Models and Shared Resources
Kin-Specific Foster Home Approval: Recommended Standards of National Organizations On 9/28/2023 the Administration for Children and Families published a rule change which, for the first time, allows title IV-E agencies to adopt kin-specific licensing or approval standards for kinship foster family homes. The rule applies to title IV-E agencies, which includes all states and tribes that have approved title IV-E plans or are operating the title IV-E program through a tribal-state agreement. The new rule is not applicable to tribes that do not operate the title IV-E program. The rule follows he requirements set out by the Social Security Act which specifically requires title IV-E agency’s kin-specific licensing or approval standards to be “reasonably in accord with recommended standards of national organizations.” These kin-specific foster home approval standards meet this requirement, as they were developed and are recommended by the following national organizations: A Second Chance, Inc., American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Children’s Rights, CWPolicy, Generations United and its Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center, National Indian Child Welfare Association, National Association for Regulatory Administration, New America’s Child Welfare Playbook & Working Group, and Think of Us. Standards Can be access through the link above to the NARA website, or posted here: Kin-Specific Foster Home Approval: Recommended Standards of National Organizations.
Sample forms and tools are posted here "Kin-Specific Licensing Standards Sample Forms."
National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards The final National Model is very similar to the proposed National Model, which was released for public comment on August 1, 2018. The modifications to the final include:
The Children’s Bureau used the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards (NARA Model) as the “main source” for its proposed National Model, and then accorded it “considerable deference” in deciding whether to modify the proposed National Model. You'll recall that Generations United and the ABA Center on Children and the Law, with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, were multiyear partners in researching all 50 states' licensing standards and then working with NARA to develop that Model. While the National Model does not incorporate all of the NARA standards, nothing in the National Model contradicts the NARA Model. Consequently, as part of the process required by Family First, states and tribes can also consult the NARA Model and its tools. There are certain NARA definitions, principles, and standards that provide important additional guidance. The First First Act, along with guidance from the Children's Bureau, requires Title IV-E agencies to submit a Title IV-E plan amendment to the Children's Bureau (attachment X, of the pre-print) by March 31, 2019, and provide the following “specific and detailed” information:
A FAQ on the National Model, the NARA Model on which it "relied heavily", and the Family First reporting requirements is attached and available at www.grandfamilies.org. A crosswalk for states to use to compare their standards with both Models is also available. You can access it here, or at www.grandfamilies.org. If you have questions or need assistance with comparing your state's standards with the Model Standards, please contact Jim Murphy, Executive Director, NARA at jim.murphy@naralicensing.org or Ana Beltran, JD at Generations United at abeltran@gu.org. Assisted Living Regulations - Link to Argentum Website Click on the line above to be re-directed to Argentum's website, which provides links to all of the state's assisted living regulations. ARGENTUM Standards for Senior Living State Assisted Living Regulations - Executive Summary (Adult Care Survey) Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy: 2015 Edition Oklahoma's New Licensing Specialist Training (NLST) Checklist Arizona’s Job Description for Lead Agency Monitoring Staff (License-Exempt Homes) Utah has shared a number of resources related to inspections and new provider orientation for licensed exempt homes.
How Megan's Law Affects Juveniles in New Jersey - download your free copy of the booklet here. Enclosed is a booklet NARA member Nicholas Scalera authored on How Megan’s Law Affects Juveniles in New Jersey. It provides information on the law’s provisions for youth who were convicted of a sex offense when they were younger than 18 years old. The booklet also offers guidance to professionals who serve or interact with them, such as: child welfare workers, child advocates, law guardians, public defenders, attorneys in Megan’s Law Units of county prosecutors’ offices, school district staff, teachers, principals, guidance counselors, family court judges and staff, mentors of youth, law enforcement officers, and others. The guide utilizes a question-and-answer format to convey to youths the complex provisions of Megan’s Law in simple, easy-to-understand language. It was written to help affected youth seek trustworthy answers to their questions about the law and how to comply with its provisions.
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