Page 111

acquiesce in a placement if the review and assessment indicate there is a significant risk that a child would be threatened with abuse or neglect if placed in the home. Kin and other adults living in the kin’s home must consent to a check of records by the department. F. Assessment Study. (1) Each prospective foster family applicant and prospective adoptive family applicant shall be assessed by designated staff of SCDSS, a certified investigator, designated staff of a child placing agency, or other persons approved by the agency. (2) The assessment for initial licensing and renewal to provide foster care and approval to become and an adoptive parent shall be conducted to determine the following: (a) Whether the applicant complies with SCDSS licensing requirements and standards; (b) Whether the applicant fully understands the purpose of foster care or adoptive placement; and (c) Applicant’s ability to provide quality foster care or adoptive placement. (3) The assessment summary for initial family foster home licensing and renewal and adoptive home approval must include documentation of the following: (a) motivations to be a foster parent or adoptive parent; (b) preferences related to placements; (c) family history, relationships, parenting experiences, and coping ability; (d) education, mental health, physical health, and work history of applicant and household members; (e) information on other household members, adult children, and related children not in the physical custody of the applicant or spouse; (f) home environment and community resources; (g) completion of required training; (h) results of background checks; (i) compliance with all requirements; (j) financial status including financial resources, income, and expenses; (k) appropriateness of day care arrangements for children placed in the home; and (l ) applicant’s overall understanding of the purpose of foster care or adoption and ability to provide quality foster care and/or adoptive placement. (4) The assessment and recommendation shall be explained to the applicant. If SCDSS or the child placing agency is not recommending family foster care licensure or renewal or approval to become an adoptive parent, the applicant should be offered the opportunity to elect to withdraw the application. If the applicant elects to continue their request to be licensed to provide family foster care or to receive approval to provide adoptive placement, the reasons for the denial shall be provided in writing. The applicant shall be advised regarding any right to appeal. G. Eligibility Standards. (1) All applicants must submit a complete application and accompanying documentation for a family foster home license or adoptive home approval. The agency or child placing agency must maintain copies of the application. (2) To apply for a family foster home license or for renewal of a license or approval to become an adoptive parent, the following must apply: (a) Non-kin applicants must be age twenty-one or older. Kin or fictive kin applicants must be age eighteen or older. (b) There is a rebuttable presumption that applicants who are married or who reside with another adult resident of the household (e.g. a spouse, romantic partner, or roommate) must apply together with the spouse or other resident of the household. These individuals must have the required criminal history and abuse and neglect background checks. Other household members must be included in the assessment and support the applicants interest in fostering.