North Carolina Administrative Code

10A NCAC 70E .0803 ASSESSMENT PROCESS (a) The supervising agency shall advise the applicants at the first contact with the agency of the North Carolina licensing requirements for foster care. The supervising agency shall make a decision whether to continue a mutual home assessmen…

10A NCAC 70E .0804 USE OF REFERENCES References shall be used to supplement the information obtained through interviews and observation regarding the applicants. All adult members of the foster home shall provide three references to the supervising agency. History Note: Authority…

10A NCAC 70E .0805 PERIODIC REASSESSMENT OF HOME (a) A family or therapeutic foster home shall be reassessed annually by the supervising agency. (b) Reassessment shall include a mutual assessment with the foster parents of their strengths, skills, and abilities to provide care fo…

10A NCAC 70E .0806 AGENCY FOSTER PARENT AGREEMENT The supervising agency Foster Parents Agreement, defining each party's rights and obligations shall be reviewed and signed by the foster parents and the licensing worker at the time of the initial licensing and no less than bienni…

section .0900 – forms 10A NCAC 70E .0901 LICENSE APPLICATION Application for a license shall be made on a form provided by the licensing authority. The supervising agency director or his/her designee shall sign the form and thereby indicate both the home meets the licensing stand…

10A NCAC 70E .0902 AGENCY FOSTER PARENTS' AGREEMENT (a) Foster parents shall sign an agreement pursuant to which the foster parents shall: (1) allow a representative of the supervising agency to visit the home in conjunction with licensing procedures, foster care planning, and pl…

10A NCAC 70E .0903 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES INTERCOUNTY AGREEMENT (a) Before children are placed in a foster home in a county (the supervising county) other than the county of their home (the responsible county), the two county departments of social services shall agree in w…

SECTION .1000 - CAPACITY 10A NCAC 70E .1001 FOSTER HOME (a) No more than five children shall reside in any family foster home at any time. These five children include the foster parent's own children, children placed for family foster care, licensed capacity for in-home day care …

SECTION .1100 – STANDARDS FOR LICENSING 10A NCAC 70E .1101 CLIENT RIGHTS (a) Foster parents shall ensure that each foster child: (1) has clothing to wear that is appropriate to the weather; (2) is allowed to have personal property; (3) is encouraged to express opinions on issues …

10A NCAC 70E .1102 MEDICATION Foster parents are responsible for the following regarding medication: (1) General requirements: (a) retain the manufacturer's label with expiration dates visible on non-prescription drug containers not dispensed by a pharmacist; (b) administer presc…

10A NCAC 70E .1103 PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS (a) Foster parents who utilize physical restraint holds shall not engage in discipline or behavior management that includes: (1) protective or mechanical restraints; (2) a drug used as a restraint, except as outlined in Paragraph (b) of this…

10A NCAC 70E .1104 CRITERIA FOR THE FAMILY (a) Foster parents shall be persons whose behaviors, circumstances, and health are conducive to the safety and well-being of children. Foster parents shall be selected on the basis of demonstrating strengths in the skill areas of Subpara…

10A NCAC 70E .1105 CONFLICT OF INTEREST (a) County departments of social services and private child-placing agencies shall not supervise foster homes of members of their board of directors, governance structure, social services board, and county commission. (b) County departments…

10A NCAC 70E .1106 DAY CARE CENTER OPERATIONS If a licensed foster parent operates or plans to operate a day care center, the following criteria shall be met: (1) the foster home living quarters shall not be part of the day care operation; (2) there shall be a separate entrance t…

10A NCAC 70E .1107 RELATIONSHIP TO SUPERVISING AGENCY (a) Foster parents shall agree to work with the supervising agency in the following ways: (1) work with the child and the child's parent or guardian in the placement process, reunification process, adoption process, and any ch…

10A NCAC 70E .1108 Fire and building safety (a) Each foster home shall be in compliance with all applicable portions of the NC Residential Code in effect at the time the foster home was constructed or last renovated. Information regarding the purchase of all applicable volumes of…

