4510. Respite for Licensed Foster Parents, Unlicensed Relative Caregivers and Other Suitable Persons

Applies To:  This policy applies to caseworkers and licensors. 

Policy Number & Title:  4510. Respite for Licensed Foster Parents, Unlicensed Relative Caregivers and Other Suitable Persons

Effective Date:  September 27, 1995

Purpose

Respite services can play an important role in preventing placement disruption. These services are available for licensed foster parents, unlicensed relative caregivers and other suitable persons with placement of children or youth in Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) or Tribal custody. Caregivers should be encouraged to access respite care services in emergent situations and to prevent disruption of the child or youth from their home.

Authority

WAC 110-148-1320  When will the department grant me a foster family license? 

Policy 

  1. Respite care service pursuant to this section (4510) is the temporary, time limited relief for substitute parenting or caregiving of a child or youth. Respite care can be arranged in advance or on an emergency basis.
  2. Respite care services for licensed caregivers, are intended to meet the following needs:
    1. To offer relief from parenting and caregiving responsibilities;
    2. To allow the caregiver personal time away from home;
    3. To provide substitute care in the absence of the caregiver;
    4. To provide opportunities to attend overnight training.
    5. To allow caregivers access to substitute caregiving to meet emergent situations for the caregiver;
    6. To prevent placement disruption.
  3. Respite care services for unlicensed relative caregivers or other suitable persons (See Practices and Procedures Guide Section 4261) are intended to meet the needs of children or youth and families in emergency situations and when the placement is at risk of disruption.
  4. Payment for respite services is not available to individuals who reside or live in the caregiver's residence. Respite services may be provided by a relative of the child or youth, or caregiver, only when the respite care provider resides outside the child's or youth’s current placement.
  5. Respite care that is provided outside the child's or youth’s caregiver's home must be provided by individuals who are licensed foster parents or licensed child care providers.
  6. Unlicensed respite providers can provide paid respite services only in the child's or youth’s caregiver's home. Unlicensed respite providers must complete both of the following:
    1. Successfully complete a FamLink background clearance and Washington State Criminal check.
    2. Meet the standards identified in WAC 110-148-1320. Background checks for unlicensed respite providers providing respite in licensed foster homes will be completed by Licensing Division (LD) staff, or in the case of respite services for unlicensed relative caregivers, background checks will be completed by the assigned DCYF caseworker.
  7. The caseworker or licensor will verify that the respite provider has experience and/or training to deal with the particular special needs of the child or youth in care such as dealing with children or youth who are medically fragile, children or youth who have been sexually and/or physically aggressive or assaultive.
  8. Licensed childcare providers may be used to provide respite care services for respite that is less than 24-hour duration. Respite payment to licensed childcare providers is paid at the regional child care rates using the appropriate SSPS respite payment code. SSPS childcare codes in the 2800 series are not used to authorize respite payment.
  9. Licensed providers for respite service must not exceed their licensed capacity and must meet Minimum Licensing Requirements (MLRs) while providing respite.
  10. Licensed caregivers using paid respite services, may not provide respite to other children or youth (paid or exchange), during the period of paid respite.
  11. Child-specific respite care plans are an element of the child's or youth’s case plan. As appropriate, the need for continued respite service is reviewed at service re-authorization and/or during multidisciplinary staffings.
  12. Respite care payments remain the fiscal responsibility of the originating region and office during courtesy supervision activities.
  13. Retention Respite provides licensed DCYF caregivers, licensed Tribal foster parents, and licensed Private Child-Placing Agency foster parents providing care for DCYF-placed children, with regular "time off" from the demands of caregiving responsibilities. Retention Respite guidelines are:
    1. Retention respite is intended to provide regular, monthly breaks from the demands of foster parenting and can also be used to meet emergent needs of licensed caregivers.
    2. Retention respite is awarded on a monthly basis per DCYF, Tribal, or Private Agency foster home caring for DCYF children.
    3. Retention respite is earned by eligible licensed caregivers at a rate of two (2) days per month.
    4. Retention respite is authorized in daily units only.
    5. The licensed caregiver home may accumulate or 'bank' a maximum of fourteen (14) days of retention respite days to be used at one time. Licensed caregivers should be encouraged to use retention respite as it is earned.
    6. Newly licensed caregivers will have a 30-day waiting period from the first eligible child placement before accruing retention respite.
    7. A licensed caregiver must provide foster care to one or more children or youth at least twenty (20) days in a month to earn retention respite for that month.
    8. When a day of retention respite is authorized, respite is normally paid for each eligible foster child or youth in the home, regardless of how long the child or youth has been in placement in the home. However, a licensed caregiver can elect to use retention respite for only one child or youth, even though more than one child or youth is in the placement. Whether retention respite is used to meet the needs of one or more children or youth, the time used will be deducted from accrued retention respite days.
    9. Licensed caregivers and caseworkers should be aware of pending respite plans in the caregiver's home when a child or youth is placed. Efforts should be made to avoid changes in caretakers for a child or youth shortly after placement.
    10. The respite provider must have experience and/or training to deal with the particular special needs of the child or youth in care such as dealing with children or youth who are medically fragile or children or youth who have been sexually and/or physically aggressive or assaultive.
    11. Regions will develop a process to authorize and monitor retention respite eligibility and utilization for DCYF foster homes.
    12. Tribal and Private Agencies shall monitor retention respite eligibility and utilization for their licensed homes, and will coordinate with DCYF regional management to develop a process to access and report retention respite usage.
  14. Child-Specific Respite (CSR) provides unlicensed relative caregivers, other suitable persons, licensed DCYF caregivers, licensed Tribal foster parents, and licensed Private Child-Placing Agency foster parents providing care for children or youth placed by DCYF, with the opportunity for relief from the caregiving responsibilities that are linked to the medical, behavioral or special needs of an individual child or youth. The CSR guidelines are:
    1. CSR is authorized on a case-by-case basis consistent with the written service plan for the child or youth.
    2. CSR is authorized in half-day or daily increments. Half-day will be authorized for respite services 0 - 5 hours and daily respite will be authorized for respite services greater than 5 hours.
    3. CSR is part of a child's or youth’s unique service plan. The need for continued service is reviewed at service re-authorization and during multidisciplinary staffing.
    4. CSR for more than 1 week must have Area Administrator approval.
    5. CSR may be discontinued based on an updated assessment of the needs of the child or youth.
    6. In calculating CSR, the caseworker should consider the availability of relief from caregiving responsibilities provided through retention respite, school, other relatives, family time and sibling and relative visitation schedules, etc.
  15. Exchange Respite is the relief from parenting responsibilities, which is negotiated and arranged between licensed caregivers and does not include payment of DCYF funds. Exchange respite guidelines are:
    1. Licensed caregivers must remain within their licensing requirements (i.e. capacity, age, gender, etc.).
    2. Licensed caregivers must notify the child's or youth’s caseworker of exchange respite services prior to the respite occurring.
    3. The caseworker will verify that there are no licensing complaints pending which would preclude the respite provider from caring for the child or youth.
    4. The caseworker will inform the respite provider of any special needs of the child or youth, supervision requirements and safety issues prior to initiating respite.

Resources

Respite for Licensed Foster Parents, Unlicensed Relative Caregivers and Other Suitable Persons (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

Original Date:  September 27, 1995

Revised Date:

Review Date:

Approved by: