Family Foster Care Licensing Changes 622-05-20-10

(Revised 4/26/2017 ML #3503)

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PI 18-07

 

 

Licensed ND family foster homes can experience various changes in their family setting while licensed to provide foster care for children. Foster parents must notify the authorized licensing agent of the changes as soon as they are aware the change is coming or has occurred. The authorized licensing agent must assess the situation and provide written documentation of their assessment to the Regional Supervisor within 45 days of the change. The Regional Supervisor will have 15 days to review and approve the changes as a temporary licensing period may not exceed 60 days. It is critical that during initial and ongoing licensing visits the authorized licensing agent worker educates the foster parent/s about the importance of notifying the agency when changes occur or are expected to occur. Below are examples of changes a foster family may encounter throughout their licensure.

  1. Foster home has a change in family composition (parental marriage occurs, a new child or adult joins the family unit, grandparent moves in, etc.
    1. The foster family must complete a new initial application (SFN 893) as soon as possible,
    2. Background checks for any new adult living in the home must be completed as soon as possible.
    3. The licensing worker must meet with the family and update the home study (SFN 889) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    4. The licensing worker will update and enter pertinent information into the payment system under the same provider number.
    5. The licensing worker must forward the updated paperwork to the Regional Supervisor within 45 days of the change.

  2. Foster home moves to a new address in the same County:
    1. The licensing worker must visit and assess the new physical location within seven days.
    2. The licensing worker will update the home study (SFN 889) after the onsite walk through as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    3. The licensing worker will update and enter pertinent information into the payment system under the same provider number.
      1. The provider can retain their original ND provider number.
      2. If the new property is not viewed within seven days, the family will be considered a “prospective foster family” and a new fingerprint-based criminal background check will be required to begin the process of licensing again.
    1. The licensing worker must forward the updated paperwork to the Regional Supervisor within 45 days of the change.
  1. Transition from a county foster home to therapeutic foster home:
    1. The foster family must sign a release of information for the two agencies to communicate regarding licensing paperwork.
    2. The new licensing agent worker must review and update the recent application (SFN 893 or SFN 400) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    3. The licensing worker must review and update the recent home study (SFN 889) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    4. The licensing worker must forward the updated paperwork to the Regional Supervisor within 45 days of the change.
    5. The Regional Supervisor will update and enter pertinent information into the payment system:
      1. The county must close the license in CCWIPS when a county foster home license ends.
      2. A new provider number must be issued.
      3. The therapeutic family foster care home provider number must be assigned. The start date of the therapeutic license must be consecutive with the end date of the county license.
    1. If there is any lapse in days between the close date and the start date, the family will be considered a “prospective foster family” and a new fingerprint-based criminal background check will be required to begin the process of licensing again.

  2. Transition from a therapeutic foster home to a county foster home:
    1. The family must sign a release of information for the two agencies to communicate regarding licensing paperwork.
    2. The new licensing agent must review and update the recent application (SFN 893 or SFN 400) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    3. The new licensing agent must review and update the recent home study (SFN 889) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    4. The licensing worker will update and enter pertinent information into the payment system under the same provider number:
      1. The start date of the county license must be consecutive with the end date of the therapeutic foster care license.
      2. A new provider number is not needed. Add the application and home study under that original provider number.
      3. In order to avoid payment errors, provide new family direct deposit information to CFS immediately. All therapeutic providers are set up in the payment system under the Licensed Child Placing Agency (ex: PATH) banking information not to the family directly.
    1. If there is any lapse in days between the close date and the start date, the family will be considered a “prospective foster family” and a new fingerprint-based criminal background check will be required to begin the process of licensing again.
    2. The licensing worker must forward the updated paperwork to the Regional Supervisor within 45 days of the change.

  3. County foster home moves from one County to another County:
    1. The sending county must notify the receiving county that the family will be moving.
    2. The family must sign a release of information for the two agencies to communicate, as well as provide all required licensing paperwork to assist the receiving county with the transition.
    3. The new licensing agent must visit and assess the new physical location within seven days.
    4. The new licensing agent must review and update the recent application (SFN 893 or SFN 400) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    5. The new licensing agent must review and update the recent home study (SFN 889) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    6. The licensing worker will update and enter pertinent information into the payment system under the same provider number.
      1. The provider can retain their original ND provider number.
      2. The originating county must transfer the case in CCWIPS to the receiving county worker and end the license in the payment system.
      3. The receiving county will accept the transfer; the start date of the license must be consecutive with the end date of the transferring county.
    1. If there is any lapse in days between the close date and the start date, the family will be considered a “prospective foster family” and a new fingerprint-based criminal background check will be required to begin the process of licensing again.
    2. The licensing worker must forward the updated paperwork to the Regional Supervisor within 45 days of the change.

  4. Therapeutic foster home moves from one region to another:
    1. The licensing agent must new physical location must be visited and assessed within seven days.
    2. The licensing agent must notify the Regional Supervisor that the family will be moving to a new region.
    3. The licensing agent must review and update the recent application (SFN 893 or SFN 400) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    4. The licensing agent must review and update the recent home study (SFN 889) as soon as possible, not to exceed 30 days of notification.
    5. The licensing worker must forward the updated paperwork to the Regional Supervisor within 45 days of the change.
    6. The regional office will update the address and pertinent information in the payment system.
      1. The provider can retain their original ND provider number.
    1. The receiving region will submit an incident report to the ITD Service Desk to assist with the license transfer in the payment system.

  5. Foster home moves from ND to another state:
    1. The ND license must be closed the day the family leaves the state of ND. Termination of the foster care license in the payment system will avoid overpayments.

When a family announces that they will be leaving the state of ND, the Child & Family Team must make decisions regarding children in placement. In some cases, it may be determined that the foster children placed will move out of state with the family because of the established permanency goal. When the plan is for a ND foster child to move out of state, the foster care case manager must comply with Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) Policy 619-01 to obtain the required approval before the child leaves the state of ND.

 

If the family chooses to become licensed in their new state of residence in order to continue to care for a ND foster child, a copy of the out of state foster care license must be submitted to the ND ICPC Administrator who will enter the license into the ND payment system. At that time, the child’s foster care placement can be reopened for payment at the out of state rate.

 

**NO EXCEPTIONS** North Dakota does not have jurisdiction to license on Tribal land or in another state. In addition, North Dakota cannot make foster care maintenance payments to an unlicensed provider.