Haw. Code R. § 17-1617-3 - Scope of service for foster care maintenance payments

(a) The basic functions performed by resource families include, but are not limited to, the provision of:

(1) Warmth, security, emotional nurturing;

(2) Intellectual stimulation;

(3) Training by example to develop social skills; and

(4) Encouragement to participate in family life.

(b) Foster care maintenance payments shall be made for the care and maintenance of eligible children in out-of-home care under the placement responsibility of the department in provisionally licensed resource family homes, licensed resource family homes, emergency shelter homes and child caring institutions; and

(c) Foster care maintenance payments shall be made for the care and maintenance of eligible children. Payment covers the following:

(1) Food, including lunches and milk;

(2) Shelter, including utilities;

(3) Use of household furnishings and equipment;

(4) Expenses involved in household operations;

(5) Personal essentials, including, but not limited to, toothbrush, soap, brush/comb, haircuts, hygienic supplies, and contact lens maintenance supplies;

(6) Reading and educational materials/supplies;

(7) Recreational and community activities for the child such as parties, picnics, movies, and excursions;

(8) Transportation expense for the resource family or caregiver to shop for the foster child, or deliver the child to school events, or other community and recreational activities;

(9) Medicine chest supplies or first aid materials such as band-aids, aspirin, cough syrup, bandages, and antiseptics;

(10) Allowance according to the age of the child;

(11) Other requirements for infant and toddler care including two basic sub-items:

(A) Baby supplies, including diapers, and nutritional supplements recommended by the physician for the care of infants and toddlers;

(B) Increased costs for utilities, household furnishing, and maintenance operations related to increased activities, such as, laundering and formula preparation.

(d) The cost of local travel associated with providing food, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, and a child's personal incidentals is federally reimbursable to the state for payments made by the state for a child who meets the eligibility requirements for federally funded foster care maintenance payments as described in this chapter.

(e) For children under the department's placement responsibility, or under the department's placement responsibility when legal guardianship or permanent custody was awarded to another child-placing organization or caregiver, the department shall provide foster care maintenance payments in accordance with departmental procedures. Payments shall be based on an assessment of the care and supervision required to provide appropriate care to meet the child's needs and the ability of the resource family or caregiver to provide the appropriate level of care.

(1) "Basic board" means the amount of care and supervision provided for a child whose medical needs, emotional and psychological development, and behavior are within expected norms.

(2) "Difficulty of care" is a payment provided in accordance with departmental procedures, in addition to the basic board rate, for a child who requires more care and supervision as documented by a treating professional because of the child's physical, emotional, psychological, and/or behavioral needs, or as documented by appropriate school personnel when the child requires academic or educational assistance that is over and above the average assistance needed for a child.

(f) For other eligible children not under the placement responsibility of the department, the foster care maintenance payment shall be made at the basic board rate.

(g) When a child placed in a resource family home that receives federally funded foster care maintenance payments and is the minor parent of a child who is in the same home or institution as the minor parent, payments made on behalf of the minor parent shall include amounts necessary to cover the maintenance costs of the minor parent's child. Costs shall be limited to cover items described in the definition of foster care maintenance payments.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 17-1617-3

[Eff ] (Auth: HRS §§ 346-14, 346-17) (Imp: HRS § 346-17; 45 C.F.R. §§1356.21(j), 1356.60; 42 U.S.C. §675)