Congregate Care

2026-11-03

MDCPS is seeking to procure the services of vendors that will agree to be an active participant in the MDCPS Continuum of Care . The outcome of this Solicitation will be the selection of an award recipient ( s ) to accomplish specified services contained in the proposal . Proposers may submit a proposal to operate a single facility or multiple facilities . The MDCPS Continuum of Care ( CoC ) serves as a network of partnering agencies that work collectively to ensure that children are protected and are provided with a wide range of family centered services that meet their needs at any level of involvement with the child protection system . Ultimately , the CoC network of partner providers spans the entire spectrum of child protection services to include prevention services , medical and legal supports , licensed foster homes , and residential treatment settings . When out - of - home placements have been deemed in the best interest of the child , the CoC ensures that children and youth are provided with quality therapeutic foster homes that are safe , licensed , child and family - centered , and trauma - informed . Moreover , the CoC purpose is to establish and maintain a robust statewide partnership consisting of organizations that serve children and youth in foster care that are committed to significantly decreasing overall placement disruptions , reducing congregate care placements , and achieving permanency . As a part of the Continuum of Care , each partnering agency commits to its designated service role ( according to the contract ) within the CoC and is required to engage in evidence - based practices that promote physical and psychological safety , shared parenting , a culture of trauma awareness , and actively collaborate with MDCPS regarding youth admissions and discharge transitions . In addition , CoC members agree to work diligently to ensure that youth are not denied admission and / or discharge based upon agreed contract criteria . Ultimately , CoC members actively coordinate with MDCPS and other members of the CoC regarding referrals , admissions , discharges , placement transitions , and aftercare recommendations / services . Additional details and requirements for each setting type can be found here . The Continuum of Care statewide partnership is comprised of dedicated organizations that serve children and youth in the following settings : • Adolescent Diversion Units / Access Units are less structured and formalized than emergency shelters and shall include fully furnished living environments that include internet capability . Adolescent Diversion Units / Access Units will offer time limited use of individual spaces for youth in foster care . MDCPS will provide supervision via the use of approved caretakers 24 hours a day / 7 days a week as all youth must receive 24 - hour supervision . The Partner Provider agrees to notify MDCPS when their staffing capacity to provide supervision of youth is in place . • Intake and Assessment Centers ( Emergency Shelters ) ( IAC ) shall be designated to provide emergency and / or temporary residential services ( up to 60 days ) to meet the basic needs of children and youth ages ten ( 10 ) to twenty - one ( 21 ). Intake and Assessment Centers are short term solutions for children and youth entering care until permanency may be achieved . No child shall remain in an Intake and Assessment Center for more than sixty ( 60 ) calendar days unless there are exceptional circumstances and the MDCPS Deputy Commissioner of Well - being and Safety has granted express written approval and documented the need for the extension . Placement of children or youth in facilities of this type will not occur prior to each facility ’ s satisfaction of all requirements for licensure .

Mississippi

2026-04-29