In “it” for the money? Financing Child Safety, Permanency, and Well-being January 2014

2 8 Payments of Care Regular Foster Care per-diem Special Foster Care per-diem Specialized Foster Care per-diem RBWO RBWO With Waiver Enhanced Relative Rate Subsidized Guardianship Enhanced Subsidized Guardianship

3  Regular Foster Care per-diem Least restrictive/most family-like  Regular or Relative Foster Home (same requirements)  Foster/Adopt Home (legal-risk home) All children under age 6 unless the child has a diagnosis of SED or MR requiring 24-hour supervision in residential treatment  Special Foster Care per-diem (add on) County Director or designee can add an additional.50 - $1.75 per diem for a specific purpose/time  Specialized Foster Care per-diem Rates established by OPM (Office of Provider Management) Limit of 3 children in one home with this rate FOSTER CARE Per-Diem

4 For discussion…  Identify a list of behaviors (good or bad) that ANY child may demonstrate who has survived a DFCS “tornado” and was placed in Foster Care…  These children should be cared for at the Regular FC per-diem rate Identify a list of behaviors that one child may exhibit for a limited time period that may create the need for extra skills or resources to manage…  These children should be cared for at the Special FC per-diem rate

5 When should a DFCS Foster Home receive “Special” or “Specialized” rates? When the child exhibits behaviors that require more attention and resources than are needed for the others in the home (increases child vulnerability) When the caregiver’s protective capacities are tested or “stretched” by the extra attention and services a particular child requires To avoid severing a permanent connection because the initial assessment (or lack of one) underestimated the current needs of the child

6 One more thing….. Sibling Incentive (Sib-1) Available to all regular and relative foster homes (DFCS or CPA) Must be at least three or more siblings placed together ADDITIONAL $100 per month/per child

7 Current per-diem rates for FC placements Family Foster Care (FFC) Basic Rate Birth-through age 5 $ through age 12 $17.00 Age 13 and over $19.36

8 What is RBWO? Room Board Watchful Oversight

9 RBWO Effective July 1, 2007 Replaced LOC in Georgia Eliminated a bundled rate package paid for Therapeutic Residential Intervention Services Separates the room, board, and watchful oversight from other behavioral health services provided Children are placed based on Difficulty of Care Factors: Areas assessed: school adjustment, performance in home environment, social and community activities, health and developmental factors

10 What does eliminate a “bundled” package mean? Caregivers are only paid for the services that THEY provide. Most are NOT medical professionals, but previously some received reimbursement for treatment services that should have been billed to Medicaid

11 RBWO Programs CCI  Child Caring Institutions (Group Homes)  Serves >6 children CPA  Child Placing Agencies (Private agency Foster Homes)

12 CPA programs Traditional RBWO (kids with unknown behaviors) Base Watchful Oversight (BWO) Maximum Watchful Oversight (MWO) Specialty Base Watchful Oversight (SBWO) Specialty Maximum Watchful Oversight (SMWO) Specialty Medically Fragile Watchful Oversight (SMFWO)

13 CCI programs Base (kids with unknown behaviors) Maternity Emergency Placement Teen Development Additional Watchful Oversight (AWO) 2 nd Chance Camp Maximum Watchful Oversight (MWO)

14 Class review…. Internet site State of Georgia Out-of-home Care Website Application for services Approved Provider List Current rates for services Registrant Downloads- Life 2 RBWO Chart Provider Requirements and Child characteristic July 2008

15 8 Payments of Care 3 MORE TO GO>>>> Enhanced Relative Rate Subsidized Guardianship Enhanced Subsidized Guardianship

16 Relative Care Subsidy Rate is available for children in DFCS custody placed with relatives who meet the TANF degree of relationship. Approved Relative Care Assessment 80% of the current DFCS foster care per diem

17 Guardian angels…. Subsidized Guardianship Enhanced Subsidized Guardianship

18 Subsidized Guardianship (SG) Two types: Relatives and Non-relatives (same benefits) Child must have been in DFCS custody for 12 months DHR case is closed $10 per day per-diem is paid to relative to leave care Lasts until child is 18 (19 to finish school) Reunification is UNLIKELY Favorable RCA and CCFA No Court review of Permanent custody placements effective 1/1/14

19 Two types: Relatives and Non-relatives (same benefits) Child must have been in DFCS custody for 12 months DHR case is closed 80% of FC per-diem is paid to relative to leave care Lasts until child is 18 (19 to finish school) Reunification is UNLIKELY Favorable RCA and CCFA No Court review of Permanent custody placements effective 1/1/14 ***Income verification provided- Relatives income can not exceed $150,000 per year Enhanced Subsidized Guardianship (ESG)

20 Additional FC policy references Relative Care Assessment (RCA) is completed within 30 days of the referral date or of the initial placement date with a relative. The RCA is also completed on a non-custodial parent seeking placement. All relatives must sign 29-R (discipline policy) OIS check (Office of Investigative Services) must be completed PRIOR TO placement with a relative CM must make home visit to relative within 14 days of placement Support to Relatives Handout must be discussed Concurrent per-diem payments may be paid to two providers for up to ten days in a calendar month

21 And another thing…. Intensive Community Support Program (ICSP)  Services and supports to children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) and their families Accessible to parents (biological, foster, or adoptive) and relatives Level 1 or 2 services available

22 Did you learn anything? We’ll find out... Each slide that follows contains FIVE acronyms and will be shown for ONLY 20 seconds Unscramble the acronyms listed AND identify what each stands for The participant with the most correct wins something fabulous from ME, your Trainer (just kidding)

23 I almost forgot…. Do you think the people who care for DFCS kids are in “it” for the money?