VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Children's Home Society of Virginia
4200 FITZHUGH AVENUE
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 353-0191

Current Inspector: Dawn Espelage (540) 759-8852

Inspection Date: April 20, 2020

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-131 PROVIDER HOMES 22VAC40-191 Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. A complaint inspection was initiated on 4/20/2020 as a result of a complaint involving background checks for adult household members. The inspection was concluded on 4/20/2020. The Foster Care and Adoption Program Manager was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. The agency is currently providing services to one foster child and 5 adoptive children. There are 13 approved provider homes. The inspector discussed with the agency representative the items required to complete the inspection. The inspector reviewed one provider home record submitted by the agency to ensure documentation was complete. The exit interview took place over the phone on 4/20/20 with the Foster Care and Adoption Program Manager. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with one standard in the Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies. The violation was documented on the violation notice issued to the agency. It was a key health and safety standard. Upon receipt of the violation notice, the licensee must develop a plan of correction for each violation. The plan of correction must include the following: the steps to correct non-compliance with the standard(s); measures to prevent re-occurrence of non-compliance; person(s) responsible for implementation and monitoring of preventative measure(s); and date by which non-compliance will be corrected. The licensee has ten (10) calendar days from receipt of the inspection documentation to complete the section entitled "Plan of Correction", sign each page of the Plan of Correction and return it to the Licensing Office. The licensee retains a copy to be posted at the facility. Results of the inspection are subject to public disclosure and will be posted on the VDSS web site within five (5) days, regardless of whether or not the Plan of Correction has been completed.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-191-40-D-4-b
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Violation: Based on a review of the homestudy for the foster parents (FH-1) and a review of the national criminal background check for a person living in the home, the agency failed to obtain a national criminal background check within 30 days of the person becoming 18. Evidence: 1. A person (AH-1) residing in the household of FH-1 is 18 years old. 2. The national criminal background check for AH-1 was obtained while AH-1 was 17 years old, prior to AH-1 turning 18 years of age. 3. A national criminal background check was obtained for AH-1 after the error was discovered. This check was obtained after the person became 18 years of age, but not within 30 days following AH-1's 18th birthday. 4. When interviewed by the Licensing Specialist, the agency representative reported that she did not know that the background check request could not be made prior to a person's 18th birthday,
Plan of Correction:	1. A national criminal history check was obtained for this adult household member as soon as the error was discovered (results dated 4/20/20) 2. CHS will ensure that all staff members responsible for home monitoring understand that the national criminal history check must be completed within 30 days after the 18 th birthday and not prior to. This will be relayed to staff verbally, in an email and during any future training for agency caseworkers and interns. It will also be included in CHS?s Policies and Procedures for Minimum Standards Applicable to Virginia Licensed Child Placing Agencies. 3. All other case files were reviewed to ensure they are in compliance with this standard 4. Person responsible: Foster Care and Adoption Program