For our core child placing services of Treatment Foster Care and Adoption, we prefer to have the following information to assess the child's needs and our capacity to meet them through existing family resources.

• Agency Application "General Information" section. The first three pages of our application package.
  Download Admissions Application Form
• Psychological Testing Report (completed within the past two years)
• Social History (written/updated within past year) including: developmental and medical history (as known), family history including medical, significant family relationships, placement history, and other information relevant to working with the referred child. If no social history has been written, we ask that source material be provided so that a social history may be compiled
• Educational Evaluation (including Diagnostic label, if any)
• Discharge Summaries from any previous placements
• Current Foster Care Service Plan

Once the initial referral information is received, our Admissions Coordinator prepares a written summary of all material. The entire Clinical Staff meets weekly to review referral summaries and to determine whether or not each child is appropriate for placement. We then discuss current family options.

If a family(ies) is identified as a possible match, we then schedule an interview with the child. The interview can be conducted at either of our People Places offices, or if appropriate, the Admissions Coordinator can conduct an on-site interview where the child resides.

We ask permission to videotape the interview to assist in making matching decisions. The full staff reviews the videotaped interview and discusses which family offers the best match for the child. That family is contacted and shown the written summary and videotaped interview. If the family agrees to consider the child for placement, we ask for a 1-3 day pre-placement visit. If the visit is successful, placement follows shortly thereafter. If necessary, additional pre-placement visits can be arranged.

When it is clear that placement will occur, we will ask for the additional documentation (school records, birth certificate, Physical and Dental Examinations, etc.) required by child placing standards in Virginia.

Accelerated/Emergency admissions are defined as those without a prior VEMAT. Admissions without VEMAT scores will carry an Enhanced Maintenance for Additional Daily Supervision rate equal to the VEMAT score of 20 until the client can be tested. The administration of the VEMAT is required for emergency placements within the first 30 days of placement; the Enhanced Maintenance line-item will be pro-rated to the time the VEMAT score is obtained. Thereafter the Enhanced Maintenance rate will reflect the new VEMAT score.

The following items will be needed at Referral for an emergency admission:

• Name (first and last)
• Date of Birth
• Race and Gender
• Referral Behaviors
• Referral Contacts

People Places will try to identify an appropriate match with the information provided from DSS agencies.

At Admission DSS must sign all 3 releases (General Permission Form, Emergency Medical Release, and Information Exchange Form) The remainder of the application will need to be sent to People Places within the next two weeks.