N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 18 § 444.9

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 41, October 9, 2024

Section 444.9 - Administration of the Host Family Home Program

(a) Each Agency must maintain information on availability of an array of community-based services that may be available to assist families in crisis, and such organization may provide such services.

(b) Each Agency must maintain and keep current and available a manual or manuals that clearly state the policies of such Agency with respect to the program it operates.

(c) Each Agency must provide training to host families to prepare them to care for a child and maintain a meaningful relationship with the child's parent. Training shall include, but not be limited to, the legal rights of parent and child, cultural sensitivity, implicit bias and how to provide trauma informed care.

(d) The Agency must establish a procedure to review and evaluate the backgrounds of and information supplied by applicants for professional, paraprofessional, and volunteer positions with the Agency who have the potential for regular and substantial contact with children served by the Agency.

(e) Such procedure must require that each applicant for a professional, paraprofessional or volunteer position submit a sworn statement indicating whether, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime in New York or in any other jurisdiction.

(f) Such procedure must require each applicant for an employment position with the Agency as authorized by section 378-a of the Social Services Law, to obtain criminal history background checks for prospective employees who will have the potential for substantial, unsupervised or unrestricted physical contact with children.

(1) If an applicant has been convicted of a crime, the Agency must determine, in accordance with any guidelines or regulations issued by OCFS, whether to hire or use the person as an employee.

(2) If the Agency determines that it will hire or use the person, the Agency must maintain a written record, as part of the application file for employment or other personnel record of such person, of the reason(s) why such person was determined to be appropriate and acceptable as an employee.

(g) Each Agency must apply for and maintain approval issued by OCFS, which among other things indicates compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and policies of OCFS.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 18 § 444.9

Adopted New York State Register December 8, 2021/Volume XLIII, Issue 49, eff. 12/8/2021