8511 Foster Parent Intermittent Alternate Care (IAC) Services

Note: CPS foster homes must use available community and state-funded respite programs before accessing the PRS Foster Parent Intermittent Alternate Care (IAC) Program.

1. Under what circumstances may a worker authorize Foster Parent IAC Services?

A worker may authorize this service when a CPS-verified foster home needs periodic planned child-care services provided on a short-term basis by an alternate caregiver.

Requests for Intermittent Alternate Care (IAC) may come from the

·         Foster parent;

·         FAD worker;

·         Child’s worker;

·         Child’s therapist; or

·         Doctor.

Note: All nonemergency requests for IAC should be made at least ten working days before the desired start date of the IAC. The foster parent, child’s worker, or medical professional may request the IAC by telephone or mail to the FAD worker or to a regionally designated person.

2. Under what circumstances are CPS foster parents eligible for IAC Services?

CPS foster parents are eligible if at least one CPS foster child is placed in their home.

3. How many days of IAC Services are available to each eligible CPS foster home?

CPS foster homes are eligible for up to ten “full day” units of IAC per fiscal year. The use of two (2) one-half day units of IAC is equivalent to one full day of care. An example,

·         If a family cares for three foster children and requests a full day of care for only one child, then they have used one day of their Intermittent Alternate Care allocation and nine days remain.

·         If the family requests a full day of care for all three foster children, then the family remains entitled to nine additional days.

The PRS payment rates described below will be paid for each child placed in IAC. Any amounts the provider charges in excess of the PRS-paid rates are the responsibility of the foster parent(s). The IAC Program will not pay for services provided to the family’s birth or adopted children.

The units of service available through the PRS Foster Parent Intermittent Alternate Care program are:

·         ½ Day       (0 – 8 hours)

·         Full Day   (8+ – 24 hours)

Payment rates for each unit of service are:

·         ½ Day       $12.00 for each child

·         Full Day   $18.00 for each child

4. Under what circumstances may CPS foster parents receive nonemergency additional days of IAC?

Requests for nonemergency additional IAC days above the ten days allotted must be in writing and require PA approval. Additional days may be necessary because of the child’s behavior or a medical or mental condition. The child’s worker, FAD worker, medical professional, or therapist must recommend the need for additional days.

All nonemergency requests for additional days should be made at least ten working days before the desired start date of the IAC Services.

5. Under what circumstances may CPS foster parents receive emergency IAC?

Emergency IAC may be authorized in the following situations:

·         Death in the family; or

·         Serious illness of a family member.

Note: Staff should make every attempt to arrange the IAC Services within 24 hours of the emergency request. Emergency IAC days do not reduce the 10-day allotment. Emergency days may be approved by the FAD worker.

6. Who provides transportation to the IAC site?

The foster parent should provide the transportation to the IAC facility unless other arrangements have been made with the IAC facility, the child’s worker, or the FAD worker.

7. How does a CPS staff member refer a client for Foster Parent IAC Services?

There are two types of contracts for IAC services: broker and check writing contracts. The method of referral for each is slightly different. Please follow the instructions in the chart below to refer a client for IAC services.

Note: “Staff” refers to CPS staff, unless otherwise noted.

Forms

Broker Contract Responsibilities

Check-Writing Contract Responsibilities

Assurances

CPSH Appendix 7460

Not applicable to staff; contractor’s responsibility.

Staff maintains documentation to show that providers meet minimum qualifications and assurances.

Service Authorization Form

(Form 2054)

Staff —

·         Generates the form and obtains supervisor’s approval before services are provided.

·         Sends the form to the broker, who arranges services.

·         Keeps a copy in the foster home record.

·         Enters the form in CAPS External Documentation window for the foster home.

·         Gives a copy to child’s worker to include in the child’s case.

Staff —

·         Generates the form and obtains supervisor’s signature after services have been provided.
Note: the supervisor should give verbal approval before services are provided.

·         Sends form to the check-writing contractor.

·         Keeps a copy in the foster home record.

·         Enters the form in CAPS External Documentation window for the foster home.

