Effective Date: 10-1-2021
A Residential Care Screening Team (RCST) Coordinator is located in each of the regions. His/her role is to screen and prioritize placement requests for the area, secure residential placements, match a child with a facility which can meet the needs of the child, and monitor the funds available for residential treatment services.
The RCST Coordinator has final approval/authority for all children referred for residential treatment services, DMH-DDD placements, and therapeutic foster care (TFC) services. The RCST Coordinator has oversight to ensure FACES is updated with an accurate Rehab Service Begin Date, which is concurrent with the CSPI completion date, and oversees adherence to a child’s residential treatment/service plan.
The RCST Coordinator reviews children’s needs, as identified on the CS-9, to ensure residential treatment or DMH placements will best meet the youth’s ’s clinical and developmental needs. If residential treatment is not determined to be appropriate by the Independent Assessor’s report, the RCST Coordinator will notify the case manager, supervisor, and circuit manager/program manager, and the case manager will seek other options for treatment as recommended in the Independent Assessor’s report.
Activities of the RCST Coordinator include but are not limited to:
- Receive and process referrals for residential treatment (see section 2.3. for the RCST Coordinator’s responsibilities in the referral processes);
- Complete the service authorization in FACES for children approved for residential treatment whose cases are managed by Children’s Division;
- Review and approve/deny requests from the provider or the Children’s Division case manager for extensions of the treatment period. Such decisions will be based on the progress reports received from the provider as well as the recommendations of the FST;
- Review referrals for TFC placements and monitor length of stay for TFC placements whose cases are managed by Children’s Division;
- Complete the service authorization in FACES for children approved for TFC placements whose cases are managed by Children’s Division;
- Participate in the Extended Stay Review process and monitor length of stay;
- Monitor the residential facility to confirm the facility is providing treatment services to the child and family, including encouraging visits as a part of the therapeutic process, as appropriate;
- Complete and enter data on the service authorization authorizing residential treatment services as necessary. Update the service authorization to reauthorize or modify services;
- Authorize any special expenses or services not covered by the residential treatment contract. The manager is responsible for authorizing payment for special expenses via a payment request for children receiving residential treatment program services or TFC.
- Receive and process referrals for potential placement through DMH-DDD providers;
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- Contact the Regional Office to have the child placed on the DMH database
- Ensure that protocol is followed between CD and DMH with utilization of a DMH placement provider
- Request and review child’s budget that is approved through DMH Regional Office for services and matches the child’s Individual Supported Plan.
- Will complete the Child Specific Contract request packet and submit to Residential Services Manager for a decision of approval.
- Request information required for renewal when the contract prior to expiration of the contract.