Personal Characteristics of Foster Families 622-05-30

(Revised 5/1/2021 ML #3615)

View Archives

 

 

Foster parents must meet specific requirements of a licensing home study, which includes personal characteristics and life experience. The home study assesses the current circumstance of the household including the applicant/s and all household members (children or other adults) living in the home.

Applicants on the license must meet the required personal characteristics as primary caregivers to the foster children. However, household members living in the home who are not applicants on the license, must also meet requirements and have characteristics that provide a safe and positive placement experience for the foster child. The authorized licensing agent licensing worker must ensure ongoing assessment of the foster home.

 

Personal Characteristics:

1. A criminal conviction shall not disqualify a potential foster parent or adult household member unless the conviction is for a crime having a direct bearing on the capacity of the parent to provide foster care or the convicted person has a conviction or offense and is not sufficiently rehabilitated under NDCC § 12.1-33-02.1. The Department shall determine the effect of a conviction or an offense.
2. Evidence of an interest in and responsiveness to other people, particularly children.
3. The capacity to give love, affection, and care to a child without expecting the child to return this love and affection.
4. Proper consideration of their own children’s feelings and feelings of close relatives toward a foster child.
5. Satisfactory and stable adult relationships, which include not only meaningful relationships, but supportive relationships with relatives and friends.
6. Emotional stability, appropriate understanding and demonstration of how to manage angry feelings and rejection.
7. Any person residing in the home, except a foster child, may not exhibit symptoms of substance abuse or emotional instability that inhibit their ability to engage with or care for children.
   1. Upon initial licensure, any household member who had previous symptoms of substance use or emotional instability, may not have had incident which inhibited their ability to engage appropriately with or care for children for a period of at least twelve months prior to licensure. (NDAC 75-03-14-04).
   2. Upon licensure, if symptoms of substance use or emotional instability inhibit the ability to appropriately engage with or care for foster children, every effort should be made to keep the placement intact if the household member is seeking treatment. Treatment of the household member and safety for foster children placed in the home must be assessed and addressed to determine if placement of the foster child should be maintained. No further placements will be made until successful completion of the treatment by the household member has occurred. The authorized licensing agent must also assess if the foster home would prefer or benefit from a sabbatical (temporary break from foster care placements) in order to allow time for the family to manage the presented circumstance.
      
      
8. No person may smoke or vape, in the foster home, in circumstances which present a hazard to the health of a foster child or in an enclosed area when the foster child is present. All foster parents should be aware of the potential hazards of smoking in the presence of children, particularly infants and children with respiratory or allergic sensitivity.

1. Household members prescribed medical marijuana must notify the authorized licensing agent. If medical marijuana is prescribed to a foster parent, they may continue to care for foster children. However, an assessment should consider the medical diagnosis requiring the use of medical marijuana, like any other prescribed controlled substance. The authorized licensing agent will review the applicant(s) ability to provide for the safety and well-being of a foster child, how and where the foster parent will use medical marijuana, etc.
2. If approved by the authorized licensing agent, the individual must follow the prescription authorized by the medical professional. If medical marijuana is not issued in pill form, the household member(s) cannot smoke in an enclosed area in the presence of a foster child.

9. The ability to function adequately in their chosen life style; i.e. ability to enjoy and accept the responsibility of their job, their family life, their friends, and themselves.
10. Has reputable character, values, and ethical standards conducive to the well-being of the children.
11. Practical understanding of the developmental stages of children and their accompanying needs. Flexibility in their expectation, attitudes, and behavior in relationship to meeting the individual needs of children.
12. The maturity to exercise good judgment and appropriate use of authority, along with the qualities of vitality and flexibility which are necessary to care for children.
13. An acceptance and resolution of any of their own negative childhood experiences.
14. The capacity to absorb the presence of a foster child with all his/her needs without undue disruption of their own family life.
15. Ability to accept a foster child’s relationship with his or her own parents, including neglectful and abusive parents. The ability to accept a foster child’s background without passing moral judgment on the child or the child’s family.
16. The capacity to help prepare a child for return home, for adoptive placement, guardianship, or an alternate permanency arrangement, and the ability to cope with the departure of the foster child.
17. A willingness to treat the child as a member of their own family, including for example, such things as family vacation.
18. Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of North Dakota’s approved pre-service training. Demonstrate an understanding of the need for each foster child to have a nutritional, well-balanced diet, as well as recognize the requirement of ensuring each foster child is offered food, eats adequately and obtains the necessary nutrition daily. Special diets must be provided by the foster family when required by the child’s condition.