Specifications include, but are not limited to: DCS is experiencing placement instability in Foster Care, resulting in emergency disruptions, hospitalizations, and overnight stays in transitional homes. Currently, there are minimal wraparound supports for Foster Families who accept youth, especially teenagers, with challenging behaviors. DCS is interested in programming that would support initial and ongoing stability of youth with challenging behaviors and mental health needs. Support could include oncall support to assist with stabilization in-person at the foster home, the DCS office and/or a transitional home through mentoring, coaching, counseling, crisis intervention and care coordination. Services would be provided through the next placement and for an amount of time to mitigate any further disruption in placement. As these are system involved youth, any service provision would need to be trauma-informed and there is a preference for evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing. DCS is open to alternative models that would work longer-term with either the youth and/or foster parents who regularly accept teenagers with behavioral and/or mental health needs. A provider would be expected to partner with other agencies providing services, DCS staff supporting the youth and foster family, and the Child and Family Team.
