| Policy |
Each regional Family Training and Support Unit
shall maintain an "emergency list" of that region’s licensed foster
homes which are available to the Child Protective Hotline for emergency placements. |
| Access to Emergency List |
The Hotline shall have access to each
region’s emergency list through the LINK computer system. |
| Length of Emergency Placement |
An emergency placement home shall be used for a
maximum of five (5) business days to provide a safe
environment for the child while a more long term living arrangement is located. |
| Information on Emergency List |
Information on the emergency list shall include
the foster family’s
- name, address, telephone number
- race and culture
- language
- licensed bed capacity
- number of openings.
|
| Daily Updates |
The FTSU matcher is responsible for maintaining
the region’s list in LINK. The matcher shall
- update the list daily to include only those homes available on that day
- attempt to maintain at least ten (10) homes on the emergency list.
Note: The foster parent is responsible for notifying the matcher of
those dates when the home will not be available. |
| Recruitment of Foster Homes for Emergency
List |
Every six (6) months,
or more frequently if needed, each regional FTSU shall notify licensed foster homes in
good standing of the need for emergency placement homes. The recruitment notice shall
explain the criteria for selection as an emergency home and specify the date of a required
orientation meeting for those interested (See below).
Note: Families on "hold" are not eligible to be used as
emergency placement resources. |
| Priority Homes |
Efforts shall be made to include multilingual
homes on the emergency list. Priority shall be given to those families who
- meet regional needs
- are able and willing to take
- sibling groups
- teenagers
- have less than five (5) children in their home.
|
| Length of Commitment |
Foster parents shall be asked to commit to three
(3) months as an emergency placement resource. |
| Orientation Meeting |
The FTSU matcher shall conduct the
orientation meeting. The matching supervisor and an after-hours worker shall be invited to
attend. The foster families shall be provided with the following information regarding
the emergency placement program:
- operation of the emergency list
- operation of the Hotline emergency services
- roles and responsibilities of the Hotline and the regional office Social Workers
- placement process
- availability of information on the child and his/her family
- reduction of child trauma during emergency placements.
|
| Expectations of Emergency Placement Foster
Families |
The following are expectations of families
providing emergency placements:
- availability
- flexibility
- reliability
- ability to respond in emergency, off-hours situations
- capability for making sleeping arrangements for sibling groups
- willingness to call the regional matcher the next business day morning after every
placement.
Foster parents who volunteer to be on the list shall sign an agreement that they will
- call the regional matcher at the start of the next business day following placement to
discuss the placement and obtain the name of the child’s Social Worker.
Note: The child’s worker is responsible for contacting the foster
parent as soon as possible after the placement.
- allow the removal of the child(ren) to another foster home in order to maintain openings
for emergency placements
- notify the regional matcher of all dates when they will not be available for a
placement so that the emergency list may be updated.
|
| Selection of Families |
The selection of families for the emergency list
shall be approved by the matching supervisor and the FTSU Program Supervisor. |
| After-Hours Responsibility |
The Hotline after-hours worker or supervisor
shall
Note: Exceptions may be granted to keep siblings together, and to
place children close to their own home.
- attempt to utilize homes in the child’s region first before using an out-of-region
home.
- ensure that placement information is entered in LINK immediately upon placement.
Cross-Reference: 41-19-2,
"Principles of Foster Care Matching" |
| Regional Workers’ Responsibilities
Following an Emergency Placement |
Each business day, the regional matchers shall
retrieve and review the emergency placement information in LINK and discuss the placement
with the foster parent. The child’s regional Social Worker and the matcher shall
meet or talk during the first business day following an emergency placement to plan, if
appropriate, for the child’s move.
The child shall be moved within five (5) business days to
allow the emergency placement home to remain available for other emergency placements.
Only in rare cases will a child be allowed to remain in the emergency placement home;
e.g., to allow siblings to remain together. |
| Placement Feedback Letter |
Placement feedback letters are not required for
emergency placements of under three (3) days duration. |
| Payments for Emergency Placements |
Foster parents shall receive an adjustment of
$25.00 per day added to the per diem reimbursement for each child placed on an emergency
basis. The adjustment shall be in effect until the next business day, when the basic
rate shall be authorized.
The child’s regional Social Worker shall request the emergency adjustment in LINK.
Cross-Reference: 36-55-25.3, "Financial
Information: Reimbursement Adjustments." |
