October 2020 Case Assignment
Maplewood Homes

Learning Point:  Person had their services terminated due to challenging behavior 

Person was being served in a rural Family Foster Home setting from May until August of 2020.  Prior to admission into the family foster home, person had been residing at a crises home following service termination from another provider.  Person had a long history of verbalizing suicidal thoughts, self-harm, verbal and physical aggression.  It was reported that he enjoyed the attention he was given when he would be hospitalized, resulting in numerous attempts to become hospitalized.   It was reported that his team was not being successful in finding placement for him.  The team felt that a family foster care who could provide a one to one setting was something that had not been tried before.  Provider had no other clients at the time of initial placement.  Provider has over 20 years of experience in working with vulnerable populations.
Provider reported a good working relationship with the person’s Guardian/Grandmother along with county case manager. Provider worked closely with psychologist, psychiatrist and ARMS worker.  Provider felt that the team was very supportive.  Things went well for a period of time and the person enjoyed all the attention they received.
As time went on, the person started to verbalize suicidal ideation to his Grandmother when talking to her on the phone.  One night he eloped following a series of texts to his Grandmother saying he wanted to kill himself.  Provider followed him and called the Sheriff who stated that they were not a “taxi” service and would not assist.  He was taken to the Emergency Room and calmed down and was released with in a couple of hours.
Another client moved into the home shortly have this incident.  Person then stated he was going to burn the house down.  Provider had a volunteer at the home stay up all night to observe person as they were not sleeping.   The was again taken to the house admitted and released.   After he returned, he took a lighter and burned himself, this resulted in police being called to the home.  He calmed down once they arrived.  He started to text his Grandmother reporting that he wanted to kill himself.  Grandmother insisted that he return to the hospital.  Once at the hospital Grandmother insisted that he not return to providers home and he was admitted back to the crises home. 
