17.4 Qualification of Respite Care Providers
Respite care providers must be approved by the Children’s Division in order to provide respite care services. To ensure an understanding of the program, the Children’s Service Worker shall provide an explanation of respite care services to the applicant prior to beginning the approval process.
To be approved as a provider of out-of-home respite care, a respite care provider must complete CS-RC-1, Application to Provide Respite Care, submit to CA/N and criminal checks, and sign CS-RC-3, Respite Care Provider Approval and CM-10, Cooperative Agreement for the Purchase of Respite Care Services with the Children’s Division. The provider must also meet the licensing requirements as set forth in CSR 40-60.040 Physical Standards for Foster Homes (1) General Requirements, Sections (A) through (G); (2) Sleeping Arrangements, Sections (A) through (I); and (3) Fire and Safety Requirements, Sections (A) through (I). The Children’s Service Worker shall make at least one home visit and use CS-RC-2, Foster Respite Care Provider Checklist to document that the respite care home meets these requirements.
To be approved to provide in-home respite care, a respite care provider must complete CS-RC-1, Application to Provide Respite Care, submit to CA/N and criminal checks and sign CS-RC-3, Respite Care Provider Approval and CM-10, Cooperative Agreement for the Purchase of Foster Respite Care Services.
Other persons who may provide respite care include licensed child care homes, licensed foster and kinship homes and residential facilities. Licensed child care group homes and licensed child care centers may provide respite care up to 23 hours. Prior to placing a child(ren) in a licensed child care home/facility, licensed foster and/or kinship home and/or a residential facility, the Children’s Service Worker and provider shall ensure that licensing capacities and other licensing regulations are met and that the provider is able to adequately supervise all children in their care. The worker must complete the CS-RC-2, Foster Respite Care Provider Checklist. The provider must also complete CS-RC-1, Application to Provide Respite Care and sign CS-RC-3, Respite Care Provider Approval and CM-10, Cooperative Agreement for the Purchase of Foster Respite Care Services.
All respite care providers may attend regular foster parent training and any in-service training provided by the Division. Attendance at this training is not a requirement to provide respite care.