Specifications include, but are not limited to: The bidder should have a facility designed to serve as a short-term shelter care from 1 to 45 days. If a child needs to remain in care beyond 45 days, the successful bidder should have the capacity to serve those youth until an appropriate placement resource is located. The primary goal of the flexibility with placement timeframe is to prevent long-term out-of-home placement of children with troubled families when a crisis arises and reunification of the child to the family is likely with crisis intervention. Children/youth that require an extended period of stay because they cannot return home or when family foster care is not in their best interest should not have to relocate. The Division relies on its dedicated partners in serving children who need placement. These children and youth suffer from a range of significant behavioral and emotional problems, combined with the separation from and loss of their families. All programs must provide traumainformed care. It is of critical importance that contracted partners recognize the effects that disruptions and changing placements can have on children. It is our intent to secure placement resources that are safe and stable and help us assure continuity of care and minimize placement disruptions.
