(a) Therapeutic foster care model. Children in the TFC environment receive intensive individualized behavioral health and other support services from qualified staff. Because TFC children require exceptional levels of skill, time and supervision, the number of unrelated children placed per home is limited; no more than two TFC children in a home at any one time unless additional cases are specifically authorized by OKDHS, Division of Children and Family Services or OJA.

(b) Treatment team. TFC agencies are primarily responsible for treatment planning and coordination of the child's treatment team. This team is typically composed of an OKDHS or OJA caseworker, the child, the child's parents, others closely involved with the child and family. It also includes the following:

• (1) Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Specialist (BHRS). A bachelors level team member that may provider support services and case management. In addition to the minimum requirements at OAC 317:30-5-240.3 (c), the BHRS must have:
• (A) a minimum of one year of experience in providing direct care and/or treatment to children and/or families, and
• (B) have access to weekly consultation with a licensed behavioral health professional.
• (2) Licensed Behavioral Health Professional (LBHP). A masters level professional that provides treatment and supervision for the treatment staff to maintain clinical standards of care and provide direct clinical services. In addition to the requirements at OAC 317:30-5-240.3(a), the LBHP in a TFC setting must demonstrate a general processional or educational background in the following areas:
• (A) case management, assessment and treatment planning;
• (B) treatment of victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse;
• (C) treatment of children with attachment disorders;
• (D) treatment of children with hyperactivity or attention deficit disorders;
• (E) treatment methodologies for emotionally disturbed children and youth;
• (F) normal childhood development and the effect of abuse and/or neglect on childhood development;
• (G) anger management;
• (H) crisis intervention; and
• (I) trauma informed methodology.
• (3) Licensed Psychiatrist and/or psychologist. TFC agencies must provide staff with access to professional psychiatric or psychological consultation as deemed necessary for the planning, implementation and appropriate management of the resident's treatment. See OAC 317:30-5-240.3(a) and OAC 317:25-275.
• (4) Treatment Parent Specialist (TPS). The TPS serve as integral members of the team of professionals providing services for the child. The TPS receives special training in mental health issues, behavior management and parenting techniques; and implements the in-home portion of the treatment plan with close supervision and support. They provide services for the child, get the child to therapy and other treatment appointments, write daily notes about interventions and attend treatment team meetings. The TPS must be under the supervision of a licensed behavioral health professional of the foster care agency and meet the following criteria:
• (A) have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• (B) be employed by the foster care agency  as a foster parent complete with OSBI and OKDHS background screening;
• (C) completion of therapeutic foster parent training outlined in this section;
• (D) have a minimum of twice monthly face to face supervision with the licensed, or under-supervision for licensure, LBHP, independent of the child's family therapy;
• (E) have weekly contact with the foster care agency professional staff; and
• (F) complete required annual trainings.

(c) Agency assurances. The TFC agency must ensure that each individual that renders treatment services (whether employed by or contracted by the agency) meets the minimum provider qualifications for the service.  Individuals eligible for direct enrollment must have a contract on file with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. 

(d) Policies and Procedures.  Eligible TFC agency providers that are defined in section OAC 317:30-5-740(a) shall have written policies and procedures for the orientation of new staff and foster parents which is reviewed and updated annually, for the following:

• (1) pre-service training of foster parents in treatment methodologies and service needs of emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children;
• (2) treatment of victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse;
• (3) treatment of children with attachment disorders;
• (4) treatment of children with hyperactive or attention deficit disorders;
• (5) normal childhood development and the effect of abuse and/or neglect on childhood development;
• (6) treatment of children and families with substance abuse and chemical dependency disorders;
• (7) the Inpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment of Minors Act;
• (8) anger management;
• (9) inpatient authorization procedures;
• (10) crisis intervention;
• (11) grief and loss issues for children in foster care;
• (12) the significance/value of birth families to children receiving outpatient behavioral health services in a foster care setting; and
• (13) trauma informed methodology.