1.12 Review of Payments and Approval Standards

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(1) Administration

Policy Title:

Review of Payments and Approval Standards

Policy Number:

1.12

Previous Policy Number(s):

N/A

Effective Date:

February 2024

Manual Transmittal:

2024-01

Codes/References

Title IV-E of the Social Security Act § 471(a) (11)
45 CFR Part 1356.21(m)(1) & (2)

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Review at reasonable, specific, time-limited periods established by the State:

    1. The amount of the payments made for foster care maintenance to assure their continued appropriateness, and that the amount made to a licensed or approved kinship (relative or fictive kin) foster family home is the same as the amount that would have been made if the child was placed in a licensed or approved non-relative foster family home;

    2. The amount of the payment made for adoption assistance to assure their continued appropriateness; and

    3. The licensing or approval standards for childcare institutions (CCI) and foster family homes.

Procedures

Review of Payments

The DFCS Budget and Finance Section in conjunction with the Caregiver and Well-being Coordination Section will:

  1. Conduct periodic reviews of the existing foster care maintenance and adoption assistance payment amounts. The review will:

    1. Occur every two years in even numbered years;

    2. Assess the continued appropriateness of the payment amounts;

    3. Confirm that the amount of payment made to an approved kinship foster family home is the same as the amount that would have been made if the child was placed in an approved non-relative foster family home; and

    4. Include a recommendation if any changes should be made.

  2. Submit the recommendation from the review to the Deputy Commissioner of Child Welfare and Division Director by June 30th for consideration.

The Division Director will:

  1. Review any recommendation for change(s) and decide whether to accept the recommendation.

  2. Decide if the recommended change(s) will be included in the DFCS budget request submitted to the Governor for the subsequent State Fiscal Year.

Any changes to the foster care maintenance and adoption assistance payment amounts require the approval of the Governor and the State Legislature.

Review of Approval Standards

The Caregiver and Well-being Coordination Section will:

  1. Conduct periodic reviews of the existing approval standards for CCIs and foster family homes (including kinship foster family homes) to assess their continued appropriateness. The review will:

    1. Occur at minimum every two years in even numbered years;

    2. Follow processes established by:

      1. The Office of Provider Management for CCIs and child placing agencies (CPAs). The review includes consultation with key stakeholders (e.g., Office of the Child Advocate, Residential Childcare Licensing, Department of Juvenile Justice).

      2. The Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit (CRRU) for DFCS foster family homes. The review includes Resource Development staff and other key stakeholders.

    3. Include a recommendation of any changes to be made to the approval standards.

  2. Submit any proposed changes to the approval standards to the Deputy Commissioner of Child Welfare and Division Director for approval.

  3. Coordinate with the Policy and Regulations Unit to incorporate the approved change(s) into the Child Welfare Policy Manual (CWPM).

The Division Director will:

  1. Review any recommendation for change(s) to the approval standards and decide whether to accept the recommendation.

  2. Approve any resulting changes to the CWPM.

Practice Guidance

Safety and Quality Standards

Any changes to approval standards must adhere to title IV-E of the Social Security Act provisions for safety and quality standards (see policies 14.1 Resource Development: Safety and Quality Standards and 16.8 Room Board Watchful Oversight: Minimum Standards). The purpose of safety and quality standards is to ensure caregivers have the capacity to care for a child in foster care, and to ensure the physical home of the caregivers is appropriate and safe for the child.

Office of Provider Management (OPM)

OPM contracts with private agency placement providers and monitors the provisions of Room, Board, Watchful Oversight (RBWO) services. OPM employs various mechanisms to monitor providers’ adherence to RBWO Minimum Standards and contractual obligations (e.g., data, on-site and records reviews, and collateral reports) which direct performance expectations regarding the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. The foundational objective of OPM is to ensure that children placed in RBWO care are safe from abuse and neglect. OPM also provides training and technical assistance to providers to support their ability to meet quality of care and performance expectations. OPM partners with stakeholders in the review of the RBWO Minimum Standards to ensure they continue to meet safety and quality standards as outlined in policy 14.1 Resource Development: Safety and Quality Standards.

Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit (CRRU)

The CRRU is responsible for the recruitment, development, supervision, support, and retention of temporary caregivers and adoptive parents for children in foster care and young adults in extended foster care. CRRU partners with CPA’s, CCI’s, and other interested community stakeholders to expand its number of available placement resources. The recruitment of foster and adoptive parents is a collaborative public, private, and community-based effort aimed at maximizing the number and type of placement resources available to children and youth in need. CRRU periodically reviews foster family homes approval standards to ensure their continued appropriateness and compliance with state and federal law and best practice.

Forms and Tools

N/A