AN INCREASE IN THE FOSTER CARE ROOM AND BOARD REIMBURSEMENT RATE
AND THE INCREASE TO ADOPTION ASSISTANCE RATES!


 
ON JULY 16th GOVERNOR EASLEY SIGNED HOUSE BILL 2436 WHICH INCLUDED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE REIMBURSEMENT RATES IN NC HISTORY!!!


This is what is in the budget and will become effective
January 1st, 2009:

CHANGES TO FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS

SECTION 10.7. Section 10.29 of S.L. 2007-323 reads as rewritten:

"SECTION 10.29.(a) The maximum rates for State participation in the foster care

 assistance program are established on a graduated scale as follows:

 (1) $390.00$475.00 per child per month for children aged birth through 5;

 (2) $440.00$581.00 per child per month for children aged 6 through 12;

 and

 (3) $490.00$634.00 per child per month for children aged 13 through 18.

 Of these amounts, fifteen dollars ($15.00) is a special needs allowance for the child.

 "SECTION 10.29.(b) The maximum rates for the State participation in the

 adoption assistance program are established on a graduated scale consistent with the

 foster care rates as follows:

 (1) $390.00$475.00 per child per month for children aged birth through 5;

 (2) $440.00$581.00 per child per month for children aged 6 through 12;

 and

 (3) $490.00$634.00 per child per month for children aged 13 through 18.

 "SECTION 10.29.(c) In addition to providing board payments to foster and

 adoptive families of HIV-infected children, as prescribed in Section 23.28 of Chapter

 324 of the 1995 Session Laws, any additional funds remaining that were appropriated

 for this purpose shall be used to provide medical training in avoiding HIV transmission

 in the home.

 "SECTION 10.29.(d) The maximum rates for the State participation in HIV foster

 care and adoption assistance are established on a graduated scale as follows:

 (1) $800.00 per child per month with indeterminate HIV status;

 (2) $1,000 per child per month confirmed HIV-infected, asymptomatic;

 (3) $1,200 per child per month confirmed HIV-infected, symptomatic; and

 (4) $1,600 per child per month terminally ill with complex care needs.

 "SECTION 10.29.(e) The State and a county participating in foster care and

 adoption assistance shall each contribute fifty percent (50%) of the nonfederal share of

 the cost of care for a child placed by a county department of social services or child

 placing agency in a family foster home or residential child care facility. A county shall

 be held harmless from contributing fifty percent (50%) of the nonfederal share of the

 cost for a child currently in a family foster home or residential child care facility until

 the child leaves foster care or experiences a placement change.

 "SECTION 10.29.(f) The Department of Health and Human Services may establish

 foster care and adoption assistance rates based on the United States Department of

 Agriculture (USDA) 'Expenditures on Children by Families' index subject to State

 appropriations for each fiscal year.

 "SECTION 10.29.(g) This section becomes effective January 1, 2009, and applies

 to payments made on or after that date."