Emergency Satellite Homes (ESH)

Effective July 1, 2019, the LOC Basic Level Rate has risen to $1,000 per month making it higher than the ESH rate. As a result, the DFCS has instructed FCE to stop issuing the ESH rate effective 7/1/19.

The information below is for historical purposes only as the ESH rate has been discontinued.

When a relative or NREFM is not immediately available for emergency placement following a child's being brought into temporary custody, ESH placements provide a temporary placement pending further assessment and planning. ESH placements are short-term, with the goal of having a child's stay in an ESH to be no longer than 59 days, whenever possible. In Santa Clara County, licensed county foster homes, RFA homes, FFA homes and group homes may all come under the category of ESH.

The rate of emergency “satellite” foster homes is a PER DIEM rate, effective 1/1/08, is $32.00 per day. This rate applies to all placements, regardless of age and includes the first but NOT the last day of placement.

 

Note: The EW must review the ESH listing before making payment and document in CalSAWS Journal that the review was completed.

Method of Payment

Foster Care and Emergency Shelter Care payments are made after the fact, directly to the foster home or institution.

Number of Days Paid

Payment is made only from the date of arrival through the last full day of care prior to departure or removal. This applies whether the child returns home or is transferred to another facility.

First Day of Payment

The day a child is placed is the first day of payment for the provider. When a child is moved from one facility to another, the day the child is moved/placed is the first day of payment for the second provider.

Exception: The only exception to the first-day rule is the situation in which a child is placed in a facility and moved to another facility (or returned home) IN THE SAME DAY. In this instance, the first facility is paid for that day. The second facility is paid beginning with the next (second) day of placement.

Last Day of Payment

The last day of payment is the day PRECEDING the day the child permanently leaves or is removed from a facility.

Related Topics

Aid Payments and State Administered Rates