SECTION 749.2488. What statement must I provide to foster parents regarding foster parent and child-placing agency rights and responsibilities?

(a) You must provide foster parents with a written copy of the following statement that lists the rights and responsibilities of foster parents and the child-placing agency:

(1) Foster parents have the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and consideration as a member of the service planning team;

(2) Foster parents have the right and responsibility to participate in service planning and implementation of the service plan;

(3) Foster parents have the right and responsibility to obtain training that will assist them in meeting the needs of children placed in their home;

(4) The child-placing agency has a responsibility to assist foster parents in identifying training that will enhance the foster parents ability to meet the needs of children placed in their home;

(5) Foster parents and the child-placing agency have the responsibility to communicate with each other in a timely and effective manner;

(6) Foster parents have the right to be reimbursed for care of the children placed in their home in a timely manner and according to the child-placing agency's policy;

(7) The child-placing agency has the responsibility to provide relevant information about a child to foster parents when placing or considering placing the child;

(8) Foster parents have the right and responsibility to obtain information and ask questions about children the child-placing agency would like to place in their home, including requesting a pre-placement visit;

(9) Foster parents have the right to know how much discretion they have in declining specific placements without fear of negative repercussions;

(10) The child-placing agency has the responsibility to provide support to all of their foster parents and inform them of any services available to foster parents;

(11) Foster parents have the responsibility to report to the child-placing agency and Licensing information as required by the child-placing agency's policies and this chapter;

(12) Foster parents have the right to appeal child-placing agency actions and decisions that affect them and to know the procedures for making an appeal;

(13) Foster parents have the responsibility to comply with this chapter as applicable;

(14) The child-placing agency has the responsibility to provide foster parents with support, training, and oversight in order to ensure the foster parents are in compliance, as applicable, with this chapter; and

(15) Foster parents have the right to review their foster home record maintained by the child-placing agency.

(b) You and the foster parents must sign a copy of the statement at the time you verify the home.

(c) The foster home must have a copy of the signed statement.

(d) You must file a copy of the signed statement in the foster home record maintained by the child-placing agency.

(e) At the time you verify the home, you must also provide foster parents with a written copy of your policies relating to §749.121 of this title (relating to What policies must I develop concerning the rights and responsibilities of the child-placing agency and the foster parents?).

Source Note: The provisions of this §749.2488 adopted to be effective September 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 7522; amended to be effective January 1, 2017, 41 TexReg 9944; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909