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:
- Payment for the respite provider is made by following the Payment Request instructions located in the FACES Financial Management handbook.
- 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.