adoptive parents and other relatives of the child(ren) unless this involvement is evaluated and documented by the department to be detrimental to the child(ren)’s well-being. 113.9(2…

facilities and contains the basic standards applicable to community residential facilities for children. Additional standards applicable to specific levels of group living are discussed in 441—Chapter 115, “Licensing and Regulation of Comprehensive Residential Facilities for Chil…

114.10(1) Evaluation services. a. When evaluation services are provided by staff of the facility, the services shall be clearly defined so that referral sources are clear about the components of the service. b. Evaluations shall be based on behavioral observations, social history…

procedures governing the methods of handling prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs within the facility. No prescription or narcotic drugs are to be allowed in the facility without the authorization of a licensed physician or authorized prescriber. 114.12(1) Approved drugs…

114.13(1) Policies in writing. All policies and procedures covered in this rule shall be in writing and provided to the child and parents or guardian upon the child’s admission to the facility. The rationale and circumstances of any deviation from these policies shall be discusse…

114.14(1) Belongings. A facility shall allow a child in care to bring personal belongings and to acquire belongings in accordance with the child’s service plan. However, the facility shall, as necessary, limit or supervise the use of these items while the child is in care. 114.14…

114.15(1) Facility orientation. A facility shall have a written description of its religious orientation, particular religious practices that are observed, and any religious restrictions. This description shall be provided to the child, the parent(s) or guardian, and the placing …

114.16(1) Written description. The facility shall have a written statement of any work and vocational experiences available to children. 114.16(2) Program component. Work as part of the program shall be identified in the child’s case plan. 114.16(3) Self-care. Ordinary self-care …

involvement that shall encourage continued involvement of the family with the child. [ARC 6962C, IAB 4/5/23, effective 6/1/23]

114.18(1) Treatment of funds. Money earned, received as a gift, or as an allowance by a child in care shall be deemed to be that child’s personal property. 114.18(2) Limitations. The facility shall have a written policy on limitations on the child’s use of funds. 114.18(3) Record…

and specify reporting and enforcement procedures for the facility. Alleged violations shall be reported immediately to the director of the facility and the department of human services centralized abuse hotline. Any employee found to be in violation of Iowa Code chapter 232, subc…

114.20(1) Generally. The facility shall have written policies regarding methods used for control and discipline of children which shall be available to all staff and to the child’s family. Agency staff shall be in control of and responsible for discipline at all times. Discipline…

114.21(1) Notification of illness. A facility shall notify the child’s parent(s), guardian and responsible agency of any serious illness, incident involving serious bodily injury, circumstances causing removal of the child from the facility, or elopement. 114.21(2) Notification o…

department of human services for retention according to the department’s records retention policy or the period defined in the department’s contract for services, whichever is longer. [ARC 4793C, IAB 12/4/19, effective 1/8/20; ARC 6962C, IAB 4/5/23, effective 6/1/23]

114.23(1) Frequency. a. Time. At least one annual unannounced visit shall occur during periods of the day when the child would normally be in the facility and awake. b. Activities. The visit shall include an assessment of, but not be limited to, the following areas: (1) Interacti…

for licensure or employment by a licensee on a facility campus where children reside to determine whether any founded child abuse reports or criminal convictions exist or whether the entity has been placed on a sex offender registry. The facility shall not employ any person who h…