10A NCAC 70E .1109 HEALTH REGULATIONS The supervising agency shall have a discussion regarding water quality and sanitation with the applicants. The supervising agency shall document the date the discussion was held and include a statement that the family is not aware of any heal…

10A NCAC 70E .1110 environmental regulations (a) The home and yard shall be maintained and repaired so that they are not hazardous to the children in care. (b) The house shall be kept free of uncontrolled rodents and insects. (c) Windows and doors used for ventilation shall be sc…

10A NCAC 70E .1111 room arrangements (a) Each home shall have a family room to meet the needs of the family including children placed for foster care. (b) The kitchen shall be large enough for preparation of food and cleaning of dishes. Each home shall have a dining area to meet …

10A NCAC 70E .1112 exterior setting and safety The exterior spaces around the foster home, including any yard spaces shall be clear of any dangerous objects or hazardous items including access to water, such as swimming pools, beaches, rivers, lakes, or streams. Access to such ha…

10A NCAC 70E .1113 LICENSING COMPLIANCE VISITS Quarterly Visits. Licensing social workers of supervising agencies shall visit with the foster family on at least a quarterly basis for the specific purpose of assessing licensing requirements. Two of the quarterly visits each year s…

10A NCAC 70E .1114 CRIMINAL HISTORIES (a) An applicant shall not be licensed if the applicant, or any member of the applicant's household 18 years of age or older, refuses to consent to a criminal history check required by G.S. 131D, Article 1A. (b) An applicant or any member of …

10A NCAC 70E .1115 REsponsible individuals list (a) An applicant is not eligible for licensure if the applicant has within the last five years been substantiated for abuse or serious neglect and is placed on the Responsible Individuals List as defined in North Carolina General St…

10A NCAC 70E .1116 CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS (a) The supervising agency shall complete the following activities at initial licensure for new foster parent applicants and any member of the prospective foster parents' household who is 18 years of age or older: (1) furnish the written…

10A NCAC 70E .1117 TRAINING REQUIREMENTS Each supervising agency shall provide, or cause to be provided, preservice and in-service training for all prospective and licensed foster parents as follows: (1) Prior to licensure or within six months from the date a provisional license …

subchapter 70F – child placing agencies and residential maternity homes section .0100 – general 10A NCAC 70F .0101 SCOPE The rules in this Subchapter apply to agencies that receive children for the purpose of placement in family foster homes, therapeutic foster homes, adoptive ho…

10A NCAC 70f .0102 LICENSURE History Note: Authority G.S. 131D-1; 131D-10.3; 131D-10.5; 131D-10.10; 143B-153; Eff. February 1, 1986; Amended Eff. July 18, 2002; July 1, 1990; Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 2003; Amended Eff. October 1, 2008; August 1, 2004; Repealed Eff. August…

SECTION .0200 - organization and administration 10A NCAC 70F .0201 GOVERNANCE (a) A private child-placing agency and residential maternity home shall have a governing body that exercises authority and has responsibility for its operation, policies, and practices. The private chil…

10A NCAC 70F .0202 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOVERNING BODY (a) The governing body shall provide leadership for the agency and shall approve the agency's policies and programs. (b) The governing body shall employ an executive director who is located in the agency's administrative o…

10A NCAC 70F .0203 FINANCES, FEEs AND INSURANCE (a) Child-placing agencies and residential maternity homes shall have a written line item budget, showing planned expenditures and revenues available to operate the agency for a 12 month period. A copy of the budget shall be submitt…

10A NCAC 70F .0204 AGENCY SETTING (a) The agency shall maintain an administrative office within the geographical boundaries of North Carolina from which the activities carried out under the North Carolina license are handled. (b) The agency shall provide and maintain office space…

10A NCAC 70F .0205 RESPONSIBILITY TO LICENSING AUTHORITY (a) The agency shall submit, biennially to the licensing authority, the information and materials to document compliance with the licensure rules and to support issuance of a license. (b) The agency shall submit to the lice…

10A NCAC 70F .0206 PERSONNEL POLICIES (a) The agency shall have written policies for all employees (full-time, part-time and contracted) which include the following: (1) written job descriptions and titles for each position defining the qualifications, duties, and lines of author…

