Sec. 1. The department shall perform the following duties: (1) Administer the licensing and monitoring of child caring institutions, foster family homes, group homes, and child placing agencies in accordance with this article. (2) Ensure that a criminal history check of an applicant is conducted under IC 31-9-2-22.5 before issuing a license. (3) Provide for […]
Sec. 10. (a) If the department determines that a waiver or variance expiring under section 9 of this chapter will continue to serve the public interest, the department may do the following: (1) Renew the waiver or variance without modifications. (2) Renew and modify the waiver or variance as needed to promote statewide practices and […]
Sec. 11. (a) If a licensee under this article violates a condition of a waiver or variance under this chapter, the department may issue an order revoking the waiver or variance before the waiver or variance expires under section 9 of this chapter. (b) If a waiver or variance is revoked under subsection (a), the […]
Sec. 12. (a) The department shall, in collaboration with: (1) current foster parents; (2) child placing agencies; and (3) other individuals and organizations with expertise in foster care services; develop and update periodically a statement that describes the rights of a foster parent that must be known as the “foster parent bill of rights”. (b) […]
Sec. 13. If the governor declares a state of disaster emergency under IC 10-14-3-12, the director of the department, or the director’s designee, may modify or suspend enforcement of a statute or rule specifying a time within which a foster parent must provide for a child to be examined by a physician, physician assistant, or […]
Sec. 2. The department may do the following: (1) Prescribe forms for reports, statements, notices, and other documents required by this article or by the rules adopted under this article. (2) Increase public awareness of this article and the rules adopted under this article by preparing and publishing manuals and guides explaining this article and […]
Sec. 3. The department may not charge an application fee for a foster family home. As added by P.L.145-2006, SEC.273.
Sec. 4. (a) The department shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2, including emergency rules under IC 4-22-2-37.1, concerning the licensing and inspection of: (1) child caring institutions, foster family homes, group homes, and child placing agencies after consultation with the following: (A) State department of health. (B) Fire prevention and building safety commission; and (2) […]
Sec. 5. (a) The department shall monitor the entities licensed under this article for continued compliance with this article and the rules adopted by the department, including conducting the following: (1) Onsite inspections, record reading, observation, and interviewing. (2) An onsite licensing study at least one (1) time a year in announced or unannounced visits. […]
Sec. 6. The department shall investigate complaints to determine possible noncompliance with the rules adopted by the department. A licensee is entitled to add comments concerning a complaint to the licensing file. The department shall consider all formal complaints against a licensee before a license may be renewed. As added by P.L.145-2006, SEC.273.
Sec. 7. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), the department shall exempt from licensure a child caring institution and a group home operated by a church or religious ministry that is a religious organization exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (as defined in IC 6-3-1-11) […]
Sec. 8. (a) Except as provided in subsection (f), the department may grant a variance or waiver of a rule governing child caring institutions, foster family homes, group homes, or child placing agencies. A variance or waiver granted under this section must promote statewide practices and must protect the rights of persons affected by this […]
Sec. 9. A waiver or variance granted under section 8 of this chapter and a waiver or variance renewed under section 10 of this chapter expires on the earliest of the following: (1) The date when the license affected by the waiver or variance expires. (2) The date set by the department for the expiration […]
