Section 465IAC2-15-9. Application for older youth foster care services

   (a) An individual who is or will become an older youth may submit to the department an application for OYFC services at any time after the date that is six (6) months after the youth became seventeen (17) years of age. The application shall include the information required in the form approved by the department for that purpose.

  (b) The applicant shall submit with, or as part of, a completed application information concerning any conviction, delinquency adjudication, substantiated child abuse or neglect determination, or pending charges, as described in section 8(a)(4) of this rule, of which the applicant has knowledge.

  (c) The application should be submitted to the local office of the department in the county where the youth currently resides. The department will forward any application received by the department's central office or another local office to the appropriate local office for review and processing.

  (d) An application received as provided in this section will be referred to a family case manager supervisor, or other designee of the local office director, for review. The supervisor or designee will determine, based on the information provided in the application, whether the applicant meets the initial eligibility requirements for OYFC services as stated in section 8 of this rule, other than completion of the procedures described in section 8(a)(6) of this rule. The reviewing supervisor or designee may request the applicant to provide additional information if the supervisor or designee determines that the application is incomplete or that more facts are needed to determine eligibility of the applicant as provided in section 8 of this rule. The determination of the reviewing supervisor or designee regarding eligibility, based on the information submitted by the applicant, is subject to review and approval by the local office director.

  (e) The supervisor or designee who determined eligibility under subsection (d) will send written notification to the applicant, within five (5) business days after receipt of the completed application (including any additional information requested as provided in subsection (d)), stating whether or not the applicant is eligible for OYFC services, subject to completion and approval of the additional requirements as specified in section 10 of this rule. If the notification states that the applicant is ineligible, it shall include the reason or reasons for that determination. The applicant may request a review of any determination of ineligibility, as provided in section 19 of this rule. (Department of Child Services; 465 IAC 2-15-9; filed Dec 10, 2010, 10:25 a.m.: 20110105-IR-465090168FRA)