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Effective: 01/08/2026

C12.11 Individual Placement Agreements (IPA)

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​Individual placement agreements (IPAs) may be utilized to obtain placement, care, and services for a youth in a supports for community living (SCL) setting if the youth has not yet been allocated a SCL waiver slot. The SCL waiver program serves individuals with an intellectual disability or other developmental disabilities who qualify for intermediate care and choose to live in a community-based setting. However, funding and slots for this program are limited, and this program only serves individuals eighteen (18) years and older, which may make it necessary to secure care and services utilizing an IPA.​​​​

Practice Guidance

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  • Application for a youth to be placed on the SCL waiver waiting list should be made as early as possible if they have a developmental or intellectual disability that will prevent them from living independently as an adult. This process should begin as soon as the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) is aware that a child in out-of-home care (OOHC) has a developmental or intellectual disability that would qualify them for the waiver. The SCL waiver waiting list includes youth over the age of three (3) for future planning. 
  • It is always preferable for youth in OOHC to live in a family setting whenever possible, but SCL providers may be considered if less restrictive options have been exhausted and SCL will be the long-term plan into adulthood. 
  • SCL waivers can be granted for youth ages eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) who have an extended commitment to DCBS if SCL placement is needed.  
  • SCL placement may be considered for youth under age eighteen (18) with the Division of Protection and Permanency (DPP) Director or designee approval, if all other options have been exhausted. 
  • If considering an SCL family home provider, a visit prior to selecting placement is recommended to ensure the provider is a good fit to meet the youth’s needs.  


Procedure

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The SSW: 
  1. Follows procedures in SOP C12.10 Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver Application and Placement Search​ to ensure youth with disabilities are placed on the SCL waiting list, and an application for the SCL waiver is made timely for eligible youth;
  2. Exhausts efforts to identify less restrictive or family-based care options for the youth before exploring SCL placement through an IPA;
  3. Works in partnership with the Children's Review Program (CRP) to obtain approval from the Division of Protection and Permanency (DPP) director or designee for placement of a youth under age eighteen (18) in an SCL placement; 
  4. Searches for SCL providers at any time, the best option for the youth is determined to be SCL placement;
  5. Requests additional information about the SCL family home provider when placement options are identified to determine the best fit to meet the youth’s needs; 
  6. Utilizes an IPA only in situations when the SCL waiver slot cannot be allocated for the youth before placement, including when:
    1. ​Youth has not yet reached the age of eighteen (18); 
    2. Placement is needed urgently, and a slot has not yet been allocated;
  7. ​Works closely with the designated IPA lead from the Out of Home Care Branch to ensure all necessary services are identified and included in the IPA including:
    1. Youth-specific services to be pro​vided;
    2. Identification of a case manager; and
    3. Establishment of a spending plan.

The Supportive Living Specialist (SLS):
  1. May assist the worker by confirming the supplemental security income (SSI) status and contacting the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) to confirm waiver status of youth;
  2. Assists the worker as needed with the SCL waiver application; 
  3. Schedules a transition planning meeting for the youth at age twenty and a half (20.5) to finalize the plan for the youth as they exit OOHC, including SCL placement progress;
  4. Provides consultation to workers and regional staff on issues related to meeting the needs of youth with disabilities, including SCL placement;
  5. Upon receiving notification from DBHDID, notifies the following if the SCL waiver slot is allocated for youth currently placed in an SCL under an IPA:
    1. Division of Administrative and Financial Management (DAFM); 
    2. Division of Guardianship if involved; 
    3. OOHC IPA Lead; and 
    4. SSW.

The Out of Home Care Branch IPA Lead:
  1. Provides consultation and support to staff in navigating the SCL placement search, IPA, and SCL waiver allocation processes;
  2. Develops the IPA and spending plan and forwards to DAFM, utilizing the youth’s disability funds to support the youth while in SCL placement, including:
    1. ​Monthly funding for room and board;
    2. Monthly funds for personal spending/incidentals; and
    3. Additional one-time expenses that may arise.​​



Documents

Revisions