Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. OK OP 7000-10-006 1 of 5 Effective Date: July 1, 2013 Our Kids Quality Assurance Department FCMA’s Guide and Utilization of Group Care I. Policy/Purpose: It is the policy of Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. (Our Kids) to require Full Case Management Agencies (FCMA’s) to place custodial children/youth in a timely manner in the least restrictive and appropriate placement in which they can be successful. FCMA’s must match children/youth religious, cultural and sexual orientation distinctions with like /or tolerant caregivers. The placement will be respectful of a child/youth’s home/school district, in their own community, with siblings, in a home-like, least restrictive setting that will meet their unique needs, In accordance with Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 65C-28.004, Placement Matching Requirements. To the extent possible, these placements will take into consideration the family, the child/youth, and the community safety. Our Kids requires FCMA’s to develop written operating procedures delineating the process for assessing, placing and monitoring custodial children/youth in group care. Child welfare and the safety of children/youth in Department of Children and Family (DCF) custody through Our Kids is of utmost importance. Placement of children/youth in safe, secure and most appropriate setting to meet their needs is essential to their safety and well-being. Although the FCMAS have the responsibility for the placement of children/youth, all placement decisions are made in the context of Family Centered Practice and in collaboration with the child/youth’s family and/or supports, identify the best placement for the child/youth that will meet his/her unique, individual needs and limit the amount of trauma experienced by the child/youth. II. Scope/Responsibility: This policy and the procedures are to be used as a guide for placement of custodial children by any Our Kids subcontracted Licensed Child Placing Agencies (FCMA’s). It is the responsibility of all Our Kids subcontracted Licensed Child Placing Agency staff, Our Kids Regional Manager and appropriate Our Kids QA staff to comply with the guidelines and procedures as defined within this policy. Regulatory Reference Sources: Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 65C-28.004, Placement Matching Requirements. Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. OK OP 7000-10-006 2 of 5 Effective Date: July 1, 2013 III. Location: This policy and procedure can be located on the Our Kids web at http://www.ourkids.us/aboutus/Pages/pnp.aspx and on the Our Kids Intranet site at http://intranet.ourkids.us/pnp/default.aspx IV. Definitions: A. Department of Children and Families (DCF): V. B. Family Centered Practice: 1. View family as partner, involve them in the assessment; planning; delivery; and coordination of services; 2. Enhance family’s capacity to care for and protect child; 3.See family in the context of their own culture, networks and community. C. Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN): The State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) for the state of Florida. FSFN is the electronic system of record for each case. It contains information regarding a particular child and his or her family. D. Full case Management Agency (FCMA): A subcontracted provider of Our Kids that will perform all direct client contact to include all full case management tasks. E. Large Sibling Groups: A group that is defined as three or more children. F. Out-of-Home Care: The placement of a child, arranged and supervised by the Department or its agent, outside the home of the child’s custodial parent or legal guardian. This includes placement in licensed shelter, foster home, group home, Residential Treatment Center (including SIPP funded centers), and non-licensed relative/non-relative settings. G. Placing Agency: Our Kids subcontracted agency/ Full Case Management Agencies (FCMA). Procedures/Process: No Child under the age of 11 years shall be placed in group care except under certain circumstances. The circumstances under which a child under the age of 11 years can be placed in group care are (a) emergency circumstances and (b) the Regulatory Reference Sources: Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 65C-28.004, Placement Matching Requirements. Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. OK OP 7000-10-006 3 of 5 Effective Date: July 1, 2013 child is part of a large sibling group and alternative placement cannot be secured. A. Emergency Placement The emergency placement of a child under the age of 11 years in group care shall be documented in the child’s case record. The following information must be documented in the child’s case record: 1. Verification that no alternate plan for care was available at the time of admission. 2. Continued diligent efforts shall be made to place children with a relative, non-relative, family foster home or other appropriate family like setting. 3. A referral to Family Finders documenting the results in FSFN is required. 4. Emergency placement of a child under 6 years will not exceed 30 days from admission. 5. Plans created to place children will be documented in FSFN with updates to any plan outlined and dictated by the end date. 6. Placement of children 6-11 years will require a multidisciplinary staffing to ensure that such placement was made for an exceptional purpose and with a short-term end date. B. Child is part of a large Sibling Group 1. In order to prevent the separation of a family, placement of large sibling groups of 3 or more siblings in group care will be permitted and documented in FSFN. 2. Continued diligent efforts shall be made to place the children with a relative, non-relative, family foster home or other appropriate family setting. 3. A referral to Family Finders documenting the results in FSFN is required. 4. Ongoing efforts to secure a family like setting and move the children from group care for children under age 6 will be documented in FSFN every 15 days from admission into group care. 5. Placement of children 6-11 years will require a multidisciplinary staffing to ensure that such placement was made for an exceptional purpose and with a short-term end date. Regulatory Reference Sources: Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 65C-28.004, Placement Matching Requirements. Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. OK OP 7000-10-006 4 of 5 Effective Date: July 1, 2013 6. Plans created to place children will be documented in FSFN with updates to any plan outlined and dictated by the end date. C. Written approval of the CEO/Executive Director The placement agency must complete the Assessment for Residential Group Care Form (Att A). The completed form must be approved and signed by the CEO/Executive Director of the placing agency. and forwarded to the Our Kids Regional Manager and appropriate Our Kids Quality Assurance designated contact. D. Notification to Our Kids It is mandatory for the placing agency to notify and forward a copy of the Assessment Form (Att A) to the Our Kids Regional Manager and appropriate Our Kids Quality Assurance designated contact. Notification must be within 24 hours of placement and may occur verbally and/or electronically. E. Our Kids Staffing Involvement Our Kids Regional Manager and Our Kids Quality Assurance designated staff will attend all multidisciplinary staffings related to efforts to place children as outlined in this policy. F. Training Requirements Group home staff /parents require additional training and support. Our Kids requires training in the following areas: 1. Mandatory In-Service Training to be completed yearly a. Psychotropic Medication Administration and your role as a caregiver b. Yes Institute Communication Solutions Training c. Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) d. De-escalation Techniques 2. Mandatory general training to be completed over time a. PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information Development and Education) b. Trauma Informed Care c. Elements of Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) 3. Our Kids will provide and/or coordinate the required trainings. Regulatory Reference Sources: Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 65C-28.004, Placement Matching Requirements. Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. OK OP 7000-10-006 5 of 5 Effective Date: July 1, 2013 VI. Cross Reference/Research Note: Young children in residential care are more likely to suffer from poor health, physical underdevelopment, and deterioration in brain growth, developmental delay and emotional attachment disorders. Consequently, these children have reduced intellectual, social and behavioral abilities compared to those growing up in a family home. (Carter, 2005; Johnson, Brown and Hamilton-Giachritsis, 2006). VII. History of Revisions: Date created: May 2013 Date(s) revised: VIII. Attachments: Attachment A - Assessment for Residential Group Care Form BY DIRECTION OF: Frances P. Allegra, Chief Executive Officer Regulatory Reference Sources: Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 65C-28.004, Placement Matching Requirements.