Training Resource Center: Medically Complex Training Program

FY 2017 Attachment 2: Scope of Work Medically Complex Training Program The Medically Complex Training Program provides initial and ongoing training as well as support to families providing care to children with complex medical needs throughout Kentucky. Foster parents working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and private child caring (PCC) agencies, along with DCBS and PCC staff, and respite providers attend Medically Complex training. There are four web-based trainings that serve as prerequisites to the initial medically complex training, Join Hands Together. These include Medically Complex Orientation (2.25 hours), DCBS Standards of Practice for Medically Complex Homes (1 hour), Growth and Development (1 hour) and Nutrition (1 hour). These are required for all families before they attend the one-day classroom training component of Join Hands Together. They are to be completed three weeks prior to attending the scheduled one-day classroom training that provides the remaining 6.75 hours of training credit needed to become a Medically Complex Foster Home. Training credit is assigned only when all of the prerequisites and the in-class portion of Join Hands Together are completed. Certification in infant, child and adult CPR and first aid is still required, along with regional approval, before a foster parent is deemed a Medically Complex Foster Parent. During FY 2017, it is projected that at least ten JHT classroom trainings will be delivered to DCBS and PCC foster parents and staff. As in the past, adjustments of events may occur to meet training needs as resources permit. During FY 2017, the Medically Complex Training Program within the University of Kentucky’s Training Resource Center will continue to work in conjunction with the DCBS Training Branch and DCBS Division of Protection and Permanency to implement annual ongoing medically complex training events designed to meet the diverse training needs of the state’s medically complex foster parents. Various training topics related to the care of children designated as Medically Complex will be available for participants to choose from to meet training requirements. These two statewide ongoing training events are scheduled in accordance with the recertification needs of the medically complex foster parents (tentatively September and March). All medically complex foster parents will be encouraged to attend the statewide training events. “Make-up” training will be made available for those medically complex foster parents who are unable to attend and who have a child designated as medically complex placed in their care. Goal: The goal of the Medically Complex Training Program is to provide training and support to foster homes in Kentucky caring for children in out-of-home care with complex medical needs. Objective 1: Develop curricula and deliver training that provides accurate and current information to Medically Complex Foster Parents. The program coordinator works closely with the DCBS Training Branch and Division of Protection and Permanency’s Medical Support Section, as well as other partners, to identify subjects that need curriculum development and/or training delivery. The need for curriculum development or training topics is further identified by surveying current medically complex foster parents. All training material is researched and checked for accuracy and/or presented by experts in their respective fields. This includes consultation with the Medical Support Section and partners in the medical community. Objective 2: Coordinate statewide trainings. The program coordinator works closely with DCBS utilizing the TRIS system and R & C workers to notify and track participation in statewide trainings. Trainings are attended by DCBS and PCC staff, resource parents, and respite providers. The program coordinator utilizes training participant data to develop a training schedule to meet the ongoing training needs of existing medically complex foster parents. Objective 3: Provide phone and email support to the DCBS Division of Protection and Permanency’s Medical Support Section. The program coordinator provides support to DCBS Division of Protection and Permanency’s Medical Support Section regarding medically complex training and other related questions/issues. This support (via phone, email, and in-person meetings) is based on the need of DCBS, specifically the Medical Support Section. This support and communication includes regular updates regarding medically complex curriculum and training; collaborative meetings; feedback regarding significant issues that arise during the training process, especially those related to practice or policy concerns; and communication regarding all training dates and times so that the Medical Support Section may participate. Objective 4: Monitor training participation. The program coordinator and staff support works with TRIS to track participation at Medically Complex trainings. Objective 5: Maintain a listserv to distribute information to families providing medically fragile care. A listserv that includes medically complex foster families, DCBS staff, and other community partners is maintained and continually updated. This listserv is used as a vehicle to disseminate information on Medically Complex training opportunities and other relevant updates and information. Objective 6: Provide information, support and consultation to R&C Staff. The program coordinator will be available as needed to consult with R&C supervisors and staff who work to recruit existing foster parents to provide Medically Complex care. The program coordinator will provide information, support and consultation as it relates to the Medically Complex Training Program. A Medically Complex brochure is maintained and distributed as appropriate. The University of Kentucky utilizes Subrecipient for grants.