Sec.17a-150-109. General requirements of foster and prospective adoptive parents

(a) Foster and prospective adoptive parents shall be physically, intellectually and emotionally capable of providing care, guidance and supervision of the child including:

(1) Insuring routine medical care, scheduling and transportation;

(2) obtaining and following instructions from the child's medical provider if medication or treatment are to be administered by the foster or prospective adoptive parents. Any medications provided shall be clearly labeled and kept out of the reach of children;

(3) establishing plans to respond to illness and emergencies, including serious injuries and the ingestion of poison, with appropriate first aid supplies available in the home out of reach of the children;

(4) maintaining all documentation as required by the department;

(5) providing for the child's physical needs including adequate hygiene, nutritional meals and snacks prepared in a safe and sanitary manner, readily available drinking water, a balanced schedule of rest, active play, indoor and outdoor activity appropriate to the age of the child in care;

(6) promoting the social, intellectual, emotional, and physical development of each child by providing activities that meet these needs or special needs if such exist;

(7) assuring adequate opportunity for cultural, and educational activities in the family and in the community. Children who do not share the same language as their caretaker shall be provided with opportunities to practice their native language as they become bilingual or multi-lingual;

(8) assuring an environment of tolerance and sensitivity to a child's religion through providing adequate opportunity for religious training and participation appropriate to the child's religious denomination, and not requiring any child to participate in religious practices contrary to the child's beliefs;

(9) providing emotional support and an environment that meets the child's ethnic and cultural needs;

(10) assuring the child's participation in an approved education program, including regular school attendance. The foster or prospective adoptive parents shall cooperate with the proper authorities in relation to the child's educational needs;

(11) guiding the child in the acquisition of daily living skills including the assigning of daily chores to the child on the basis of the child's abilities and developmental level; and

(12) providing infants and toddlers with ample opportunity for freedom of movement each day outside of a crib or playpen, infants are to be held for all bottle feedings, as well as at other times, for attention and verbal communication.

(b) Foster and prospective adoptive parents, members of the household, substitute care providers, and other persons having regular access to children in the home shall give the child humane and affectionate care. They shall be a positive role model to the child and instruct the child in appropriate behavior. They shall establish limits and assist the child to develop self control and judgment skills. Children in the home shall be encouraged to assume age-appropriate responsibility for their decisions and actions.

(c) Discipline shall be appropriate to the child's age and level of development. Foster and prospective adoptive parents shall not use physically or verbally abusive, neglectful, humiliating, frightening or corporal punishment, including but not limited to spanking, cursing or threats.

(d) When unusual circumstances require continued or frequent use of physical or mechanical restraints prior written approval shall be obtained from the commissioner or his designee.

(e) Licensed or approved foster and prospective adoptive parents shall complete all assessment and training requirements as prescribed by the department or child placing agency.

(f) The department or child placing agency may consider any unusual circumstances including but not limited to the health demands of other members of the household which may detract from the attention, structure and time required by a foster or prospective adoptive child.

(Effective February 20, 1997)