When the agency receives an inquiry from someone interested in being a family care provider, (usually via phone) an initial screening is performed. If the potential providers meet basic criteria for beginning the licensing process, the following information will be mailed to them:
a) Agency Mission and Philosophy Statement/Social Integration Model
b) Family Care Provider Orientation and Agency Study Outline
c) Memorandum of Agreement
d) Questions and Answers about Becoming a Family Care Provider
e) Summary of Steps to Become a Family Care Provider
f) Family Care Provider Checklist for Certification
g) Maple Star Brochure
h) Greetings Letter
If the individual remains interested after reading all of the material, they should call to schedule a site visit by our Family Outreach Worker.
During this initial visit, the following will be distributed to the applicant if we are interested in pursuing licensing:
a) Application
b) Fingerprint Card(s)
c) Release of Information Waiver
d) Central registry check form(s)
e) Three reference letter requests
f) Family Care Provider Questionnaire
The following will be discussed during the initial interview:
a) Core Training/Orientation Requirements
b) Key Agency Policies
c) Tasks necessary to complete licensing
Following the initial interview, if the applicant is still interested, they must return the following items to the office for processing:
a) Three reference letter requests
b) Fingerprint Card(s)
c) Central registry check request form(s)
d) Family Care Provider Questionnaire
Once the items have been received, the applicant will be scheduled for Core Training/Orientation. The Core Training/Orientation will last a minimum of 12 hours. The applicant(s), including the Primary and Secondary Provider, must complete all of the Core Training/Orientation before continuing the licensing process.
The Core Training/Orientation curriculum will include the following topics:
a) Overview of Maple Star Philosophy/Therapuetic Foster Care
b) Administrative Issues and Legal Issues
c) Why children get placed in out-of-home care
d) Childhood Growth and Development
e) Parenting and Family Dynamics
f) Importance of the team approach
g) Agency policies and guidelines.
At that time a "Statement of understanding" is signed.
Participants in the Core Training/Orientation will be given the following materials:
a) State of Colorado Quality Standards
b) Maple Star Colorado Policy and Procedure Manual
Following the completion of the core training, a home health and safety inspection visit will be scheduled by the Placement Supervisor within one week of. Information from that visit as well as the items listed below is used to write a home study.
The written home study will become an important part of the provider's file.
a) Identifying Information
b) Reasons for interest in foster care
c) Previous family care experience
d) Home health and safety
e) For single parents: describe how the single parent handles the dual parenting roles, issues in respect to personal relationships as a result of separation and divorce, how these issues have been addressed and the support systems available to the parent
f) Employment
g) Impact of foster care on applicantÕs marriage and children.
h) Childrearing practices
i) Roles and responsibilities
j) Health of family members
k) Criminal histories
l) School adjustment
m) Handling stress
n) Relationship to extended family
o) Community and neighborhood involvement
p) Assessment and recommendations
o) Views on adoption
Once the written home study is completed, a supervisory visit will take place between the Family Care Coordinator and the Family Care Providers to discuss the home study. The Family Care Providers will be given a copy of the written home study. This copy will be marked "not for distribution."
The family care providers must meet all regulations prior to licensing. This includes completion of a First Aid/CPR class or at a minimum; the family care provider will have the class scheduled.
If one of the parties is no longer interested in licensing the home, the application may be denied, or withdrawn, and a license will not be issued.
Once all items have been completed satisfactorily, and if all parties remain interested in licensing the home, the applicant may be issued a permanent license as a family care provider.
The Placement Supervisor submits the final paperwork to the state for licensure and will sign the Certificate.