Category 40 - Child Care for Foster Children - Limited Use 623-05-30-20

(Revised 8/15/06 ML #3025)

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PI 16-35

PI 16-35 Attachment

 

 

Child care (day care) is not an entitlement, but is one option open to consideration by the Permanency Planning Committee in an attempt to arrive at the best possible situation for the foster care child.

 

The department continues to encourage the placement of young children with foster families where one of the parents is available at home for the child in foster care. Strive for placements where the foster child will not have an alternative arrangement during foster parent working hours. If alternative care is contemplated, it must be thoroughly discussed in the Child and Family Team meeting in terms of what is the best plan for the foster child.

 

North Dakota’s policy for child care related to foster care was updated based on recent interpretations from the Administration for Children & Families, (ACYR-CB-PIQ-97-01).

 

For foster care reimbursement, child care must be provided by a provider that is licensed, certified, or has some other formal status under early childhood regulations. In North Dakota, the status is licensed, certified, registered, or approved relative to the foster child. Follow the guidelines of the Childcare Assistance Program. This is in accordance with federal requirements. Informal, episodic child care need not have such status and is presumably included in the basic foster care maintenance rate.

 

Child care that provides daily supervision during a foster parent’s working hours when the foster child is not in school is an allowable expenditure for foster care maintenance. Also allowable are child care costs which facilitate the foster parent’s attendance at activities which are beyond the scope of “ordinary parental duties.”

 

Child care is an allowable maintenance expenditure when the foster parent(s) is required to attend case conferences, team meetings, and court hearings without the foster child.

 

Child Care Expenses - Claiming

The reimbursement ceiling for child care expenses is based on community standards.

 

In order to claim foster care maintenance reimbursement for any child care expenditures during the foster parent’s employment, or child care justified as being beyond the scope of ordinary parental duties, the need must be discussed in Child and Family Team meeting and documented in the foster child’s permanency plan. Childcare billings signed by both the foster care provider and child care provider are required and must be retained in the child’s county case file for audit purposes. The billing must contain the actual hours childcare is provided during each day, hourly (monthly) rate, and total amount due.  

 

Example:

Child’s Name:John Smith

Age: 3

Month/Year: December,

2002 Total Hours/Rate: 91 hours @ $2.25/hour

Amount Due: $204.75

Childcare provider’s signature: Foster parent’s signature:

Date:

 

Click here to view table example.

 

The county enters Category 40, “Child Care Expenses,” on the appropriate CCWIPS payment screen.

 

Refer to CCWIPS User Manual for technical assistance related to entering irregular foster care payments on the CCWIPS system.

 

The cost of child care to provide for the foster parent’s attendance at mandatory foster parent training is an allowable foster care expenditure. Refer questions to Children and Family Services -- Training Center at the University of North Dakota (CFS-TC) at 701-777-3442 regarding child care reimbursement for approved foster parent training.

 

Reference Chart – Appendix: T

“Child Care/Day Care – Quick Reference Related to Foster Care.”

 

Child Care Expense Not Allowed under Foster Care Maintenance

The federal policy statement cited the legislative history of P.L. 96-272, which stated "payments for the costs of providing care to foster children are not intended to include reimbursement in the nature of a salary for the exercise by the foster family parent of ordinary parental duties." Accordingly, child care provided to a foster child to facilitate a foster parent’s participation in activities that are within the realm of "ordinary parental duties" or child care activities which are deemed a social service are not reimbursable under foster care maintenance.  

 

Examples:

Child care within the realm of ordinary parental duties, i.e. during illness of foster parent, is not reimbursable under foster care maintenance.

 

Relief care for foster parents is not reimbursable under foster care maintenance. Assuming the demands and needs of the child require, a "difficulty of care" payment could be considered to address the complexities of the situation and provide support to the foster parents.

 

Attendance at school conferences is an ordinary parental duty.  The cost of child care to provide for the foster parent’s attendance at school conferences is not an allowable expenditure under foster care maintenance.

 

Child care provided to facilitate a foster parent’s visit to a foster child who is temporarily out of the foster home (hospital, camp, etc.) is not an allowable foster care maintenance expenditure.

 

Special needs of a foster child best met in an early childhood care (day care) setting: Therapeutic child care is a social service and is not an allowable expenditure under foster care maintenance. If child care is full time, it is considered beyond socialization. Otherwise, consider whether a difficulty of care payment is appropriate.

 

Full time child care -- not employment related -- is not allowable under foster care maintenance.  

 

Child care provided to enhance a child’s social skills/peer relationships/socialization is not reimbursable under foster care maintenance. Difficulty of care payments could also be considered in a demanding situation, with the foster parent making the arrangements.