Differential Roles of Staff 623-05-55

(Revised 8/15/06 ML #3025)

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Title IV-E, Regular Foster Care, and Medical Assistance eligibility requires certain jointly planned and coordinated activities between the income maintenance and social service staff including DJS Representative. Despite their interrelatedness, however, there is a clearly defined distinction in their roles, activities, and responsibilities.

Income maintenance personnel's responsibilities are directed to:

1. Determining a child's technical and financial eligibility based on information contained in the Title IV-E/Title XIX Application;

2. Entering payment and other information required for payment on CCWIPS.

3. Conducting comprehensive, periodic reviews of eligibility;

4. Advising the custodian of the availability of family planning and Health Tracks services;

5. Determining that court orders contain the appropriate language and are in effect;

6. Assuring that the children in foster care meet all the other requirements to receive AFDC/FC (IV-E), pursuant to eligibility requirements as of July 16, 1996, (P. L. 104-193, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 and the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997;

7. Determining that financial need is in compliance with AFDC and Medical Assistance standards;

8. Assuring that the service plan is in the eligibility file or cross-referenced to the appropriate service file.

Social Service Staff and DJS Representative Activity will be Directed Towards:

1. Assisting, as required by the court, in determining a child's need for foster care;

2. Finding, assessing, and licensing foster homes; making sure that the foster home is licensed/approved before making placements and entering the current license on CCWIPS.  This does not apply to the DJS with the exception of referring potential foster homes to the county social service board.

3. Arranging for and supervising a child's placement in accordance with the permanency plan;

1. Ensure that the eligibility worker is aware of the child's placement.

4. Periodically reviewing the social plan including continued need for care in a suitable placement;

5. Working with the child's parents or other relative towards the child’s eventual return home, if appropriate;

6. Determining need for, and amount of, special allowances and social service payments and giving the information to the income maintenance staff;

7. Ensure that court orders contain the appropriate language and are in effect; and

1. Ensuring that the EW gets a copy of the original and all updated court orders.

8. Helping eligibility worker to secure eligibility information.

1. Social service staff, including DJS representatives, must assist the county eligibility worker in accessing all necessary information needed to determine initial and on-going foster care and Title XIX (Medicaid) eligibility.

2. Inform EW as to child's living situation prior to placement (SFN 902).

3. Keep the EW advised as to the parent's relationship and continued deprivation.

9. Initiate group home placement/payment approval on CCWIPS;

10. Immediately advise regional offices of all foster care placements;

11. Accurate and timely entry of CCWIPS information;

12. Sign a Title IV-E/Title XIX Application and other appropriate forms as needed;

13. Child and Family Team will negotiate maintenance payments above the standard rate and keep the EW informed in a timely manner of these issues.

14. Referring seriously disabled children to SSI; and

15. If a child loses Title XIX (Medicaid) eligibility and it impacts on payment, it is the responsibility of the case manager to make an appropriate alternate placement.