·         Gives a copy to the child’s worker to include in the child’s case.

Intermittent Alternate Care Provider Instructions (Form 2085-IAC) The form captures emergency notification numbers, medical information, child information, sleeping instructions, discipline information, and other pertinent information that would be beneficial to the IAC provider.

·         Staff and foster parent complete the form.

·         Staff sends the form to the broker.

·         Broker sends the form to the IAC provider before services begin.

·         Staff keeps a copy in the foster home record.

·         Staff enters the form in CAPS External Documentation window for the foster home.

·         Staff gives a copy to child’s worker to include in the child’s case.

Staff —

·         And foster parent complete the form.

·         Sends the form to the IAC provider before services begin.

·         Keeps a copy in the foster home record.

·         Enters the form into CAPS External Documentation window for the foster home.

·         Gives a copy to child’s worker to include in the child’s case.

Placement Authorization Intermittent Alternate Care

(Form 2085-R)

·         Staff completes the form, which authorizes the IAC placement to the broker, with duties and authorities identified by staff.

·         Staff enters broker’s name and address in “Caregiver’s Name” and “Address” blocks.

·         Staff sends the form to the broker.

·         Staff keeps a copy in the foster home record.

·         Broker gives an authorization form to the IAC provider; the form must contain IAC provider’s name.

·         Staff enters the form in CAPS External Documentation window for the foster home.

·         Staff gives a copy to child’s worker to include in the child’s case.

Staff —

·         Completes the form, which authorizes the IAC placement to the IAC provider, with duties and authorities identified by staff.

·         Enters IAC provider’s name and address in “Caregiver’s Name” and “Address” blocks.

·         Gives the form to the IAC provider before services begin.

·         Keeps a copy in the foster home record.

·         Enters the form into CAPS External Documentation window for the foster home.

·         Gives a copy to worker to include in the child’s case.

Declaration of Service Provided PRS Intermittent Alternate Care

Not applicable to staff; broker’s responsibility

·         FAD worker sends the completed form (without the arrival and departure dates and times and the signatures) to the IAC provider before service begins.

·         After service is complete, the IAC provider fills in the arrival and departure dates and times, signs the form, and gets foster parent’s signature.

·         The IAC provider sends the form to FAD worker.

·         FAD worker sends the form to check-writing contractor.

·         FAD worker keeps a copy in the foster home record.

·         FAD worker enters the form into CAPS External Documentation window for the foster home.

·         FAD worker sends the form to child’s worker to include in the child’s case.

For additional referral instructions, see CPSH Items 8162, Authorizing, Extending or Terminating Support Services, and 8161.1 Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Direct Services to Clients in Active Cases.

8. What CAPS information is needed to complete a Form 2054, Service Authorization?[1]

Foster Parent IAC Services

Stage

SUB

Category

Respite Care

Service

Foster Parent Int. Alt. Care

Unit of Service

One-half day, Day

Service Code

40C

9. What if the worker cannot use CAPS to generate the Form 2054?

For complete instructions on authorizing services using a manual service authorization, see CPSH Item 8164, Manual Service Authorization.

10. What additional responsibilities must a worker/liaison perform while the Foster Parent IAC Services are being provided?

If the requested IAC Services must be canceled, the foster parent should contact the FAD worker and the provider no later than 24-hours before the authorized start date of the IAC Services. The FAD worker notifies the regional contract manager of the cancellation. Failure on the part of the foster parent to notify the FAD worker and care provider will result in the loss of up to one full day of care.

To authorize additional units of service, or extend or reauthorize the service, the worker must follow the procedures in CPSH Items 8162, Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Support Services.

11. What responsibilities must the CPS worker complete to conclude IAC Services?

If the service is being terminated before the end date on the current Form 2054, the worker must follow the procedures for terminating services; see CPSH Items 8162, Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Support Services.

 


[1] This CAPS information is used for the contractor’s administrative costs

Stage

SUB

Category

Respite Care

Service

Fos Par Int. Alt. Care Admin C

Unit of Service

Foster Parent Int. Alt. Administrative Costs

Service Code

40D