CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

4.4.3 Emergency Foster Care

Emergency foster homes are utilized for short-term placements. These homes are licensed foster homes who have signed the “Cooperative Agreement for the Purchase of Emergency Foster Care”, CM-11. Emergency foster care placements are limited to 60 consecutive days per child. Approval of the area office is not required. After a child has spent 60 days in an emergency foster placement, the system will automatically change the payment code to reflect a standard level of maintenance payment. Emergency Foster Care includes:

  • The child is in danger of serious harm or injury; and
  • A relative or kinship home is being pursued but a placement is needed while criminal and CA/N background screenings are being completed;
  • There is no appropriate foster home available other than the emergency home; or
  • The child has been in an out-of-home placement which has disrupted and/or is in crisis.

Keep in mind each move is a disruption for the child.

Rarely, it may be necessary for the Emergency Foster Care provider to receive respite care services. Examples of rare occasions include a death in the family, illness, or unplanned hospitalization. On those occasions:

  1. Payment for the respite provider is made by following the Payment Request instructions located in the FACES Financial Management handbook.
  2. The time that the foster youth is in respite care continues to count toward the maximum of 60 consecutive days of being in an emergency placement.

Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)

Memoranda History: