Section 18-6-1-F-IV - SPECIALIZED HOMESA.Medical/Treatment Resource Homes A licensed Resource Family home specializing in the care of medically fragile children shall comply with all foster home requirements as well as the following conditions:
1. Provide a specialized license, degree, certification, training or experience that documents and demonstrates an expertise to work with children with special medical/treatment needs, (i.e. doctor, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, emergency medical technician, special education teacher, clinical therapist, etc.); 2. Demonstrate the ability to care for children with special needs such as feeding tubes, heart monitors, oxygen, fetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy, diabetes, diagnosed emotional or behavioral illnesses or disorders, etc.; 3. Agree to be licensed for no more than two (2) medically fragile foster children at any given time. Placement of more than two medically fragile foster children may be considered in cases of sibling groups or other extraordinary circumstances. Approval must be requested from the Licensure ASWS and RD prior to any placement. If the specialized home is caring for the siblings of a medically fragile child, these siblings will not receive the special care board rate unless they have also been certified as eligible for that benefit; 4. Understand that specialized Resource Parents shall provide transportation and accompany the foster child with special needs to all school, treatment, and medical appointments, as well as ensuring that any follow-up visits are kept; 5. Agree to stay in the hospital with a child placed in their home should the child be hospitalized; 6. Maintain the child's important records, including medical documents, immunization records, and a health journal for each child with special needs placed in their home; 7. Maintain adequate school/educational records on each child with special needs placed in their home; 8. Participate as a member of the service team through at least one of the following methods: a) Personal attendance at Family Team Meetings (FTM)s, County Conferences, Court Hearings, IEP Meetings, etc. b) Telephonic conference calls. c) Provision of a written report on the child's progress including any recommendations for service 1.Training Requirement for Medical/Treatment Resource Homes In addition to the 27 hours of pre-service training requirements, prior to providing a specialized license, the Licensure Specialist will verify eight (8) hours of specialized training, by a certified provider, specifically addressing the medical needs of children who meet medically fragile criteria. If a specific child has been identified for a specific home, the parent's 8 hours of specialized training should reflect the individual medical needs of that child.
In order to maintain Medical/Treatment Resource Home status, specialized Resource Parents for medically fragile children must complete 12 hours of in-service training annually. These hours must be relevant to the specific child(ren) in their home.
Additionally, specialized Resource Parents must show documentation of ongoing knowledge and ability to care for the special medical needs of the child(ren) placed in their care. If no medically fragile children are placed in the home, in-service training hours must specifically address the medical needs of children who meet medically fragile criteria. CPR and First Aid Certification must be maintained.
B.Teen Parent Resource Home A Resource Parent may seek and obtain a license for up to two (2) foster children who are pregnant or foster children who have parental responsibilities for their own child. The teenager's child may or may not be in DFCS custody. This Resource Parent shall comply with all Resource Home licensure requirements including the following:
1. n teenage parents. These 8 hours will include: a. Parenting the Teenage Parent (2 Hours) ii. Appropriate House Rules/Expectations iii. Contracting and Consequences iv. Communicating with Teens b. Teaching the Teen to Parent (4 Hours) i. Teaching Financial Responsibilities ii. Teaching Parental Sacrifices iii. Teaching the Roles of a Parent v. Teaching Child Growth and Development vi. Teaching Appropriate Discipline vii. Teaching Communication c. Transitioning to Independence (2 Hours) i. Training with the Independent Living Specialist to receive Independent Living curriculum. ii. Overview of the Independent Living Services 2. Agree to foster no more than two teen parents at any given time. 3. Agree to provide transportation, accompany and support the teen parent in meeting parental responsibilities for her child(ren) including child care/day care, school enrollment or meetings, treatment or medical appointments, and other services based on the teen parent or child; 4. Assist pregnant teens residing the Resource Family home with arrangement for prenatal care, doctor appointments, follow-up medical visits and hospital arrangement for delivery in coordination with the COR Worker; 5. Model appropriate parenting methods for the teen parent and work with her to adequately care for and nurture her child(ren); 6. Teach and assist the teen parent in obtaining and maintaining necessary documentation and important records, including but not limited to: birth records, medical documents, immunization records, and other relevant information for both herself and her child; 7. Demonstrate the ability not to undermine the teen parent's care for her child, nor initiate any legal proceedings (i.e., termination of parental rights or adoption proceedings) involving the teen parent's child; 8. Participate as a member of the service team through at least one of the following methods: a. Personal attendance at FTMs, County Conferences, Court Reviews, etc. b. Telephonic conference calls. c. Provision of a written report on the progress of the teen parent and child including any recommendation for service. The Licensure Specialist must upgrade the license status of each specialized home. During the one year re-evaluation period, these families must receive a total of 12 hours of in-service training. A minimum of two (2) of these hours will be participation in the Independent Living Program with the teen parent.
C.Respite Respite care is provided through referrals to private agencies. All respite homes must be licensed Resource Homes or licensed respite homes.
These providers must have obtained additional training in respite care through the private agency who licensed them for respite care. Respite care providers must have extra bed space available for a child to be placed for respite care and can have no more than 3 foster children and a total of 5 children placed in their home regardless of the status of the children's placement (foster, respite, adoptive, biological children.) Respite services are paid for through the grant(s) awarded to the private agencies.
All children in foster care and children who have been adopted from foster care are eligible for respite care. Additional information regarding respite care may be requested through the permanency unit at the DFCS State Office.
18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-F-IV