Section 1180. Sponsor qualification and approval process

A. The provider shall evaluate and certify each sponsored residential home other than his own through face-to-face interviews, home inspections, and other information documenting compliance with this section. The provider shall submit the certification form to the department before individuals are placed in the home and ensure that the following requirements are met annually.

B. The provider shall certify and document that each sponsored residential home meets the criteria for physical environment and residential services in these regulations.

C. The provider shall document the ability of the sponsored residential home staff to meet the needs of the individuals placed in the home by assessing and documenting:

1. The ability of the sponsor or any staff to communicate and understand individuals receiving services;

2. The ability of the sponsor or any staff to provide the care, treatment, training, or habilitation for individuals receiving services in the home;

3. The abilities of all members of the sponsored household to accept individuals with disabilities and their disability-related characteristics, especially the ability of children in the household to adjust to nonfamily members living with them;

4. The financial capacity of the sponsor to meet the sponsor's own expenses for up to 90 days, independent of payments received for residents living in the home; and

5. The education, qualifications, and experience of the sponsor or staff with the individuals served including Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles driving record, tuberculosis screening, first-aid and CPR certification, and completion of medication administration and behavior interventions training.

D. The provider shall obtain three job-related references, past licensing history, criminal background checks, and a search of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect maintained by the Department of Social Services for the sponsor and all staff.

E. The provider shall implement written policies for obtaining references, criminal background checks, and registry checks for all adults in the home who are neither staff nor individuals being served. The policy shall indicate what action the provider will take if the results indicate that a member of the sponsor family has been convicted of a barrier crime or fails to meet the requirements of this regulation should an ineligible result be received.

F. The sponsored residential home shall submit to the provider the results of a physical and mental health examination of family members when requested by the provider based on indications of a physical or mental health issue.

G. Sponsored residential homes shall not also operate as group homes or Department of Social Services approved homes or foster homes.

H. The provider shall submit the name, address, and certification of the sponsored residential home to the department prior to adding the home. The provider shall submit the name and address of the sponsored residential home to the department prior to closing the home. The provider shall submit a service modification when approving homes more than 100 miles from the previously approved homes.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. September 19, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 05, eff. December 7, 2011.

Statutory Authority

§ 37.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.