Service Planning
Within how many hours must the preliminary service plan be completed?
What is: Within 72 hours of placement.
§749.1301
A foster home with a pool is required to have how many life saving devices?*
What is: At least two life saving devices must be available, such as a reach pole, backboard, buoy, or safety throw bag with a brightly colored buoyant rope or throw line.
*Additional live saving devices may be required depending on the size of the pool.
§749.3133
Within how many days must the initial service plan be completed?
What is: Within 45 days of placement.
§749.1307
If the age of the youngest child in the home is 3 years old, what is the child/adult ratio for swimming activities?
What is: Three children per one adult.
§749.3137
To whom must you provide a copy of the child’s initial service plan?
What is: (1) The child, when appropriate. At a minimum, you must give a copy or summary of the plan to a child 14 years of age or older, unless there is justification for not providing the plan
(2) Child’s parents
(3) Child’s caregivers
§749.1321
What are the requirements for wading/splashing pools? (pools that hold less than two feet of water)
What are: The wading/splashing pool must be
-Stored out of the children’s reach, when not in use;
-Drained at least daily; and
-Stored, so it does not hold water.
§749.3145
Who must be involved in developing an initial service plan?
What is: A service planning team must meet (e.g. face-to-face, video conference, or teleconference) to discuss and develop the service plan. The team must consist of:
-at least one of the child’s current caregivers
-at least one professional service provider who provides direct services to the child
-IF PROVIDING TREATMENT SERVICES, at least two of the following professionals
-A licensed professional counselor
-A psychologist
-A psychiatrist or physician
§749.1311
When must a child wear a life jacket?
What is: A child must wear a life jacket when
-Participating in boating activities;
-The child is in more than two feet of water and does not know how to swim; or
-Ordered by a physician for a child with a medical problem or disability
§749.3141
Can the service planning team discuss and develop a child’s service plan in separate meetings?
What is: Yes, the service planning team may meeting in one meeting, two or more meetings, or in separate meetings, provided that each service planning team member is informed of the discussions and comments regarding the child’s service plan that were made in each meeting.
§749.1312
May foster parents include volunteers or relatives who do not meet minimum qualifications for caregivers in the swimming child/adult ratio?
What is: Yes, to meet the swimming child/adult ratio, the foster parent may include adult volunteers and adult relatives who do not meet the minimum qualifications for caregivers, providing:
(1) You maintain enough caregivers to meet the child/caregiver ratio required in Subchapter M
(2) Persons in you care do not supervise swimming activities; and
(3) You ensure compliance with all other rules of this chapter, including, but no limited to, rules relating to supervision and discipline.
§749.3139