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When children remain in Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs) beyond federally required timeframes, approval by the responsible social services agency director (county or Tribe) must be completed (Minnesota Statutes 260C.714 (a).
Extended QRTP placement reviews are completed by the director of the responsible social services agency when a child 12 years of age or younger is placed in a QRTP for more than six consecutive or nonconsecutive months, or when a child 13 years of age or older is placed in a QRTP for more than 12 consecutive months or 18 nonconsecutive months (Minnesota Statutes 260C.714 (a)).
Previous department policy stated the director of the responsible social services agency completed an initial QRTP extended placement review and possible subsequent QRTP extended placement reviews, depending on the length of time a child remained in the QRTP placement. This memo clarifies if a child remains in a QRTP placement beyond federally approved timeframes, the director of the responsible social services agency conducts one QRTP extended placement review per QRTP placement, not multiple reviews (Minnesota Statutes 260C.714 (a)). Therefore, once a QRTP extended placement review has been completed for a QRTP placement, no further or subsequent QRTP extended placement reviews are required by the social services director for Title IV-E reimbursement.
Additional information regarding extended QRTP placement reviews is available in Corrected Bulletin #22-68-09: Extended QRTP Placement Review.
QRTPs are considered the most restrictive foster care setting for children and youth. Therefore, the courts have multiple roles for QRTP placements:
- Within 60 days of a child’s placement in a QRTP, the court must issue an order finding that a child’s placement is appropriate and meets the child’s needs, as outlined in Minnesota Statutes 260C.71.
- As long as a child remains placed in the QRTP, the responsible social services agency must submit evidence, as outlined in Minnesota Statutes 260C.712, at each administrative review, court review and permanency hearing, demonstrating that the QRTP placement continues to meet the child’s needs.
Notify the courts of any issues or barriers preventing reunification or placement in the least restrictive setting and timelines for reunification and/or placement in the community. Discharge planning begins the day a child enters a QRTP placement.
Contact foster care unit staff (dhs.csp.fostercare@state.mn.us) or the SSIS Help Desk (dhs.ssishelp@state.mn.us) with questions.
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