What is an Elevated Needs (Level B) resource provider?

Anyone who is interested in providing care and specialized intervention for children and youth with elevated needs must have a contract with the Children’s Division as a Level B resource provider.

Level B resource providers are the primary agent for the child and must be able to respond immediately to any problem that arises involving the child, whether it’s at the home, school, or in the community. Other responsibilities include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Provide the child opportunities for recreational/social activities
  • Serve as a professional team member in developing appropriate plans for the child's care and treatment
  • Work with natural parents to help them understand and manage the child's individual problems and prepare them to resume responsibility for the care of their children
  • Maintain detailed and accurate reports of significant events involving the child
  • Arrange and transport child to all medical, dental and therapy appointments

These providers receive a higher daily rate to make sure they are readily available to help meet the child’s needs.

Who can become a Level B resource provider?

Anyone interested in caring far a child with elevated needs will need to:

  • Meet all foster home licensing requirements
  • Be a current licensed resource provider for Children’s Division OR have experience as a primary caretaker or professional/volunteer in the care and/or treatment of children who qualify for Elevated Needs
    • Experience includes one year actual child care experience as a licensed resource provider OR one year full time experience in a professional/volunteer capacity in the care/treatment of children who qualify for Elevated Needs (or any combination of the two)
    • Graduation from a four-year college with a degree in Child and Family Development, Special Education, Psychology, Sociology or other closely related areas may be substituted for the required experience
  • Demonstrate the skills required to care for children who require individualized care
  • Understand (or willing/able to learn) behavior modification techniques, theories of personality development and mental illness, communicate skills, positive parenting skills, crisis intervention skills and child advocacy skills
  • Assist in the development and implementation of specialized treatment plan for the child
  • Work effectively as a team member
  • Participate in specialized training and practice designed specifically for Level B resource providers
  • Be available 24 hours a day (except during periods of scheduled respite)
  • Be able to make a minimum commitment of one year to work with a youth
  • Effectively advocate for timely and quality services for youth
  • Maintain an organized record keeping system
  • Be able to act independently to obtain needed services for the child, such as medical, dental, education, etc.

Getting Started

Complete these three simple steps to become a Level B resource provider in Missouri:

1

Apply

  • Contact your local Children’s Division office to ask for an Elevated Needs Level B Resource Provider Application
  • Return the application to the address provided

2

Additional Training

  • Receive an additional 18 hours of Level A foster care training
  • Complete 9 hours of Level B resource provider training

3

Contract

  • You must have an active contract with the Children’s Division as a Level B resource provider to help children in care with elevated needs