Initial Level of Care Assignments

Purpose

A level of care must be assigned before a child, who is 48 months or older and in the care of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), can be placed in a Private Child Care (PCC) residential or foster care program (SOP 7E.1.5). This allows the program's daily payment (per diem) to match the child's needs. Placement into a DCBS foster home also requires that Levels of Care (LOCs) be assigned for children 48 months or older (SOP 7E.1.9) or Care Plus home (SOP 7E.1.4(A)) to guide case planning and placement.

Schedule

• An initial LOC must be obtained prior to placement in a PCC residential or PCC foster care program or into a DCBS foster home.
• If a child is in an emergency shelter without a valid level and it is aniticpated that the child will remain there more than 30 days, the Social Services Worker must make a referral for level assignment by the 20th day of placement.

Protocol

• For an initial LOC to be assigned, the DCBS worker must provide the following information to the Children's Review Program:
  
  • Completed DPP-886 (Private Child Care Client Inter-Agency Referral Form)
  • Completed DPP-886A (Application for Referral/Needs Assessment). This is the primary source of information about children who are referred for a LOC assignment. Therefore, please provide as much detailed information as possible. Give specific examples of the child's current behavior and history of special needs and behaviors. Incomplete or inaccurate information often results in an incorrect LOC and an unnecessary placement. Enter the information or N/A in each blank
  • DPP-1251A Placement History Log
  • The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for children with IQs of 70 or above who are at least 4 years old. CBCLs may be completed on-line or the hard copy form may be mailed. The only exception is if the child is declared an "Emergency".
  • Most recent psychological or psychiatric evaluation that reports the child's current needs and gives a diagnosis, if available.
• This information may be faxed to CRP if the Achenbach is completed on-line. The fax number is (859) 225-3565. It can also be mailed to Children's Review Program, PO Box 13520, Lexington, KY 40583-3520.
• The resulting LOC will be faxed to the DCBS worker on the DPP-886 with the CBCL narrative report (unless the CBCL was completed on-line), if the above information is complete. Incomplete or missing information can lead to delays in assigning LOCs or incorrect LOCs and placements.
• For a PCC placement, DCBS staff must complete a DPP-114 with the assigned LOC.
• For both PCC and DCBS placements DCBS staff must enter the LOC into TWIST.
• A LOC that does not appear to accurately reflect the child's level of need may be appealed by the DCBS worker or the PCC requesting a redetermination.