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Last amended: 1999
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ORDINANCE NUMBER 84-03 |
SECTION 1: PURPOSE OF RULES.
These rules set forth the Siletz Tribe's standards for reviewing and approving tribal homes providing foster care for Siletz children.
SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS.
(A) "Applicant" means any person who applies for a certificate to become a tribally-approved foster parent.
(B) "Certificate" means a certificate of approval issued by the Siletz Family Court to a foster parent.
(C) "Foster child" means any Siletz child placed in a foster home by the Siletz-Family Court.
(D) "Foster home" means any home providing temporary care to a Siletz child at the direction of the Siletz Family Court.
(E) "Foster parent" means any person over the age of 18 who holds a certificate from the Siletz Family Court to operate a foster home.
(A) Any applicant wishing to serve as a tribal foster parent shall apply in writing to the Siletz Family Court.
(B) Within 90 days of receiving an application, the Siletz Family Court will issue a foster care certificate to each applicant who meets the standards set out in these rules and agrees to accept foster children referred by the Court.
(C) Each foster care certificate will specify the maximum number of children which the foster home can accommodate at any one time and will expire one year after the date it is issued, unless canceled by the Siletz Family Court.
(D) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this Section, the Siletz Family Court may issue a provisional certificate to any applicant who cannot satisfy the standards in these rules when the Court finds that the deficiency or deficiencies will not affect the child's physical health and safety or emotional well-being and that the applicant can take corrective steps within a reasonable period of time. A provisional certificate will expire 90 days after it is issued; unless canceled by the Siletz Family Court.
SECTION 4: CANCELLATION OF APPROVAL.
(A) Any foster care certificate issued by the Siletz Family Court shall be canceled automatically if the foster parent changes residences.
(B) Any foster care certificate issued by the Siletz Family Court shall be canceled by the Court if a material change that would disqualify the parent from being certified occurs in the foster parent's family or home. Examples of material changes that might justify the Court in canceling a certificate include a change in the parent's marital or employment status, a change in the foster home's condition or the parent's repeated refusal to accept foster children referred by the Court.
SECTION 5: REQUIREMENTS FOR FOSTER PARENTS.
Each Siletz foster parent approved by the Siletz Family Court shall:
(A) Have child-rearing practices and attitudes that-will serve the best interests of foster children.
(B) Provide a stable, harmonious home and a healthy environment conducive to rearing children.
(C) Be a responsible individual and positive adult role-model who exercises sound judgment and displays the ability to provide good care for children.
(D) Respect for the cultural values of the Siletz Tribe and the religious preferences of the foster child.
(E) Have sufficient income to meet the needs of his or her family without any supplementary payment for the foster child's care and shall apply foster care payments towards the child's care.
(F) Comply with the directions of the Siletz Family Court concerning the care of a foster child and the release of information.
SECTION 6: REQUIREMENTS FOR FOSTER HOMES.
Each foster home approved by the Siletz Family Court shall:
(A) Provide adequate supervision by a responsible adult at all times when the foster child is in the home.
(B) Provide the foster child a well balanced and nutritious diet. If milk which is not pasteurized is used in the foster home, a foster parent shall furnish the Siletz Family Court with a signed statement from a licensed veterinarian of the raw milk dairy verifying that TB and brucellosis tests within the previous year were negative.
(C) Not require a foster child to do work which presents a health or safety hazard to the child or which interferes with the child's education.
(D) Not administer severe punishment to a foster child.
SECTION 7: CRITERIA FOR APPROVING FOSTER HOMES.
(A) Each applicant shall furnish the Siletz Family Court with a written application, including the reasons the applicant wishes to become a foster parent and at least two personal references. Before issuing a foster care certificate, the Court shall order a home study to be conducted by the Family Advocate, or with the approval of the person's immediate supervisor, another qualified tribal employee. Each home study shall include a personal interview with the applicant and his or her family and an inspection of the applicant's home. The person conducting the home study shall report his or her findings and recommendations concerning the applicant's suitability to be a foster parent in writing to the Siletz Family Court. This report shall describe:
(1) The number of persons who reside in the applicant's home, including the age, sex and relationship of each person to the applicant.
(2) The number of beds in the applicant's home, their location and their suitability for a foster child.
(3) The availability of space for the foster child to sleep, store clothing and personal effects and to study, as appropriate to the child's age and needs.(4) The availability of adequate indoor and outdoor areas where a child can play safely.
(5) Whether potentially dangerous materials such as guns, drugs or poisons are stored in the applicant's home and, if so, whether adequate safeguards exist to prevent the child from coming in contact with such materials.
(6) Whether special arrangements are necessary to contact the foster parent in the event of an emergency.
(B) In addition to the information provided under subsection (A) of this Section, the person conducting the home study may, with the applicant's consent, request:
(1) Information concerning the suitability of the applicant's home for foster care from other sources, including neighbors, employers or agencies who have had contact with the applicant's family.
(2) Information concerning the applicant's physical and mental health.
(3) Inspections by authorized fire and safety or public health officials to assure that the home is adequately protected from such hazards.
Standards for Approving Tribal Foster Homes
Ordinance Number 84-03, January 15, 1984