Room, Board and Watchful Oversight (RBWO) is the program administered by the Office of Provider Management (OPM), implemented on 7/1/07. RBWO is the provision of lodging, food, and the attentive and responsible care of children. OPM is committed to ensuring that each child has a safe place to live, adequately nutritious meals and continuous watchful oversight to ensure basic safety needs are met.
The following outlines the variety of program designations for Child Caring Institutions (CCI) and Child Placing Agencies (CPA):
CCI Program Designations:
- Base
- Additional Watchful Oversight (AWO)
- Maximum Watchful Oversight (MWO)
- 2nd Chance
- Maternity
- Independent Living Program (ILP)
CPA Program Designations:
- Traditional
- Base Watchful Oversight (BWO)
- Maximum Watchful Oversight (MWO)
- Specialty Base Watchful Oversight (SBWO)
- Specialty Maximum Watchful Oversight (SMWO)
- Specialty Medically Fragile Watchful Oversight (SMFWO)
Providers maintain responsibility for the provision or acquisition of services to ensure that each child’s physical, social, emotional, educational/vocational, nutritional, spiritual/cultural and permanency needs are met.
Children are placed in the best oversight environment based on their behaviors and characteristics, known as the Difficulty of Care Factors. Four main areas of a child’s life are assessed to determine the best placement.
RBWO reimbursement rates were established and became effective on July 1, 2007. Rates typically increase based on the amount of oversight required to provide a safe and stable environment for the child. In certain circumstances, a higher rate than the fixed rate may be required, therefore, a waiver process has been established.
- School Adjustment
- Performance in Home Environment
- Social and Community Activities
- Health and Developmental Factors
