14.2 Referral Process for a Behavioral Foster Care (BFC) Foster Home
To initiate the process, the referring Children’s Service Worker should:
- Assess the child's demonstrated behavior that indicates the need for a more structured treatment-oriented daily routine. (See Characteristics of the BFC Appropriate Child)
- Contact the assigned BFC staff, describe above behaviors, inquire about appropriateness of referral, and jointly determine if a BFC referral should occur.
- If appropriate, the case manager should prepare and submit a referral packet, containing the following information, if available:
- Completed or updated CS-9;
- A list of specifically identified and described problem behaviors OR a behavior checklist/inventory;
- Current social history, including family and placement history;
- Copies of the most recent CS-1, CD-14, CD-14A, and court order;
- Appropriate educational material (including current I.E.P. if applicable);
- Medical records, especially the most current medical evaluation;
- Recent psychological testing results (A psychological evaluation may be requested if a current one is not available);
- Recent counseling reports;
- Any residential facility reports, including any treatment using behavior modification;
- The local county BFC referral form; and
- Any other appropriate information.
The BFC Screening Team will review the submitted material; interview, as appropriate, resource people such as current caregiver, therapists, referring worker, etc., and decide on the child’s appropriateness for the BFC program.
The Screening Team may recommend:
- That the child is not appropriate for the program;
- That the child is appropriate, but a compatible BFC home is not available, in which case the child may be placed on a "waiting list". If the child is placed on a waiting list, the referring case manager should contact the BFC program contact person periodically to check on the referral’s status;
- That the child is appropriate, and a compatible BFC home is available.
- When it is decided by the team that the child is appropriate and that a compatible home is available, the team will carefully select the prospective BFC home, based upon capabilities of the foster families and the child's characteristics.
The BFC Children’s Service Worker will then share all referral information with the prospective BFC home and assess their interest in the child. The BFC Children’s Service Worker will then notify the referring worker of the child’s acceptance of the child into the program.
NOTE: A BFC provider may care for no more than two (2) BFC children simultaneously. In rare cases, special supervisory approval may be sought for the placement of a third BFC child.