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INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT
The Department of Children and Families and The Department
of Mental Retardation
Effective July 1, 2000.
The purpose of this agreement is to facilitate
the coordination of services between the Department of Children
and Families (DCF) and the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR)
for clients who are within the care of DCF and who may be eligible
for services through DMR. This agreement establishes protocols for
the transition of children and youth from the DCF to the DMR system.
Both DCF and DMR are committed to providing quality services for
children and youth who are eligible for their programs.
DCF and DMR will jointly endeavor to develop
resources for children who are mutual clients, Resource development
will include in home supports, community based services, emergency
and placement options, and out-of-home care. DCF and DMR will work
collaboratively with the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to
address budget implications necessary for the implementation of
this agreement. This agreement formalizes our pledge to work together
to ensure the provision of these high quality services for each
youngster entitled to receive them. This effectiveness of the implementation
of this agreement will be reviewed on an annual basis.
A. Applicants from DCF’s Voluntary Services
Program
1. Commencing October 1, 2000, for any new applicant
to DCF’s Voluntary Services Program (VSP) who is also a client of
DMR, DCF, and DMR (Voluntary Services social work/DMR case manager
and their supervisors) will jointly review the application to determine
supports appropriate to meet the needs of the child. Determination
regarding eligibility for Voluntary Services will be the decision
of DCF. The child must have an emotional or behavioral disorder
diagnosable under the most recent issue of the DSM IV, provided
that a child or youth with a “V” code or a developmental disability
shall not be eligible unless the child your youth has another clinically
diagnosable emotional or behavioral disorder. Children who have
mental retardation and are not clients of DMR shall be referred
to DMR for determination of eligibility. The eligibility determination
will be expedited by DMR and a decision made within thirty days
of receipt of required documentation in order to make determinations
about Voluntary Services within sixty days.
2. For every child/youth accepted through this
joint process, DCF and DMR shall develop a joint service plan. DCF
is responsible for the implementation of the joint service plan;
however, DMR will assign a case manager to each child or youth to
assist DCF in locating in-home supports and services such as but
not limited to case management, behavioral specialists, increased
respite, emergency placement options, home health services, and
recreation. If the child/youth is in need of out-of-home placement,
DMR will assist DCF to locate the appropriate placement. If such
a placement does not exist, DCF and DMR regional administrators
or their designees will jointly develop a placement, either through
an existing licensed facility or an RFP issued by DCF for individualized
placement. DMR will refer the child to the Age Out list upon the
child’s acceptance into Voluntary Services to ensure funding for
the next year.
3. DCF will assume the costs for its casework
and for services provided by the child/youth and placement of the
child/youth (if necessary) once the child/youth is admitted into
the Voluntary Services Program pursuant to DCF’s regulations. DCF
funding will continue until DMR age out funding is appropriated
and DMR services are in place. The town of nexus will be notified
of the referral for Voluntary Services and educational recommendations
will be considered in the assessment.
4. No later than six months after the child/youth
is admitted into the Voluntary Services Program and payment for
services has commenced, DCF and DMR will determine whether ongoing
services will be likely beyond twelve months. If so, DCF and DMR
will develop a transition plan for the child/youth, which will include
the town of nexus, and joint casework commencing in the eighth month
to ensure a smooth transition for the child/youth.
5. DCF will terminate the Voluntary Services
Program for the child/youth and close its case once DMR services
are in place. 6. If the child/youth has a case in probate court,
DCF will present the transition plan to the court as soon as it
is developed but no later than the beginning of the eighth month.
B. Protective Services Cases
1. Effective October 1, 2000, for any family
referred to DCF for protective services intervention where the child
is a DMR client or eligible for DMR services, an assesment of the
reason for report to DCF will be undertaken to determine whether
protective services are warranted. DCF will assume the costs for
its casework and for in-home or out-of-home services to children/youth
in protective services. If the child
is in need of protective services, DMR will assist DCF in acquiring
support, family training, adequate respite and other services deemed
necessary maintain the child safely in their home. If placement
of the child is necessary to safeguard the child, DMR and DCF will
jointly work in locating appropriate emergency placements, respite
care and Community Training Homes for children who are mutual clients.
2. If protective services are not warranted
and the child does not meet the criteria for the Voluntary Services
Program, DCF will make DMR aware of the child’s status. The DMR
case manager will provide service coordination and refer for appropriate
supports. If the child is not a client of DMR, DCF will refer to
DMR, who will expedite the eligibility process.
3. DCF is solely responsible when protective
services are warranted to determine necessary intervention to protect
the child when the parent is a client of DMR. DMR will continue
to serve the parent and determine the appropriate supports for him/her.
4. For children committed to the care and custody
of DCF, DMR will assist DCF in locating and providing appropriate
services, including support to placement and locating or developing
placements when needed either on an emergency basis or for long
term placement. DCF will refer these youths to DMR at age 16 so
that a two-year transition plan is developed. DCF will be responsible
for youths up to age 18, unless the youth is in school full time,
in which case the responsibility will extend to age 21.
C. Children/Youth Currently in the Voluntary
Services Program or Protective Services or Committed to DCF.
DCF and DMR are committed to developing programs
to meet the needs of children/youth who have mental retardation
and are involved with DCF through the Voluntary Services Program,
protective services or for committed children transitioning to DMR.
1. Voluntary Services Program No later than
October 1, 2000, DCF and DMR Regional Administrators shall meet
and designate regional teams to review all Voluntary Services Program
cases in which the child is a client of DMR and to develop joint
service plans and/or transition plans, as appropriate. Regional
teams shall include DCF social workers/DMR case managers, their
supervisors, and resource development staff. Beginning with the
completion date for these review, these plans shall be consistent
with Section A above.
2. Committed Children The review used for Voluntary
Services Program cases shall also occur for cases in which the diagnosed
child/youth is in out-of-home care and committed to DCF. The review
shall result in a joint plan or transition plan when it is clear
that DMR services will be needed when youth attains age 18 or is
no longer in full time school attendance up to age 21.
D. Data Collection
The regional working teams will collect data
that will inform prevention and placement activities for DCF and
DMR. Data collection, method and format will be decided jointly
by DCF/DMR regional administrators. Recommendations to Commissioners
from these teams as a result of reviewing this data will occur no
later than April 1, 2001.
E. Dispute Resolution
When DCF and DMR cannot agree with regard to
a child/youth who is a client of DMR, then the child/youth shall
receive the services, and the agencies shall equally share the financial
responsibility for the child/youth. When DCF and DMR cannot agree
with regard to any other issue, the dispute shall be resolved by
the designees of the Commissioners of each agency.
Kristine D. Ragaglia, Commissioner
Peter H. O’Meara, Commissioner Department of
Children and Families Department of Mental Retardation
6/29/2000 6/29/00
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