A. When applicants are approved in accordance with the standards of this chapter, they are approved as foster or adoptive providers. The approved provider shall be allowed to choose to provide only foster or adoptive care.

B. Providers must meet all standards of approval. Waivers may be granted in order to approve kinship foster parents as outlined in 22VAC40-211-90.

C. The standards of this chapter apply to adoptive home providers until the final order of adoption is issued for a specific child. The standards continue to apply after the final order of adoption if the provider wishes to continue as an approved foster care provider.

D. All local department-approved providers shall:

1. Be at least 18 years of age;

2. Agree not to use corporal punishment with the child in their care or allow others to do so and shall sign an agreement to that effect; and

3. Sign a confidentiality agreement indicating that the individual completing the mutual family assessment for the local department explained the confidential nature of the information related to the child in his care and of the requirement to maintain that confidentiality.

E. If the approval process results in the local department's denial of the application, the local department shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision. A copy of the letter shall be filed in the applicant's record.

F. All mutual family assessments approved by a local board, including all related approval documentation, except any documentation related to background checks, are transferable to other local boards and licensed child-placing agencies within the Commonwealth at the request of the foster or adoptive parent. Transfers may only occur after the initial period of approval and will not incur any charge to the resource parent for the transfer. At the time of the transfer, the market rate for the initial mutual family assessment is $0.

1. The request to transfer the approval documentation by the resource parent must be in writing and signed and include a signed release of information form that states the name of the agency receiving the approval documentation.

2. The approval documentation must include the original mutual family assessment, all addendums to the mutual family assessment and any approval documentation related to the most recent re-approval but shall not include any documentation regarding background checks.

3. The transfer of the mutual family assessment and related approval documentation does not guarantee that the receiving agency will approve the foster or adoptive parent. The receiving agency shall only use the transferred documentation to assist in their own assessment and determination about the approval of the foster or adoptive parent.

4. The sending agency must notify the foster or adoptive parent in writing once the approval documentation was sent to the receiving agency.