Sec. 15.5. (a) A child placing agency shall establish minimum qualifications for each classification of employee. The standards in subsections (b) through (e) must be used as a guide by each child placing agency in establishing minimum qualifications for the classifications of an executive, a casework supervisor, a caseworker, and a worker in training, and by the department in the licensing of each child placing agency.

     (b) An executive must have the following:

(1) A bachelor’s degree.

(2) At least one (1) of the following:

(A) Five (5) years of paid experience in a field related to social work, at least two (2) years of which were:

(i) in social work; or

(ii) in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a field related to social work, including working for the department.

(B) A master’s degree in social work, counseling, or a related human services area and at least two (2) years of paid experience:

(i) in social work; or

(ii) in a supervisory or administrative capacity in a field related to social work, including working for the department.

     (c) A casework supervisor must have the following:

(1) A bachelor’s degree.

(2) One (1) year of graduate training in social work, counseling, or a related human service area of study.

(3) At least one (1) of the following:

(A) Three (3) years of supervised paid casework experience, at least one (1) year of which was with a licensed child placing agency or with the department.

(B) A master’s degree from a recognized school of social work and at least one (1) year of supervised paid casework experience in a licensed child placing agency or with the department.

     (d) A caseworker must have the following:

(1) A bachelor’s degree.

(2) At least one (1) of the following:

(A) Three (3) years of supervised paid casework experience.

(B) One (1) year of supervised paid casework experience in a licensed child placing agency or with the department.

(C) One (1) year of graduate training in a recognized school of social work.

     (e) A worker in training must have a bachelor’s degree.

     (f) A child placing agency must only employ a staff member who is:

(1) duly qualified;

(2) of good moral character; and

(3) in satisfactory health.

     (g) An employee who is in a position on January 1, 2012, and who qualified for that position on December 31, 2011, is exempt from the requirements of this section.

As added by P.L.109-2024, SEC.7.