OKDHS - OAC 340:75-8-8. Therapeutic foster care contractor requirements

340:75-8-8. Therapeutic foster care contractor requirements

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Revised 5-15-09

(a) Therapeutic foster care (TFC) contractors:

(1) certify TFC homes according to rules established by Oklahoma Child Care Services (OCCS), Children and Family Services Division (CFSD), OAC 340:75-7-10 through 340:75‑7‑19, Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), and the requirements outlined in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Placement Agreement for Residential Behavioral Management Services (RBMS) in TFC Settings;
(2) ensure the TFC home meets all certification requirements prior to the placement of a child in the home;
(3) engage in active recruitment of potential TFC parents who reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of children requiring placement, in compliance with the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 per OAC 340:75-7-10;
(4) continually evaluate the TFC parent's ability to provide TFC services and meet the needs of children receiving residential behavior management services in a foster care setting per OAC 340:75-7-94;
(5) ensure each TFC parent:
- (A) is trained according to OCCS rules, OHCA rules per OAC 317:30-5-740.1, and CFSD resource family requirements including Bridge, and the requirements outlined in OKDHS Placement Agreement for RBMS in TFC Settings, prior to the placement of a child in the home;
- (B) meets the requirements for in-service training as defined in the OKDHS contract; and
- (C) has access to respite care per OAC 340:75-8-11;
(6) requests approval from the CFSD programs manager for TFC prior to accessing child care for a child five years of age or younger. OKDHS does not reimburse for child care for a child in TFC placement. The written request includes the:
- (A) therapeutic justification in the child's treatment plan of daily child care outside of the child's TFC placement home;
- (B) ability of child care staff or child care provider to meet the child's emotional and behavioral needs and all problems;
- (C) availability of the TFC parent and TFC contractor staff to respond to behavioral needs and all problems at the child care environment;
- (D) verification of child care center's licensing status, ratings, and adult:child ratio;
- (E) planned length of use of child care as a service component of the child's treatment plan; and
- (F) verification of TFC approval as a respite provider when an individual is providing child care;
(7) completes Form 04TF006E, Unsupervised Time Assessment, for children age six and older anytime an assessment is made that the child has the ability to have time away from the TFC parents' direct supervision. The assessment is documented as part of the child's ongoing TFC treatment plan; • 1
(8) do not accept applications from any foster parent certified by any other agency, including all licensed child-placing agencies and OKDHS, without prior written approval of the current certifying TFC contractor and written approval of the CFSD programs manager for TFC; • 2
(9) do not certify the TFC home unless at least one TFC parent is available to provide care for the child any time the child is not in school;
(10) do not certify an OKDHS employee as a TFC parent without prior written approval from the CFSD director or designee. The TFC contractor submits the written request to the CFSD programs manager for TFC. The review of the request is consistent with OAC 340:75-7-12;
(11) do not certify a TFC agency employee assigned to the TFC program without prior written approval from the CFSD programs manager for TFC. The request includes a copy of TFC agency policy regarding certification of employees of the TFC agency; and
(12) do not accept a foster parent application from a person licensed to provide child care services. Families are not approved as licensed family child care homes and TFC homes at their home or in any other location.

(b) TFC homes may be jointly approved per OAC 340:75-7-19.

(1) Joint approval of a TFC home occurs following written approval between the TFC contractor and the other certifying agency.
(2) A TFC home certified by more than one agency may not accept new placements from either certifying agency without prior written agreement of all certifying agencies. • 2

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-8-8

Revised 7-1-08

1. Unsupervised time for children in TFC placement. Child Welfare (CW) staff in the county of placement:

(1) consults with the therapeutic foster care (TFC) therapist and the TFC foster parent regarding the decision to complete Form 04TF006E, Unsupervised Time Assessment;

(2) reviews the completed 04TF006E and the accompanying Support Plan signed by the child, the TFC therapist, the TFC foster parent, and the TFC agency director;

(3) discusses the completed Form 04TF006E, accompanying Support Plan, and TFC treatment plan with his or her supervisor and the county of jurisdiction worker and supervisor when different from the county of placement;

(4) secures necessary signatures and returns the signed plan to the TFC therapist to be filed in the TFC case with copies provided to the TFC parents and the child; and

(5) reviews Form 04TF006E and Support Plan at each treatment plan review and any time the child’s behavior or needs changes.

2. Joint approval. Child Welfare (CW) staff:

(1) refers all requests for joint approval of therapeutic foster care (TFC) homes in writing to the Children and Family Services Division programs manager for TFC, per OAC 340:75-7-19;

(2) does not encourage or recommend that the TFC parent seek approval with another TFC agency prior to the resolution of any issues with the current certifying TFC contractor; and

(3) encourages the TFC parent to address the issues with the director of the contractor's TFC program or through the TFC contractor's grievance process.

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