Definitions 623-05-05

(Revised 4/25/16 ML #3469)

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PI 19-25

 

 

Applicant - A parent(s), person or agency having the custody of a dependent child making application for aid for such child under the provisions of Chapter 447-10. A foster child that reaches the age of 18 years may make an application in his or her own behalf.

 

Correction Facility – An institution where juvenile offenders can be temporarily held and are usually under the supervision of a juvenile court. Examples include a Detention Center, Youth Correction Center, etc. A child is not considered to be in foster care and no foster care payments can be expended for a youth in a correctional placement.

 

Custodian or Custodial Agency - The agency to which the court has given responsibility for care, custody and control, or for placement and care of the child. This may be a county social service board, the Division of Juvenile Services, tribal social services, or the Executive Director of the North Dakota Department of Human Services.

 

Foster Care - Hereafter in this chapter, the general term foster care may include care in foster family homes, group homes, residential child care facilities, residential treatment centers, and psychiatric residential treatment facilities.

 

Foster Care Maintenance Payment - Payment to cover the cost of (and the cost of providing) food, clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, a child’s personal incidentals, liability insurance with respect to a child, and reasonable travel to the child’s home for visitation and reasonable travel for the child to remain in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement. In residential care, reasonable costs of administration are included. In addition to maintenance payments, certain administrative and service payments are allowable. Hereafter in this chapter when the shorter terms "foster care payment" or "maintenance payments" are used, it means the foster care maintenance payment.

 

Family Foster Home - An occupied private residence in which foster care for children is regularly provided by the owner or lessee thereof to no more than four children. Exception: unless all the children in foster care are related to each other by blood or marriage, or unless the department approves otherwise for the placement of siblings, in which case the limitation shall not apply.

 

Group Home - A residence in which foster care is regularly provided for four or more, but less than thirteen unrelated children.

 

Irregular Payment - Reimbursement with foster care fund for fees/expenses that meet the irregular category definition and criteria incurred by a foster care provider on behalf of a foster care child. The irregular categories reimburse for expenses over and above the standard maintenance payment which covers the basic care and needs of the foster care child.

 

Licensed Relative Homes - A relative may request to have his or her home licensed or approved in order to receive a foster care maintenance payment. If the home meets the standards for licensure or approval and if the child(ren) in question otherwise meets all requirements of foster care, the appropriate foster care daily rate must be paid. There is a relative waiver option that can be considered for relatives only specific to non-safety related licensing compliance.

 

Psychiatric Residential Treatment Centers (PRTF's) - Accredited residential treatment centers that provide inpatient psychiatric services for eligible individuals under age 21. Foster youth placed in PRTF's will be processed under regular Medicaid rules. In order for Medicaid to pay for the individual's care, a certificate of need will be required.

 

Residential Child Care Facility- A facility other than an occupied private residence providing foster care to thirteen or more unrelated children.

 

Residential Treatment Center for Children- A licensed facility that provides residential treatment for mentally ill persons who are children within the meaning of NDCC section 27-20-02 or who are minors. Effective July 1, 2006, residential treatment facilities in-state and some out-of-state, that are accredited and providing inpatient psychiatric services will be referred to as Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF's).

 

Tribal Title IV-E Care Payments - ND Tribal Social Service Agencies have access to Title IV-E funding through an agreement with NDDHS to receive payment on eligible Title IV-E foster care cases. Foster care payment to providers licensed or approved by the Tribe can only be made if the provider meets the Department of Human Services standards or equivalent and such standards have prior approval of the Department of Human Services.