Chapter 4 : Section 12

Respite Care for Children in Out-of-Home Care

Policy

Within the constraints of available resources, the Department shall provide temporary, short-term respite care for licensed foster families and for unlicensed out-of-home caregivers:

to provide relief to the caregiver, or to assist the family in coping with the daily demands of providing care to children with significant needs;
to provide care during a family crisis, such as illness or death;
to provide care when the caregivers are away from home and the child cannot accompany the caregivers due to school, parental visits, case plan requirements; or
to enable the caregivers to participate in Department approved/sponsored training when child care services are unavailable or unworkable.

Procedures

For licensed foster families

Refer the foster family to their licensing agency to request respite care.
Continue the approved foster care rate while the child is with the respite provider.
Be aware that a licensed foster family receiving foster care reimbursement is eligible for a maximum of 300 hours or 12.5 days of respite care with a licensed foster parent, per fiscal year, provided through a DCS contracted foster home agency.

For unlicensed kinship caregivers

When an unlicensed kinship caregiver requests respite care, complete the DCS Unlicensed Kinship Respite Request, CSO-2126 and email the form to PlacementsMEMW@azdcs.gov or PlacementsSouth@azdcs.gov, depending on region. Placement Administration will arrange for and approve respite care with a licensed foster parent through a referral to a contracted foster home licensing agency; and may approve up to 300 hours or 12.5 days of respite foster care per fiscal year.

Respite Hours used in the following circumstances will not count towards the allotted annual respite maximum:

when extraordinary documented needs of a child prevents the caregivers from temporarily caring for the other foster children in the home;
when the family is being investigated and the child is placed in a different living arrangement during the investigation; or
when the caregivers are participating in training exceeding 24 consecutive hours.

If necessary, obtain approval from Placement Administration for up to five days additional respite care in emergency situations.

When respite care is not available, foster parents and kinship caregivers may leave a child in the care of another person as outlined in Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard.

Documentation

Document the purpose and approval of respite care not counted against the allowable hours of a licensed foster family using Notes.