Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-156.6 - [Effective 4/1/2025] Rate of maintenance payment for foster family care

(1) Basic rate. A monthly payment for care in a foster family home licensed in Iowa shall be made to the foster family based on the following schedule:

Age of child	Daily rate
0 through 5	$17.62
6 through 11	$18.32
12 through 15	$20.06
16 or over	$20.32

(2) Out-of-state rate. A monthly payment for care in a foster family home licensed or approved in another state shall be made to the foster family based on the rate schedule in effect in Iowa, except that the service area manager or designee may authorize a payment to the foster family at the rate in effect in the other state if the child's family lives in that state and the goal is to reunite the child with the family.

(3) Mother and child in foster care. When the child in foster care is a mother whose young child is in placement with her, the rate paid to the foster family shall be based on the daily rate for the mother according to the rate schedule in subrules 156.6(1) and 156.6(4) and for the child according to the rate schedule in subrule 156.6(1). The foster parents shall provide a portion of the young child's rate to the mother to meet the partial maintenance needs of the young child as defined in the case permanency plan.

(4) Difficulty of care payment.

a. For placements made before January 1, 2007, when foster parents provide care to a special needs child, the foster family shall be paid the basic maintenance rate plus $5 per day for extra expenses associated with the child's special needs. This rate shall continue for the duration of the placement.

b. When a foster family provides care to a sibling group of three or more children, an additional payment of $1 per day per child may be authorized for each nonspecial needs child in the sibling group.

c. When the foster family's responsibilities in the case permanency plan include providing transportation related to family or preplacement visits outside the community in which the foster family lives, the department caseworker may authorize an additional maintenance payment of $1 per day. Expenses over the monthly amount may be reimbursed with prior approval by the department caseworker. Eligible expenses shall include the actual cost of the most reasonable passenger fare or gas.

d. For placements made on or after January 1, 2007, the supervisor may approve an additional maintenance payment above the basic rate in subrule 156.6(1) to meet the child's special needs as identified by the child's score on Form 470-4401. The department caseworker shall complete Form 470-4401 within 30 days of the child's initial entry into foster care.

(1) Additional maintenance payments made under this paragraph shall begin no earlier than the first day of the month following the month in which Form 470-4401 is completed and shall be awarded as follows:

1. Behavioral needs rated at level 1 qualify for a payment of $4.81 per day.

2. Behavioral needs rated at level 2 qualify for a payment of $9.62 per day.

3. Behavioral needs rated at level 3 qualify for a payment of $14.44 per day.

(2) The department shall review the child's need for this difficulty of care maintenance payment using Form 470-4401:

1. Whenever the child's behavior changes significantly;

2. When the child's placement changes;

3. After termination of parental rights, in preparation for negotiating an adoption subsidy or presubsidy payment; and

4. Before a court hearing on guardianship subsidy.

e. All maintenance payments, including difficulty of care payments, shall be documented on Form 470-0716.

(5) Payment method. All foster family maintenance payments shall be made directly to the foster family.

(6) Return of overpayments. When a foster family has received payments in excess of those allowed under this chapter, the department caseworker shall ask the foster family to return the overpayment. If the foster family is returning the overpayment to the department, the department caseworker will note the monthly amount the foster family agrees to pay in the family's case file. The amount returned shall not be less than $50 per month.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 234.38 and 2013 Iowa Acts, Senate File 446, sections 18 and 19.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-156.6

ARC 8010B, IAB 7/29/09, effective 10/1/09; ARC 8451B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 1/1/10; ARC 8653B, IAB 4/7/10, effective 5/12/10; ARC 8904B, IAB 6/30/10, effective 7/1/10; ARC 9778B, IAB 10/5/11, effective 11/9/11; ARC 0240C, IAB 8/8/12, effective 7/11/12; ARC 0419C, IAB 10/31/12, effective 12/5/12; ARC 0858C, IAB 7/24/2013, effective 7/1/2013; ARC 1061C, IAB 10/2/2013, effective 11/6/2013 Amended by IAB January 4, 2017/Volume XXXIX, Number 14, effective 3/1/2017 Amended by IAB April 5, 2023/Volume XLV, Number 20, effective 6/1/2023 Amended by IAB February 19, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 17, effective 4/1/2025