Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Social Services intends to consider amending 22VAC40-211, Resource, Foster and Adoptive Family Home Approval Standards. The purpose of the proposed action is to conform the regulation to the Code of Virginia and to make other changes the agency deems necessary after comments and review, including conforming to (i) Chapter 194 of the 2017 Acts of Assembly, which stipulates that background checks conducted for youth over the age of 18 years in the Fostering Futures Program be used for the sole purpose of determining whether other children should be placed or remain in the same foster home as the Fostering Futures Program participant and not as a basis for terminating or suspending the approval of the foster home; (ii) Chapter 193 of the 2017 Acts of Assembly, which requires local agencies to use the Mutual Family Assessment (MFA) home study template and authorizes the department to amend the MFA template and any necessary addenda; and (iii) Chapter 631 of the 2017 Acts of Assembly, which requires the Normalcy for Youth in Foster Care training as part of the preservice training, so this action will update training requirements for current and prospective foster and adoptive providers.

The agency does not intend to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 63.2-217 and 63.2-319 Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: November 29, 2017.

Agency Contact: Keisha Williams, Program Consultant, Department of Social Services, 801 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 726-7550, FAX (804) 819-7173, or email k.williams@dss.virginia.gov.