Under certain circumstances, DFPS must continue to make foster care payments to a provider on behalf of a child who is no longer in that provider’s care to reserve space (bed hold) for the child’s anticipated return to that provider in the near future.

DFPS must only make payments to a provider for foster care during a child’s absence if the situation meets each of the following conditions:

• DFPS plans to return the child to the provider at the end of the absence.
• The provider agrees to reserve space for the child’s return for as long as DFPS makes payments in the child’s absence.
• DFPS is not making foster care payments on behalf of this same child to any other provider during the child’s absence.

In order for the provider to be eligible to receive foster care payments for children absent from the foster care facility, the provider must be actively engaged in all of the following:

• Giving emotional support to the child (via active participation in the child’s treatment while hospitalized).
• Meeting the child’s concrete needs (such as providing clothing and other items).
• Having frequent face-to-face contact with the child on a regular basis (such as by being physically present with the child at the hospital as required by some medical facilities and so on).
• Facilitating family visits, as appropriate.
• Communicating with the medical facility care team regarding the child’s progress and discharge plan.

DFPS will not reimburse the provider for days of foster care when a child or youth resides in any of the following:  

• Psychiatric hospital once acute care ends.
• Nursing home placement.
• Intermediate care facilities for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (ICF/IDD).
• State supported living centers.
• Placed with a non-licensed relative caregiver.
• Pre-consummated adoptive placement.
• Texas Juvenile Justice Department facility.
• Texas state hospitals.