11.1 Referral Process
The Children’s Service Worker must make a referral to the eligibility specialist via the CS-IV-E/FFP-1 within ten (10) working days from the child's entry into Out-Of-Home Care to determine eligibility for Title IV-E unless the child is in alternative care less than three days. The system automatically assigns Fund Code 12, Title XIX (FFP) to all children in CD custody depending upon placement. The system automatically alerts the Income Maintenance Worker via the daily SACCS 051-01 report when a child is removed from a Temporary Assistance household.
The children of youth in alternative care (CYAC) program allows for the payment of maintenance, infant allowance, and special expenses, as well as Medicaid, on behalf of a child in the physical and legal custody of his/her parent who is in the Division's custody.
11.1.1 Homeless, Dependent, and Neglected (HDN) or Status Offender
The Case Manager/Children’s Service Worker must determine if the child is described as HDN or a status offender in the court order:
- Children in the custody of, and placed in a licensed placement resource of, the Juvenile Courts in Clay, Greene, Jackson, and St. Louis County and St. Louis City are eligible for HDN-Alternative Care funds, FFP, or State only Medicaid if described in the court order as HDN (Section 210.292 RSMo).
- Obtain the SSN for the child, if it is not known, and complete Form SS-61.
11.1.2 Service Needs
The Case Manager/Children’s Service Worker will determine services needed by the child for which CD will pay. See Attachments of this Chapter for limitations or type and amount of payments. Services may include:
- Maintenance;
- Infant allowance: A child between the ages of 0 - 24 months, in qualifying placement types, is eligible for an additional $50 per month to help meet the specialized needs of infants, such as diapers, formula, clothing, and supplies;
Note: Children eligible for this allowance include licensed foster/certified relative home placements, children in CD custody in court ordered placements, and CYAC. Infants in Residential Care facilities are NOT eligible to receive the additional allowance.
- Clothing allowance: A child is eligible for a clothing allowance at the time of placement and on his/her placement anniversary. The amount of the allowance is based on his/her age at the time of placement or placement anniversary date. With Area Director approval, individual cases may exceed this standard;
- Routine medical/dental care including services available through the Healthy Children and Youth (HCY) Treatment Program;
- Bureau for Children with Special Health Care Needs (BCSHCN) may cover a medical condition not covered by Medicaid. Refer child to the appropriate BCSHCN Regional Office;
- Emergency and extraordinary medical/dental care;
- Children's Treatment Services; and
- Other special services such as:
- legal services including court fees in a termination of parental rights or adoption proceeding; court fees to assist a grandparent establish legal guardianship of a child who is in CD custody;
- transportation for visiting parent(s) or prospective placement resources;
- child care services, if a part of the child's case plan if both foster parents are employed; and/or
- other needs, unique to a particular child, which have been approved by the Area Director and which will support and enhance a child's case plan.
NOTE: Maintenance is not paid to state administered schools for the deaf or blind, medical and mental health facilities, or juvenile court closed or semi-closed (detention) facilities. However, some special expenses may be met through HDN funds.
11.1.3 Funding Source
The Case Manager/Children’s Service Worker will decide on the funding source or mix of funding sources to be used for meeting the child's Out-Of-Home Care costs. Possible sources are:
- Parent's contributions and estates;
- Temporary Assistance;
NOTE: Determine funding available to a child placed in the custody and/or care of relatives. Also, determine funding available when a family makes their own plan and the child is determined eligible by Family Support Division (FSD) staff.
NOTE: The ES will determine Title IV-E or HDN funding.
- A certified grandparent may receive Title IV-E or HDN maintenance, infant allowance, and special expenses. A grandparent who is the child’s legal guardian or legal custodian and eligible for the Grandparents As Foster Parents Program can receive monthly maintenance and special expense reimbursements equivalent to foster care payments. Other relatives may qualify for the same level of payment and services;
- IV-E or HDN - Adoption Subsidy/Subsidized Guardianship;
- Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Veteran's Assistance (VA);
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
- Missouri Medical/Dental Services Program (MM/DSP) including EPSDT
NOTE: This program is also referred to as Title XIX or Medicaid. (See Definitions.)
- Title XIX-FFP Only;
- Other state agencies such as the Department of Mental Health (DMH) or the Missouri Crippled Children's Services (MCCS) of the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS);
- Child Care funds. Only Protective Service Child Care through Children's Treatment Services funding;
- Other special contracted treatment funds managed through Children's Treatment Services (CTS) designated for a specific treatment program; and
- Other community or voluntary resources (includes county health programs).
See specific section addressed below for steps of each funding source.
NOTE: The Eligibility Specialist responsible for the case manager county will apply for all outside income for deposit in the KIDS account.
NOTE: Parental contributions or other resources received by the child (i.e., SSI, OASDI, VA, inheritance) and Title IV-E funding are to be reviewed and utilized first and before HDN funding. The statutory authority to use the above funds to be expended for the child’s care and services can be found in Section 210.560 RSMo. An exception to this policy is the child age 16 or over. In this instance, up to $999.00 can accumulate in the KIDS account to assist the child when released from CD custody.