4545. HOPE Center Placement

Applies To: This policy applies to caseworkers.

Policy Number & Title: 4545. Hope Center Placement

Effective Date: July 23, 2017

Purpose

Hope centers provide temporary residential placement, assessment and coordination of community services for street children or youth.

Authority

RCW 13.32A.140 Out-of-Home Placement, Child in Need of Services

RCW 43.185C.315 Youth Services, Hope Centers, Requirements

RCW 43.185C.320 Youth services, Hope Centers, Eligibility, Minors

RCW 74.13.280 Client Information

RCW 74.14A.020 Services for Emotionally Disturbed and Mentally Ill Children, Potentially Dependent Children, and Families-In- Conflict

Policy

Accessing Placement in a Hope Center
1. The caseworker must:
  1. Refer to Intake Process and Response or Family Reconciliation Services policies for service requests for non-dependent children or youth requiring placement. Contact extended family, Crisis Residential Centers (CRC), or other resource for placement as appropriate.
  2. Send a Child Information Placement and Referral DCYF form 15-300 to the DCYF placement coordinator for dependent children or youth. The Hope Center will make the final determination whether to accept the placement request, and priority will be given to:
    1. Youth close to turning 18 years old or who could utilize a Hope Center placement before accessing:
      1. Responsible Living Skills Program (RLSP).
      2. Independent Youth Housing Program (IYHP).
      3. Extended Foster Care (EFC).
      4. Other long-term housing and service options.
Placement in a Hope Center
The caseworker will:
1. Obtain legal authorization for placements lasting longer than 72 hours.
2. Ensure the child or youth does not stay in a Hope Center longer than 30 calendar days. Note: A Hope Center may approve extensions, but placement cannot exceed 60 calendar days total. During the Hope Center stay, the caseworker must try to facilitate family reconciliation, return the child or youth home, or develop an alternative long-term placement plan.
3. Follow the Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Child Protective Services Investigation and Family Assessment Response policy if there is reason to know the child may be an Indian child.
4. When a child or youth is in the care and custody of DCYF, and placed in a Hope Center:
  1. Follow Health and Safety Visits with Children and Youth and Monthly Visits with Parents and Caregivers policy.
  2. Schedule a Family Team Decision Making Meeting or Shared Planning Meeting within 72 hours of placement, excluding weekends and holidays.
  3. Authorize emergent medical and dental care.
5. Document case coordination in FamLink.
Information Sharing with Hope Center Staff
1. For dependent children or youth in a Hope Center who have self-referred or been referred by law enforcement, the caseworker must provide and exchange information per RCW 74.13.280 and Health and Safety Visits with Children and Youth and Monthly Visits with Parents and Caregivers policy. Information includes, but is not limited to:
  1. Name
  2. Date of birth
  3. Gender
  4. Behaviors
  5. Risks
  6. Special needs
  7. Sexually Aggressive/Physically Aggressive Assaultive Youth (SAY/PAAY) history
  8. Offense History