Each foster family agency participating in this program shall enter into a contract or memorandum of understanding with the county and provide all of the following personnel and administrative and support services:

(a) (1) Special attention to the selection and training of foster parents.

(2) All participating intensive treatment foster care (ITFC) foster parents shall be provided with at least 40 hours of training in the care of emotionally disturbed children or children who have a serious behavioral problem before becoming an ITFC parent, and before placement of a child pursuant to this program, 32 hours of ongoing in-service training within the first 12 months after becoming a certified ITFC parent, and 12 hours of ongoing in-service training each year thereafter. Training shall include, but not be limited to, working with abused and neglected children, behavior deescalation techniques, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. All training shall be completed prior to the child’s placement in the home. In two-parent homes, placement may be made after one parent has completed 40 hours of training, provided that an additional 20 hours of ongoing in-service training are completed within 12 months after becoming an ITFC foster parent, and provided that the second parent has completed 40 hours of training and completes an additional 20 hours of training within the first six months of certification of the foster parent as an ITFC foster parent.

(3) Upon approval of the county interagency review team or the county placing agency, the training requirements specified in paragraph (2) for a participating foster parent in this program may be waived for foster parents with prior experience that includes, but is not limited to, working for at least one year with emotionally disturbed children or children who have a serious behavioral problem.

(4) Foster parents shall be provided with all necessary support services.

(b) Caseloads for participating social work case managers that average eight children, except as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 18358.30.

(c) The specific assignment to each certified family home of a trained support counselor with experience in residential treatment.

(1) The support counselor shall have one of the following:

(A) A bachelor’s degree in a social science related field and at least six months of experience in working with emotionally disturbed children or children who have a serious behavioral problem.

(B) An associate degree in a social science related field and have at least one year’s experience in working with emotionally disturbed children or children who have a serious behavioral problem.

(C) Upon approval of the county interagency review team or the county placing agency, the educational requirements may be waived for support counselors with at least two years of experience working with emotionally disturbed children or children who have a serious behavioral problem, and who demonstrate a combination of education, skills, and experience that meets the specific cultural and linguistic needs of the target population.

(2) Each participating foster family agency shall provide each support counselor with 40 hours of training to include, but not be limited to, working with abused and neglected children, behavior deescalation techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and developing treatment plans for emotionally disturbed children or children who have a serious behavioral problem. All training shall be completed prior to placing a child in a certified family home for which the support counselor is assigned responsibility. An additional 20 hours of ongoing in-service training is required within the first 12 months after becoming an ITFC support counselor.

(3) Each support counselor shall provide support service to the child and the foster family. This service shall include, but not be limited to, structuring a safe environment for the child, collateral contacts, and any administrative or training functions necessary to implement the child’s needs and services plan. The child’s needs and services plan shall ensure that services meet the child’s needs and are appropriate to and consistent with the minimum level of service specified in Section 18358.30. The child’s individual needs and services plan shall be reviewed and approved by the certified foster parents.

(d) Coordination services with local education agencies and the service provider’s nonpublic school, where applicable.

(e) A 24-hour on call administrator who is available to respond to emergency situations.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 486, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2009.)