Section 3700.70. Temporary and provisional approvals of foster families

(a) Foster families may be temporarily approved to provide foster care to children.

(1) Temporary approval is a time-limited status which may be authorized by an FFCA when a complete assessment of the foster family has not been made prior to the placement of a foster child.

(2) The FFCA may authorize temporary approval only if a partial assessment of the family indicates that a foster child’s health or safety will not be jeopardized if placed with the temporarily approved foster family. The partial assessment shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(i) An on-site visit to the home.

(ii) An inspection of the physical aspects of the home.

(iii) A brief assessment of the social and emotional qualities of the parents as they affect their ability to care for a foster child.

(iv) The willingness of the parents to accept FFCA involvement and work cooperatively with the FFCA.

(v) The ability of the parents to meet the special needs of a child taken into the temporary protective custody of an agency.

(3) Temporary approval of a foster family may be authorized for a maximum of 60 calendar days, starting from the date on which the FFCA places the foster child with the foster family.

(4) If an assessment verifying compliance with the requirements of § § 3700.62—3700.67 (relating to foster parent requirements; foster child discipline, punishment and control policy; assessment of foster parent capability; foster parent training; foster family residence requirements; and safety requirements) is not completed by the FFCA within 60 days, the approval of the home terminates automatically, and foster children shall be removed from the foster family.

(b) Foster families may be given provisional approval to care for foster children.

(1) Provisional approval of a foster family may be authorized by an FFCA when a previously approved foster family is determined, in a reevaluation, not to meet one or more of the requirements in § § 3700.62—3700.67.

(2) The FFCA may authorize provisional approval only if the identified areas of regulatory noncompliance will not result in an immediate threat to the health or safety of foster children placed with the foster family.

(3) During a period of provisional approval, the FFCA may not place additional children with the foster family.

(4) For foster families approved before October 1, 1982, provisional approval may be maintained until children placed before October 1, 1982, have left the foster family.

(5) For foster families approved after October 1, 1982, provisional approval may be maintained for no longer than 12 months. The FFCA shall terminate the provisional approval of a foster family unable to achieve compliance within 12 months of receipt of provisional approval. Upon termination of a foster family’s provisional approval, the FFCA shall remove foster children living with the foster family.

(c) (Reserved).

The provisions of this § 3700.70 amended January 23, 1987, effective January 24, 1987 except subsection (a) effective April 24, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 392. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (98006) to (98007).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 3700.70 amended under Articles II, VII, IX and X of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. § § 201—211, 701—774, 901—922 and 1001—1080).