Section 465IAC2-17-19. Payments to foster parents

   (a) Every child under the care and control of the department or a probation department in a foster home setting is entitled to a maintenance payment. The foster parent or parents will receive a maintenance payment in the form of a per diem payment. All payments will be made at least monthly for foster care provided during the preceding calendar month.

  (b) The amount of a maintenance payment payable as provided in this section may vary based upon the age of the child.

  (c) The foster parent or parents may receive an additional amount of properly claimed travel expenses incurred for a child placed in the foster home. The additional travel expenses will be paid if:

(1) the foster parent travels in excess of the cost of travel that is paid through the maintenance payment; and

(2) the travel is for one (1) or more of the following purposes and is consistent with the child's individual case plan or a court order:

(A) Travel for visitation with the child's family.

(B) Travel between the foster family home and the school in which the child was enrolled before placement and continues to be enrolled while residing with the foster family, to the extent that school transportation is not provided or required to be provided under applicable Indiana law by a public school corporation or other state or local agency.

(C) Travel to physical or behavioral health appointments.

(D) Travel for involvement in or attendance at:

(i) administrative case or judicial reviews;

(ii) case conferences or team meetings; or

(iii) foster parent training.

(E) Other travel approved in writing in advance by the department.

  (d) The foster parent or parents may receive an additional amount for enhanced supervision based on the category of supervision applicable to the child. The department or a probation department is responsible for determining the child's assessed category of supervision by utilizing the applicable approved assessment tool and input from the parties involved in the child's case, including the CPA, to determine the appropriate category of supervision. The enhanced supervision payment may increase or decrease based on the child's needs at the time of a reassessment.

  (e) Except as provided in this subsection, the department will not pay an additional amount for enhanced supervision until after the approved assessment tool has been completed. The department may, in exceptional circumstances, as determined by the department, pay an amount greater than the maintenance payment at the time of placement and before completion of the approved assessment tool. In considering whether to approve a greater payment under this subsection, the department shall consider the child's specific, previously identified needs for enhanced supervision and input from the parties involved in the child's case, including the CPA, that would require additional payment of a temporary enhanced supervision amount prior to the determination of an appropriate enhanced supervision amount under subsection (d).

  (f) To the extent consistent with the child's assessed needs, a foster parent may also receive payment for costs of caring for a child that are not included in the maintenance payment, if such costs are determined by the department to be prudent and reasonably necessary in order to serve the child's needs in connection with the child's permanency plan or other plan of care and treatment. The department will pay for those approved costs in accordance with department policies as such policies are published by the department from time to time.

  (g) The department will make foster care liability insurance available to foster parents. (Department of Child Services; 465 IAC 2-17-19; filed May 25, 2011, 1:33 p.m.: 20110622-IR-465100417FRA)