#1: We can reduce costs by identifying individuals that can be served in less costly, more independent settings

Portable funding for housing is the biggest obstacle for people who want to move from corporate foster care to other community options.

One solution ARRM has is to expand the use of shelter needy funding by allowing the service provider to be the housing provider – with a plan for the individual to eventually control his or her own housing.

In addition, we can increase funding limits, allow more flexibility to coordinate consumer moves, and provide incentives to transition individuals into less expensive settings to encourage people move out of corporate foster care and into more independent settings.

#2: We can increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the current corporate foster care model

A key element of ARRM's Blueprint for Reform is to remove requirements that increase the cost of care without impacting the quality of services, such as eliminating the requirement for overnight supervision in corporate foster care and – where appropriate – allowing the use of monitoring technology in place of staff.

And, we can create more cost-effective services in the long-term:

• Establish a standardized procedure for provider-initiated pilot programs that allow for more flexibility so innovative, cost-effective models can be developed.

• Strengthen choice by utilizing support teams (currently called interdisciplinary teams) – rather than one-size-fits-all regulations – to cost-effectively link services with individual needs.

• Appropriately balance the legal risk borne by everyone involved in the system, ensuring legal exposure does not excessively add to the cost of providing services.

• Implement common-sense changes to other regulations to reduce unnecessary administrative costs.

Learn more about:
Monitoring technology
Shelter Needy

Staff contacts:
Bruce Nelson, CEO
bnelson@arrm.org
651-291-1086, ext. 1

Barb Turner, COO
bturner@arrm.org
651-291-1086, ext. 3

Craig Wieber, Chief Fiscal Analyst
cwieber@arrm.org
651-291-1086, ext. 9