Family Recruited Employee (FRE)

History of the Program

Family Recruited Employee (FRE) services were developed in the late 90’s to meet a need and address a gap in services. With the requirements of Medicaid Waivers, (having to pay providers directly either as employees or contractors), we found families had trusted individuals who had been providing services previously (either by private pay or from grants), who did not meet the independent contractor requirements and had no agency to employ them. Families very much wanted to continue using these trusted individuals. Thus, the idea to create a separate group of employees with little overhead took form. What started out as a small group of employees has turned into a group of over 125.

• 100-110 clients utilize the service in any given month.
• FRE services provide the opportunity to clients that cannot function in group settings to access community resources or to increase various skill levels with 1:1 support.
• It could provide parents with Respite - evenings, weekends, holidays or nights, hours or days that typical agencies may not offer support.
• The service preserves dignity by allowing trusted family members to be paid to provide certain aspects of Personal Care instead of having an employee of an agency who they are not familiar with come in to assist with these tasks.
• Families are able to use the supports of these services during their own hours of employment, so they can continue working and feeling comfortable with the individual spending time in their home.

The difference between the employee wage and the rate billed to the plan is the cost of doing business, which includes but is not limited to paying for Workers Comp. insurance, payroll, taxes, unemployment claims, paying employees for attending hire appointments, live and online training time and documentation of services.

Additional things to consider when offering FRE services to a family

1. Applicants must be 18 or older.
2. Class B License: FRE’s are not permitted to provide any supports considered skilled care. (G-Tube, lifts & transfers/wound care/suctioning/ect…)
3. Utilizing a computer (PC, Google Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer) is a requirement. All employees are required to:
   • Have an active e-mail address in order to complete the application online (see website for instructions on how to obtain a free e-mail account.
   • Submit the employment application, enter W-4 information, direct deposit information and obtain pay stubs (if applicable) online.
   • Maintain current contact information, marital status, # of dependents online.
   • Enter hours worked and contact notes online as noted on the payroll schedule and outlined in the payroll policy.
   • Complete all required trainings through the online learning system.
4. Applicants will not be authorized to work with clients or submit any time to the program prior to completion of the background check, meeting with the FRE Program Manager to complete the I9 form and new hire paperwork, obtaining an employee number and completing 7 initial online trainings.
5. Applicants driving clients in their vehicles must provide a copy of their driver's license as well as proof of adequate auto insurance (coverage must be a minimum of $100,000/person in the vehicle and $300,000/accident).
6. The background and reference check process will begin once the application and the release form are received. Completing the background check can take multiple weeks, depending on several variables, including how many states lived in, DMV record and especially obtaining the professional reference. 
7. When the applicant comes in to complete the new hire paperwork, they must complete an I9 form, which establishes identity and authorization to work in the US. This is required to proceed with employment. 
8. At the hire appointment, the employee will also be asked to complete 19 State required online training readings within 30 days of being hired, 7 of which will need to be completed before starting any face to face services.
9.  After completing the 7 initial trainings, the FRE will inform the FRE Program Manager of completion, an e-mail will be sent to the employee and family confirming the start date they can begin providing services that are identified in the IP/Plan of Care.