A Youth with Elevated Needs-Level B resource family placement is utilized to meet the needs of children with serious emotional and behavior problems who qualify for the Youth with Elevated Needs-Level B program. This resource provides intensive individualized intervention in a family and community-based setting to prevent unnecessary and inappropriate placements of children in highly structured environments. Level B resource providers have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as the primary change agent for children placed in their care.
Related Subject: Section 4, Chapter 14, Youth with Elevated Needs
A Level B resource home may best meet a child’s needs if:
- Because of presenting problems, these children would be in a moderate level or above residential treatment facility or psychiatric hospital; or
- Has been discharged from a residential treatment facility or psychiatric hospital and are unable to function in a foster family home.
Presenting problems displayed by the child or diagnoses requiring individualized care may include the following:
- History of suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, statements, and/or gestures;
- Affective disorders;
- Attention Deficit Disorder;
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;
- Eating Disorder;
- Panic Disorder;
- Fears/phobias;
- Obsessive/Compulsive Disorders;
- Oppositional Defiant Disorders;
- Depression/withdrawal;
- Disassociative behaviors, blank out, pass out, seizures;
- Anger/rage;
- History of fire setting;
- Destruction of property;
- Failure to form emotional attachments; and
- Multiple short-term placements.
Working with the Child with Developmental Delays
Children with developmental delays may, or may not, be appropriate for Level B Foster Care. Appropriateness for Level B foster care should be based on evaluation of the clinical and behavioral characteristics surrounding that particular child. Children should not be ruled out for Level B foster care based solely on the singular characteristic of an IQ score falling below 65. Instead, the team should consider a variety of information, including the following:
- Child’s functioning level;
- Severity of developmental delays;
- Ability for self-care;
- Type of behavior problems;
- Level of physical aggressions;
- Age;
- Compliance;
- Need for supervision;
- Strengths; and
- Challenges.
The Department of Mental Health/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD) can be very valuable in providing expertise about and support for these children and their foster parents or caregivers. If a referral for services to DD has not been made in these instances, the case manager should do so immediately by contacting the appropriate DD Regional Office.