However, in small and large family child care homes where an interdisciplinary team does not exist, the caregivers shall participate in the planning and preparation process along with other care or treatment providers. The discharge process shall also involve sharing and exhange of progress reports with other care providers for the child and the parents or legal guardian of the child within the realm of confidentiality guidelines. There is a continuing need for information sharing as part of discharge planning. Each service agency or caregiver shall have a format and timeline for the process of developing a transition plan to be followed when each child leaves the facility. A child and family needs assessment.
Many factors contribute to the success or failure of a transition.
Each agency can adapt the format to its own needs. However, consistent formats for planning and information exchange in localities would be useful to both caregivers and families. The use of outside consultants for small and large family child care homes is especially important in meeting this type of standard. Each service agency or caregiver shall have a mechanism for following up the transition plan, timelines for the process, a means of documenting current and future care and service arrangements, and an approach for addressing changes. Families will benefit when they are provided support and services from the receiving agency.