Section 413.100  Qualifications of Host Home Families

a)         Licensees shall be either a single person or two persons in a marriage or civil union with each other. Each host home parent shall be willing and able to assume appropriate responsibilities for the host home child or children received for care.

b)         An adult who is not a licensed host home parent may be allowed to share the living arrangement of a licensed host home parent only at the discretion of the supervising agency, provided the unlicensed adult meets the same requirements as other adult members of the household. The host home parent must notify the supervising agency 14 days prior to an adult who is not a licensed host home parent moving into the host home. The individual will be subject to the same requirements as other members of the household, such as health certification and background checks. The license capacity will be redetermined based on the new family composition.

c)         Host home parents shall be stable, law abiding, responsible, mature individuals, at least 21 years of age.

d)         The capability of a host home parent to provide care shall be considered prior to licensure of the host home. A decision to establish the age and number of children permitted in the home shall be based on an assessment of the host home and shall consider at least the following criteria:

1)         the capability of each host home parent to provide care including an evaluation of the caregivers' health, strength, and mobility;

2)         whether at least one applicant for host home licensure can read and write at the level necessary to meet the needs of host home children and whether the applicants participate effectively in the community in which they reside;

3)         the number, chronological and functional age, and characteristics and needs of the children currently under the care of the host home parents. This shall include an assessment of the host home parent's own children under age 18, all other children under age 18 receiving full-time care, and children receiving day care services in the host home;

4)         the characteristics, limitations, and responsibilities of the caregivers. All members of the host home shall be free from active alcohol or substance dependency;

5)         the caregivers' ability to appropriately care for and adequately supervise the children currently in the home, as well as their ability to care for and supervise the ages, needs, and behaviors of the children who may be placed in the host home; and

6)         the number of host home parents in the home.

e)         All members of the household age 13 and older (except for host home children) shall have passed the background check required by 89 Ill. Adm. Code 385 (Background Checks).

f)         Host home parents shall accept agency supervision.

g)         Host home parents shall provide the names and addresses of at least three persons who are not related to them who can attest that the applicants are of reputable and responsible moral character, as well as the name and address of at least one relative who can attest to the applicant's capability to care for the host home child or children.  If an applicant has been an Illinois resident for less than five years, two additional references from the previous residence state shall be provided.

h)         Host home parents shall respect a host home child's ties to their family and support the host home child in maintaining connections with their family.

i)          The licensee shall have sufficient and stable financial resources to provide for all needs of current household members and for any youth placed in the host home.

j)          As a condition of initial licensure, each host home parent shall complete the Department of Human Services training curriculum for host homes.

k)         In addition, each host home parent shall complete, as a condition of license renewal, approved in-service training hours. This training will be facilitated and provided by DHS.

l)          The licensees shall sign a statement on a form prescribed by the Department, to the effect that they have knowledge and understanding of the mandated reporter reporting requirements of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act [325 ILCS 5].

1)         Licensees shall report suspected child abuse and neglect immediately to the DCFS Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline.  The telephone number for the reporting hotline is 1-800-252-2873.

2)       Each licensee shall complete Department-approved Mandated Reporter Training, including a section on implicit bias, within three months of initial licensure and at least every three years thereafter.  Documentation of completion of training must be on file at the host home.

m)        A statement that describes how the host home parent complies with the requirements of this Part shall be placed in the permanent host home record. If the host home is not in compliance with any of the requirements of this Part, these standards shall be specifically recorded and the plan for achieving compliance shall be outlined. The plan for achieving compliance shall indicate whether host home children can remain in the host home and whether new placements may be made in the host home while the host home parent is achieving compliance with the licensing standards. The statement shall be updated to reflect any changes in the status of the host home. All such updates shall be entered in the system of record within five working days after the change in status.