CAREGIVER EVALUATION

(a) The department shall develop policies and procedures for evaluating a potential caregiver's qualifications to care for a child under this subchapter, including policies and procedures for evaluating: (1) the criminal history of a caregiver; (2) allegations of abuse or neglect against a caregiver; and (3) a caregiver's home environment and ability to care for the child. (a-1) The department shall expedite the evaluation of a potential caregiver under this section to ensure that the child is placed with a caregiver who has the ability to protect the child from the alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect against the child. (b) A department caseworker who performs an evaluation of a caregiver under this section shall document the results of the evaluation in the department's case records. (c) If, after performing an evaluation of a potential caregiver, the department determines that it is not in the child's best interest to be placed with the caregiver, the department shall notify the person who proposed the caregiver and the proposed caregiver of the reasons for the department's decision, but may not disclose the specifics of any criminal history or allegations of abuse or neglect unless the caregiver agrees to the disclosure.