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In late summer the Adam Walsh legislation was passed by congress. This legislation changes what type of background checks have to be done on foster parents. The legislation required that effective October 1, 2006 all new applicants for foster care and any new certified foster parents had to have an FBI background check. In addition they have to have a check with the Central Registry for Child Protection or its equivalent in any state the foster parent(s) has lived for the last five years.
What this means for your agency is as follows:
1. All new applicants to be a foster parent on or after 10/1/06 must have both applicants in a two parent household and one applicant in a single household obtain fingerprints and submit them through CBI to FBI. The fee is $17.50 for the CBI and $22.00 for the FBI. The results of the CBI/FBI check must be received before the certificate can be issued. The agency must also check with the Central Registry for Child Abuse or equivalent in every state where the foster parent(s) has lived for the last five years. In Colorado that is the Trails check.
2. At the time of renewal of the foster care license, if the foster parent(s) have not done an FBI check, they will be required to do so. The results of the CBI/FBI check must be received before the new certificate can be issued. This will have to be done before the foster home can be recertified. It will take a period of time, so I suggest the agency start the process 4 - 5 months before the expiration of the foster care certificate. The fee for the check is $2.00 for the CBI and $22.00 for the FBI. The agency will also have to check the Central Registry for Child Abuse or equivalent in every state where the foster parent(s) has lived for the last 5 years. In Colorado that is the Trails check.
3. If you had an application from a foster home prior to 10/1/06 and you are ready to issue the certificate, everything is done except the FBI check, you can immediately send in the fingerprints for the FBI check and issue a provisional certificate. This should only occur if it is an absolute emergency that this home has to be certified prior to waiting for the results of the FBI check to come back. You must receive approval from the Division of Child Care to do this. Email me directly.
If you have any questions about this new process, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at
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. Remember the FBI and Central Registry check has to be done for everyone either at initial or renewal licensing.
Sincerely,
Dana D. Andrews
Licensing Administrator
Division of Child Care
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