Page 118
(a) State (SLED) criminal background check of applicants and any other household member who is an adult age eighteen or older. To determine eligibility, the results of the check will be assessed using the criteria set forth in S.C. Code section 63–7–2350 and SCDSS licensing regulation section (O) herein. (b) State, tribal, and/or local child abuse and neglect registry check for information on applicants and any other household member who is age twelve or older, and national and state sex offender registry check for all household members twelve and older. To determine eligibility, the results of the check will be assessed using the criteria set forth in S.C. Code Section 63–7–2350 and SCDSS licensing regulation section (P) herein. (c) For other states in which applicants and any other household member who is an adult age eighteen and older have resided in the preceding five years, applicants and household members must attest that they are not on the child abuse and neglect registry or the adult protective services registry. At that time, the agency will submit its request that the other states check their registries. (d) Preliminary visual inspection to assess the safety of the home. (e) Preliminary assessment of the ability of the applicants to meet the needs of the child. (f) Discuss assurances agreement, as described in standard 12 above, with applicants and obtain their signatures on the agreement. (3) If the home is not licensed within ninety calendar days, the child must be removed from the home, unless: (a) A direct placement of the child in the home is ordered by the court while the child is still in the custody of the child welfare agency. (b) The applicants petition for and receive care and custody of the child directly from the court. (c) The agency grants an extension of up to ninety calendar days for applicants to complete licensure if it determines that removal of the child would be detrimental to the best interests of the child. T. Records Required for Child Placing Agencies. (1) All child placing agencies in the State shall keep records regarding each foster child placed by that agency, including records containing the following information: (a) The child’s name; (b) The child’s birth date; (c) The date of his admission and discharge from each foster care placement; (d) Name, address and telephone number of relatives; (e) Place and hours of employment of child’s relatives; and (f) Name, address and telephone number of available physician. (2) All child placing agencies in the State shall keep records regarding each of their foster homes and said records shall contain documentation of compliance with these regulations and SCDSS procedures related to foster home licensing. U. Initial Licensing, Renewal, Denial, Revocation, and Termination of License. (1) Licenses shall be studied for renewal every two years and prior to the expiration of the last license. (2) Adoptive home approval will be updated in accordance with SCDSS policies and procedures, but if the waiting period for an adoptive placement exceeds one year from the date of the approval, the approval must be updated before the placement of a child for the purpose of adoption to determine any change in circumstances. (3) License renewal process requirements and adoptive home approval updates include documen- tation of safety requirements, training hours, background checks, home visits, assessment of ongoing compliance with requirements and standards of care, and any additional requirements as SCDSS or the child placing agency staff may deem necessary. (4) A license will not be issued or renewed, and adoptive home approval will not continue if licensing requirements are not met, or standards of care have not been maintained as prescribed