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2011 Session

Budget Amendments - SB800 (Conference Report)

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Guidelines for Therapeutic Foster Care Services (language only)

Item 274 #2c

Item 274 #2c

Health And Human Resources
Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families

Language
Page 231, after line 30, insert:
"M.  The State Executive Council (SEC) shall authorize guidelines for therapeutic foster care (TFC) services, including a standardized definition of therapeutic foster care services, uniform service needs criteria required for the utilization of therapeutic foster care services, uniform placement outcome goals to include length of stay targets when the service is indicated and uniform contracting requirements when purchasing therapeutic foster care services.  The SEC shall authorize the use of regional contracts for the provision of TFC services.  The SEC shall direct the Office of Comprehensive Services to (i) work with stakeholders to develop these guidelines for the provision of TFC and (ii) develop regional contracts for the provision of TFC, with the goal of decreasing the unit cost of social services and maintaining or increasing the quality and effectiveness of the services. The SEC shall focus its attention on rural areas and areas with few service providers. Training will be provided for all local departments of services, family assessment and planning teams, community policy and management teams and therapeutic foster care services providers on these guidelines.  The Director of the Office of Comprehensive Services shall report the progress of these efforts to the SEC at its regularly scheduled meetings."


Explanation
(This amendment adds language directing the State Executive Council (SEC) to authorize (i) guidelines for better utilization of therapeutic foster care services for children with a focus on rural areas and areas with few service providers and (ii) the use of regional contracts for therapeutic foster care services. The SEC is required to direct the Office of Comprehensive Services to work with stakeholders to develop these guidelines and the regional contracts. The cost of therapeutic foster care services have increased by 38 percent from 2007 to 2010. The average per child cost has increased by 35 percent, even though the number of children receiving these services has declined by about eight percent. Currently about 36 percent of children in foster care receive therapeutic foster care, while nationally only about 11 percent of children in foster care receive these services.)