CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

4.4.7 Department of Mental Health Therapeutic Foster Family Homes and Missouri Alliance Foster Homes

Department of Mental Health

DMH foster homes operate to serve children with severe emotional disorders and/or developmental delay. Children served in this type of home may receive services jointly from the Department of Mental Health and Children’s Division. The Division recognizes the DMH license and with DMH consent, staff can utilize these homes for placement of children in CD custody. Department of Mental Health homes may not be available in every area and the number of total homes statewide is limited. Supervisory consultation must be sought in securing a Department of Mental Health placement and confirming that the family is DMH licensed.

Prior to a foster youth placement in the DMH licensed home, the Checklist for Placing Children’s Division Foster Youth in Licensed DMH Homes, CD-170, shall be completed with the current DMH license attached. The CD-170 is placed in the Child’s Section of the foster youth’s case file and copy sent to the Residential Care Screening Team Coordinator, (RCST).

It is the responsibility of the RCST to request the new license from the provider at each licensure renewal. It is the responsibility of the local county office to complete the CD-170 prior to the initial placement, and at each DMH re-licensure period. The CD-170, with the current DMH license attached, is placed in the Child’s Section of the foster youth’s case file and a copy sent to the RCST.

Missouri Alliance for Children and Families

The Division recognizes traditional and Youth with Elevated Needs resource homes who have received their training from the Missouri Alliance, in accordance with Division requirements, under an inter-agency agreement with the Alliance. The Missouri Alliance uses the same training curriculum for traditional foster care and for specialized foster care as Division staff. Supervisory consultation must be sought in securing a Missouri Alliance placement and confirming the family is licensed.

Missouri Alliance may waive, as is permissible under Division policy, the requirement of one year as a licensed foster parent for Youth with Elevated Needs.

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

Memoranda History: