If you are considering taking on the role of foster parent in Massachusetts, or possibly may be required to obtain a home study for some other reason related to a child welfare case, you will want to know what is typically expected of a foster home. By meeting these minimum standards, you will enhance your ability to satisfy various minimums expected by the individual sent to conduct a home study at your home.

What is a Home Study?

In Massachusetts, when a state agency either places or supervises the placement of a child into a foster home, typically, the agency must ensure that a home study is conducted. The purpose of the home study, much like that of the review of the personal criminal and other history of the prospective foster parent is to ensure that the child to be placed in the home will be in good hands. Safety of the child is the key area of concern in any foster home placement in Massachusetts.

When Might a Home Study be Conducted?

A home study is going to be conducted in Massachusetts prior to any formal application to be a foster parent. Sometimes, however, home studies occur when an individual is being considered by a court in a child welfare case. In any event, and whatever the reason for the home study, it is a good idea to know what the minimum standards are for a home study for a foster parent so that you can raise your chances that your home will qualify.

Eligibility to Apply as a Foster Parent

The following are the basic eligibility requirements for any foster parent in Massachusetts. Some of these requirements involve the home, other are more general eligibility requirements, as follows:

• The Home meets all physical standards as set out in Code of Regulation 110, section 7.100 and 7.104
• The work or other schedule of the foster parent would not require the a child of preschool age to spend over 50 hours weekly in child care or a foster child in first grade or later more than 25 hours weekly in child care weekly
• The person’s income is stable and sufficient to support the household
• The person’s housing history is relatively stable
• The person can read or write English or in their primary language
• The person has a working telephone
• The person is 18 years old or older, a US citizen or has legal permanent resident status
• The home is free of any animal which would pose a danger to the child.

Foster Home Licensure Requirements

For those seeking licensure as a foster home in Massachusetts, the general eligibility requirements are a bit more stringent. Keep in mind that in instances where a person is being considered for placement by the court, a judge may have more discretion as to what requirements must be met, therefore, it is a good idea to include these requirements in any preparation even if licensure as a foster parent in Massachusetts is not the ultimate goal.

• The person must be able to demonstrate that the home is safe, supportive, nurturing and provides a stable family environment for the child
• The ethnic, cultural and religious background of the child will be respected.
• The relationship that the child has with their parents, siblings or other family members will be supported and accepted
• The person will coordinate with the Department of Children and Families to implement a service plan for the child
• The person must be free of physical, mental or emotional illness which is so substantial that it would make the provision of appropriate care difficult
• The person must have no criminal history that would be reasonably likely to impact that persons ability to act as a responsible foster parent. NOTE: of particular interest to DCF is any history of the following crimes: assault and battery on a child, assault with intent to rape, rape and abuse of a child, posing or exhibiting a child, incest, indecent assault and battery, introducing a minor into prostitution, murder, unnatural acts with a child under 16, human trafficking, or any assault, battery or drug-related offense in the past 5 years.

Training Requirements for Foster Care Parent in Massachusetts

Generally, foster care parents will attend an orientation in Massachusetts provided by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCF) which will educate the foster parent(s) in the following topics:

• The characteristics, needs and the number of children seeking foster care
• DCF’s role, how many children are served by DCF and services that DCF provides
• DCF philosophy and policies on child discipline
• Information as to why children in DCF care need placement and how separation and loss affects those children
• The legal responsibilities and rights of foster parents
• Fostering children with special needs

The Minimum Standards of a Foster Home in Massachusetts for a Home Study

The home of a foster parent must meet minimum standards to be acceptable to DCF. The home study will reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the home itself. Please note the following requirements of the home:

• Clean, safe, free of fire hazards, large enough to accommodate all household members plus any approved foster children
• Adequate lighting, ventilation, hot and cold running water, adequate and safe plumbing, electricity and heat
• Must have a refrigerator and cooking stove in working condition
• Any foster child over 1 year old cannot share a bedroom with an adult (unless specific circumstances involving the previous foster home placement have been met)
• Sufficient furniture to allow any child to sleep in a separate bed, and have storage for personal items
• No child older than 4 (except for siblings up to 8 years old) can share a bedroom with a child of the opposite sex
• Bedrooms must give at least 50 square feet per child (unless this is a kinship home w/at least 35 square feet per child) and shall accommodate no more than 4 children per bedroom
• Each floor of the home (including the basement) must have smoke detectors in working order
• If well water is used in the home, a test determining safety must be conducted and the corresponding report given to DCF
• A limit of 4 foster children can reside in any one home with no greater than 6 total children in one home (exceptions granted where siblings are at issue)
• Firearms in the home must be license, registered, trigger locked or inoperable, stored without ammunition in a locked area with any ammunition stored in a separate locked area.

How Attorney Gaudet Can Help

Child welfare matters in Massachusetts are complex, as state regulations, statutes, DCF policy and specific court rules and practices can greatly impact how children are placed into any home in the Commonwealth. Where the decision is purely DCF’s to make, DCF policy and regulation is the focus of the placement issue. However, when a Juvenile court is involved in the placement decision, there may be other factors affecting a given placement. Attorney Gaudet can provide assistance to a family seeking to enter into the foster care system, or for those who require counsel in a child welfare matter. Contact him at 978-273-8337 for more information.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in the pages and posts of this website are for general informational purposes only. The information presented on this site is not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by the use of this site.