10A NCAC 70F .0207 STAFF (a) The agency shall verify prior to employment the personal qualifications of employees through at least three references. (b) The agency shall require that each applicant provide a signed statement that the applicant has no criminal, social or medical h…

10A NCAC 70F .0208 CONFIDENTIALITY (a) The agency shall develop and enforce a policy on confidentiality that: (1) identifies the individuals with access to or control over confidential information; (2) specify that persons who have access to records or specified information in a …

10A NCAC 70F .0214 NORMALCY FOR FOSTER CHILDREN (a) Child placing agencies and residential maternity homes shall develop and follow policies and procedures to implement the reasonable and prudent parent standard established in G.S. 131D-10.2A. (b) The agency shall demonstrate com…

section .0400 – general 10A NCAC 70G .0401 SCOPE The rules in this Subchapter apply to persons who receive children for the purpose of placement in family foster homes and therapeutic foster homes. Persons licensed or seeking a license to provide family foster care and therapeuti…

10A NCAC 70G .0402 DEFINITIONS The following definitions shall apply to the rules in Subchapter 70G: (1) "Agency" means a child placing agency as defined in G.S. 131D-10.2 that is authorized by law to receive children for purposes of placement in foster homes or adoptive homes. (…

10A NCAC 70G .0403 LICENSURE (a) License. (1) Licensure is required in accordance with G.S. 131D-10.3 and with rules in Subchapters 70F and 70G of this Chapter. (2) Licenses shall be in effect for two years unless suspended or revoked. Appeal procedures specified in 10A NCAC 70L …

SECTION .0500 - MINIMUM LICENSING STANDARDS 10A NCAC 70G .0501 PERSONNEL (a) The executive director shall manage and administer the agency in accordance with licensing requirements and policies of the governing body. The executive director shall meet the requirements of a Social …

10A NCAC 70G .0502 APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES (a) The policies for acceptance of an applicant for services shall be in writing and shall relate to the stated purpose of the agency. (b) Acceptance of an applicant for services shall be limited to those for whom the agency…

10A NCAC 70G .0503 PLACEMENT SERVICES (a) The agency shall assist the parents or guardian to assume or resume their parental roles and responsibilities as specified in the out-of-home family services agreement or person-centered plan. (b) The agency shall assist the parents or gu…

10A NCAC 70G .0504 OUT-OF-HOME FAMILY SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING FAMILY FOSTER CARE SERVICES (a) The agency shall develop a written out-of-home family services agreement within 30 days of admission of a child in a family foster home. The out-of-home family services…

10A NCAC 70G .0505 PERSON-CENTERED PLAN FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE SERVICES (a) When therapeutic foster care services are provided, the agency shall complete an assessment for each child prior to the delivery of services that shall include: (1) the child's pre…

10A NCAC 70G .0506 CLIENT RECORDS (a) The agency shall maintain an individual record for each child receiving foster care services that contains: (1) an application for services that includes: (A) demographic information about the child, including name, address, sex, race, birth …

10A NCAC 70G .0507 CLIENT RIGHTS (a) The agency shall develop and implement policies and procedures to protect the individual rights and dignity of children and families who are provided services by the agency. (b) The agency shall have a client's and family's rights policy that …

10A NCAC 70G .0508 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES (a) The agency shall provide to each child and parents, guardian or legal custodian, upon placement: (1) a written description of policies and procedures that the child and parents, guardian or legal custodian follow to register complaints;…

10A NCAC 70g .0509 SEARCHES (a) The agency shall have written policies and procedures regarding foster parents conducting searches of children's rooms and possessions that shall be discussed with the parents, guardian or legal custodian, and child prior to or upon placement. (b) …

10A NCAC 70g .0510 HeALTH SERVICES (a) The agency shall have written policies and procedures regarding foster parents administering medications to children placed in their home that shall be discussed with each child and the child's parents, guardian, or legal custodian prior to …

10A NCAC 70g .0511 HOME-SCHOOLING (a) The agency shall have written policies and procedures regarding foster parents providing home-schooling to children placed in their home that shall be discussed with the child and the child's parents, guardian or legal custodian prior to or u…