4533. Behavior Rehabilitation Services

Applies To:  This policy applies to Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) child welfare employees.

Policy Number & Title:  4533. Behavior Rehabilitation Services (BRS)

Effective Date:  September 25, 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to child welfare employees for identifying and providing services to children and youth with high-level complex needs.

Authority

RCW 13.34.130  Order of disposition for a dependent child, alternatives - Placement with relatives, foster family home, group care facility, or other suitable persons

RCW 74.13.031  Duties of Department - Child Welfare Services - advisory committee.

RCW 74.13.080  Group Care Placement - Prerequisites for payments

Policy

  1. Caseworkers must verify children or youth have been referred to and received a Wraparound Intensive Services (WISe) screen prior to considering a referral to BRS.　
    1. If the WISe screen shows the child or youth is eligible and recommended for services, WISe must be given priority over BRS.
    2. Consider BRS if:　
      1. WISe alone cannot safely serve the child or youth’s needs. BRS and WISe can be opened concurrently.
      2. The WISe agency is unable to meet the child or youth’s needs and intensive services is required to meet their needs.
  2. BRS Managers may only refer children and youth to contracted BRS service providers when the child or youth:
    1. Has a high-level complex service need.
    2. Received a WISe screen from a provider on the WISe Referral Contact List.
    3. Been assessed to need BRS level of care based on all of the following:
      1. A completed WISe screen.
      2. The BRS Referral DCYF 10-166A form and supporting documentation packet.
      3. The Children’s Functional Assessment Rating Scale (CFARS).
      4. Recommendations from the shared planning meeting (SPM) or Family Team Decision Making (FTDM) meeting.
    4. Received the required approvals on the BRS Referral DCYF 10-166A form.
  3. The DCYF Contracts Unit can only approve BRS ongoing contracts to out-of-state agencies if they are located within 50 miles of Washington State.
  4. Caseworkers must continue to pay BRS In-Home or Support Services if they are being provided at the contract rate. This rate is not intended to be all inclusive. Services and other funds DCYF would normally pay for should continue, e.g., rent, child care, concrete goods, etc.
  5. Employees must follow the Placement - Intensive Resources policy when a child or youth’s individual service needs are beyond what can be provided through the BRS contract and other more intensive services are needed.
  6. Caseworkers assigned to children or youth in BRS must:
    1. Participate in the BRS Child and Family Team (CFT) case review meetings.
    2. Facilitate discussions identifying a targeted discharge date and transition placement.
  7. Caseworkers must obtain DCYF and court approval for children and youth placed in a BRS Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) and request the following:
    1. A court review hearing within 60 calendar days of the QRTP placement.
    2. A court review at least every six months.
    3. Regional administrator (RA) approval for children or youth age:
      1. Twelve and younger after the first consecutive or non-consecutive six months.
      2. Thirteen and older, after the first 12 consecutive months, or 18 non-consecutive months.

Forms

Administrative Approval Request DCYF 05-210

BRS referral form DCYF 10-166A

Resources

Behavior Rehabilitation Services (BRS) procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

Family Team Decision Making (FTDM) policy

Placement - Intensive Resources policy

Wraparound Intensive Services (WISe) policy

Original Date:  September 27, 1995

Revised Date:  September 25, 2020

Review Date:  September 25, 2024

Approved by:  Jody Becker, Deputy Secretary Children and Families