Library: Policy

317:30-5-740.1. Eligible providers and requirements

Revised 9-14-20

(a) TFC Agency.Eligible TFC agencies must have:

(1) Current certification from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) as a child placing agency;

(2) A contract with the Child Welfare Division of OKDHS, or Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA);

(3) A contract with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA); and

(4) A current accreditation status appropriate to provide behavioral health services in a foster care setting from:

(A) The Joint Commission; or

(B) The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF); or

(C) The Council on Accreditation (COA).

(b) Treatment team. TFC agencies are primarily responsible for treatment planning and coordination of the member's treatment team. This team is typically composed of an OKDHS or OJA caseworker, the member, the member's foster parent(s), as well as others closely involved with the member and family, including the biological parents when applicable.

(1) The team must include the following providers:

(A) Licensed behavioral health professional (LBHP) and/or licensure candidate.An LBHP is a master's level professional that provides treatment and supervises other treatment staff in maintaining clinical standards of care and providing direct clinical services. A licensure candidate is a practitioner actively and regularly receiving board-approved supervision, or extended supervision by a fully-licensed clinician if the board's supervision requirement is met but the individual is not yet licensed. In addition to the requirements at OAC 317:30-5-240.3(a) and (b), the LBHP or licensure candidate in a TFC setting must demonstrate a general professional or educational background in the following areas:

(i) Case management, assessment, and treatment planning;

(ii) Treatment of victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse;

(iii) Treatment of children with attachment disorders;

(iv) Treatment of children with hyperactivity or attention deficit disorders;

(v) Treatment methodologies for emotionally disturbed children;

(vi) Normal childhood development and the effect of abuse and/or neglect on childhood development;

(vii) Anger management;

(viii) Crisis intervention; and

(ix) Trauma-informed methodology.

(B) Treatment parent specialist (TPS).The TPS serves as an integral member of the team of professionals providing services for the member. The TPS receives extensive training in diagnosed mental health issues, and behavior management/modification and skill-based parenting techniques; and implements the in-home portion of the treatment plan with close supervision and support. The TPS renders services for the member, provides or arranges suitable transportation for therapy and other treatment appointments, writes daily detailed notes regarding interventions and practical applications of learned skills, and attends treatment team meetings. The TPS must be under the supervision of an LBHP or licensure candidate of the foster care agency and meet the following criteria:

(i) Qualifications.

(I) Have a high school diploma or equivalent;

(II) Have an employment and/or contractual relationship with the foster care agency as a foster parent, and have successfully met all required background screening requirements, including, but not limited to, fingerprint screenings conducted by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and OKDHS background screenings;

(III) Complete the initial thirty-six (36) hours of pre-service training, prior to becoming a TFC parent;

(ii) Responsibilities.

(I) Have a minimum of twice monthly face-to-face supervision with the licensed, or under-supervision for licensure, LBHP, independent of the member's family therapy;

(II) Have weekly contact with the foster care agency professional staff;

(III) Complete the required eighteen (18) hours of in-service training per calendar year; and

(IV) Work with the multidisciplinary team and the member's biological family toward reunification, if appropriate, or other permanency plan.

(2) The team may also include the following providers:

(A) Certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC).A bachelor's levelteam member with a current certification as a CADC in the state in which services are provided.

(B) Certified behavioral health case manager (CM) II.A bachelor's level team member that may provide support services and case management. In addition to the minimum requirements at Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 317:30-5-240.3(h)(1), the CM II must:

(i) Have a minimum of one (1) year of experience in providing direct care and/or treatment to children and/or families; and

(ii) Have access to weekly consultation with a licensed behavioral health professional (LBHP) or licensure candidate.

(iii) The CM II must also follow requirements at OAC 317:30-5-241.3 for providing psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services.

(C) Licensed psychiatrist and/or psychologist.TFC agencies must provide staff with access to professional psychiatric or psychological consultation as deemed necessary for the planning, implementation, and appropriate management of the member's treatment. See OAC 317:30-5-240.3(a) and 317:25-7-5.

(c) Agency assurances.The TFC agency must ensure that each individual who renders treatment services meets the minimum provider qualifications for the service and, if eligible for direct enrollment, is fully contracted with the OHCA. Additionally, the TFC agency must comply with all state and federal Medicaid law, including, but not limited to, OHCA administrative rules, the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), and the Oklahoma State Medicaid Plan.

(d) Policies and procedures.Eligible TFC agency providers shall have written policies and procedures for the orientation of new staff and foster parents which is reviewed and updated annually, for the following:

(1) Pre-service training of foster parents in treatment methodologies and service needs of emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children;

(2) Treatment of victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse;

(3) Treatment of children with attachment disorders;

(4) Treatment of children with hyperactive or attention deficit disorders;

(5) Normal childhood development and the effect of abuse and/or neglect on childhood development;

(6) Treatment of children and families with substance use disorders;

(7) The Inpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment of Minors Act;

(8) Anger management;

(9) Inpatient authorization procedures;

(10) Crisis intervention;

(11) Grief and loss issues for children in foster care;

(12) The significance/value of birth families to children receiving behavioral health services in a foster care setting; and

(13) Trauma-informed methodology.