Fostering MFTD children

[divaluv87]

i am a pediatric home health nurse extensivly experienced invent, trach, and gtube patients. my family has two social workers and one personwith 25+ years of experience in directing various non profit organizations. we werewanting to start a non profit here intexas. we had brainstormed an assisted living type setting for seniors, a jobcorp type setting for young adults that are between the ages of 18-25 that haveaged out of the system but still lack the proper skills to be a productivecitizen. i suggested fostering mftd children. my cousin was going to buy thehome next door to run the non profit out of. my question is, is it possible todo this. we would have 6 children, homecare nurses come in, social workers onstaff full time, activites, as well as a rn in the home at all times. my cousinquestion is does the foster parent have to live in the home with the childrenor would they be able to live in the organizations home. as a home health nursei know there is a need for this type of setting but i have never heard of it.any and all constructive and helpful comments are welcome.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

From the way you describe, it would not be a foster home, but more of a group home for medically fragile children. In a true foster home you would need one person responsible for the care of the children, but in a group home you would have the owners of the home and the workers who rotate within the home.

It does sound like their would be a need for this sort of a facility. I think the best resource for you would be the Department of Child Services in your state.

Good luck!

[ventmommy]

This would be a group home for medically fragile children that foster care agencies could utilize. There are well run ones and abysmal ones. One of our children came out of a home like this. The place sucked and ran into all sorts of issues. There were 6 kids, 4 were in foster care, 2 were parental placements. Their primary issue was that the state (Medicaid) was paying for PDN nurses for two of the kids but the home used those nurses to care for all the kids and oversee the staff CNAs that worked there.

If you do your research, run it well, don't utilize fraud to save money and don't become greedy, it could be a great thing. It's a lot of money to modify a home (doorways, ramps, driveways, bathroom, showers, kitchen, generators). Also consider that you will need lots of space for storage for medical supplies at the bedside and someplace else for the overflow/back-up. You also need a place for potentially six wheelchairs, six standers, six corner chairs/floor sitters, six seating devices, six shower chairs, etc. Pedi cribs/beds can run from $5K each to $30K each.

Start googling and see what's out there. You'll also see what you do and don't like out there.

Please let us know how you progress!

[LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN]

This would be a group home for medically fragile children that foster care agencies could utilize. There are well run ones and abysmal ones. One of our children came out of a home like this. The place sucked and ran into all sorts of issues. There were 6 kids, 4 were in foster care, 2 were parental placements. Their primary issue was that the state (Medicaid) was paying for PDN nurses for two of the kids but the home used those nurses to care for all the kids and oversee the staff CNAs that worked there.

If you do your research, run it well, don't utilize fraud to save money and don't become greedy, it could be a great thing. It's a lot of money to modify a home (doorways, ramps, driveways, bathroom, showers, kitchen, generators). Also consider that you will need lots of space for storage for medical supplies at the bedside and someplace else for the overflow/back-up. You also need a place for potentially six wheelchairs, six standers, six corner chairs/floor sitters, six seating devices, six shower chairs, etc. Pedi cribs/beds can run from $5K each to $30K each.

Start googling and see what's out there. You'll also see what you do and don't like out there.

Please let us know how you progress!

I am a nurse and social worker and do private duty. There is a huge need for such a facility for medical fragile patients. Sometmes ped patients have stay in the hospital because they cannot be placed. If you were a nurse and considering establishing this type of program, it is a good thing. However, you have to staff it correctly and be aware that these children are at high risk for abuse.

Something that the previous post mentioned--the cost of disability modification. Much of this modification is tax deductible. It is tax deductible for people who make changes to their home or the home of a dependent, but I don't know about deductions for a company; however, many expenses a companny incurrs may be tax deductible (an accountant could tell you).

Another thing: in my city, any home that has less than 6 beds can be located in regular residential neighborhood without lots of red tape--but there will be some zoning and/or regulatory laws. A good attorney and account who deals with this type of home could be very helpful to you.