SECTION 700.1337. What is the Temporary Emergency Placement (TEP) Program?

(a) The Temporary Emergency Placement Program is designed to provide highly-structured quality residential care and services when DFPS encounters high needs children for whom the Department is working to identify a safe and suitable longer-term placement to meet their unique needs.

(b) Caregivers who participate in the Temporary Emergency Treatment Program have specialized training in providing services to children with mental health, socio-behavioral needs and medical needs, including 24-hour supervision to ensure the child's safety and sense of security, which includes frequent one-to-one monitoring with the ability to provide immediate on site response and any other training requirement specified in contract.

(c) Contractors providing services through the Temporary Emergency Placement Program must:

(1) have experience providing residential-child care services to high needs children;

(2) reserve placement slots for the exclusive use of properly referred children determined eligible for the TEP program by DFPS;

(3) be prepared to admit children who might require TEP services at any time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year;

(4) accept all properly referred children up to a predetermined number of placements as outlined in the contract with DFPS; and

(5) comply with all required terms and conditions set forth in the contract with DFPS.

Source Note: The provisions of this §700.1337 adopted to be effective September 1, 2017, 42 TexReg 4307