0215.000.00 Alternative Care IV-E Program

Effective in May 1961, the federal Social Security law was amended to authorize federal financial participation in paying foster family care for children who meet the AFDC eligibility.  In 1962, the law was further amended to provide participation in certain cases where the AFDC child needed to be placed in a private non-profit child care institution.  The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-272) added a new Part E to Title IV establishing a program of adoption assistance for eligible children and strengthened the program of foster care assistance for needy and dependent children.  The federal legislation, while emphasizing services to keep children in their own homes if at all possible, also recognizes the fact that some situations exist in which the home environment is clearly contrary to the best interests of the child.

Section 208.047 RSMo provides that notwithstanding the provisions of Section 208.040, AFDC Title IV-E benefits may be granted to a dependent child:

1. who would meet the requirements of Section 208.040, except for removal from the home of a relative as a result of a judicial determination to the effect the continuation therein would be contrary to the welfare of such child;
2. whose placement and care is the Children’s Division’s responsibility;
3. who has been placed in a foster family home or non-profit private child care institution as a result of such determination; and
4. who (1) received AFDC benefits in and for the month in which court proceedings leading to such determination were initiated; or (2) would have received aid in or for that month if application had been made therefore; or (3) in the case of a child who was living with a relative specified in Section 208.040 RSMo within six months prior to the month in which such proceedings were initiated, would have received aid in and for such month, if in such month the child was living with (and removed from the home of) such a relative and application had been made therefore.

0215.005.00 Eligibility Determination/Case Record Maintenance

Children's Division designated IV-E eligibility specialists (ES) determine Title IV-E eligibility for children in alternative care. The IV-E eligibility specialist maintains a separate file of all information necessary to support eligibility for payments made on behalf of a child placed in alternative care under Title IV-E, Title XIX FFP (Federal Funded Program) only, or HDN (Homeless, Dependent & Neglected) funding.

0215.005.05 Children's Service Worker Role

1. The Children’s Service Worker, upon removal of a child from the home, determines if the child is included in any Income Maintenance (IM) household. If the child is included in an Income Maintenance (IM) household, the Children’s Service Worker notifies IM within ten days of the child's removal from the home.
2. The Children’s Service Worker obtains all necessary court orders or petitions.
3. The Children’s Service Worker completes a referral to the IV-E eligibility specialist (ES) via automated system FACES (Family and Children Electronic System).
4. The Children’s Service Worker provides any information requested by the IV-E ES.

0215.005.10 Title IV-E Eligibility Specialist Role

1. The IV-E eligibility specialist (ES) reviews the referral for Title IV-E eligibility for completeness.
2. The IV-E ES requests information regarding Children's Division issues if needed.
3. If information contained in an Income Maintenance (IM) case record is needed for the Title IV-E file, the IV-E ES requests this from either the Children’s Service Worker or Income Maintenance.
4. If the child is not included in an active IM case, the IV-E ES requests all information from the Children’s Service Worker, who may request information from a closed IM file.
5. The IV-E ES has access to all information systems and utilizes these to determine Title IV-E eligibility.
6. If the child is Title IV-E eligible, the IV-E ES notifies the Children’s Service Worker.
7. If the child is not Title IV-E eligible, the IV-E ES explores eligibility for the Title XIX Federally Funded Program only.
8. If the child is not eligible for Title IV-E or Title XIX FFP only, the IV-E ES approves the child for HDN funding and notifies the Children’s Service Worker.
9. The IV-E ES maintains a separate file and is responsible for all activity on these cases.

0215.005.15 IM Eligibility Specialist Role

1. Immediately upon receiving notification from the Children’s Service Worker that a child included in an Income Maintenance (IM) case is removed from the home, initiate action in FAMIS to remove the child from the case, or to close the case, if this is indicated.
2. Provide copies of any verification or documentation to the IV-E eligibility specialist or the Children's Service Worker, if requested.
3. If the Children’s Service Worker notifies IM that a child in alternative care has returned to a home with an active Temporary Assistance (TA) case, immediately explore whether the child is a mandatory eligibility unit (EU) member. If so, initiate action to add the child to the case.
4. The child must be closed in the Children’s Division Family and Children Electronic System (FACES) before Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS) allows the child to receive TA benefits.  The FAMIS screen FACESINQ displays the month the child may or may not be eligible for Temporary Assistance.  The following chart gives the return code, which code allows eligibility for the child (pass) and the legal status.  The one (1) return code will automatically fail the child for Temporary Assistance eligibility.

The legal status may be duplicated depending if the child receives State funded Title XIX or not.  Those receiving matching Federal Title XIX may be eligible for Temporary Assistance.

Further information can be found in FACES THREE BASIC FUND CATEGORIES TO MAINTAIN CHILDREN IN A/C,

NOTE:  When the only child(ren) in the TA EU is active in FACES, the payee is not eligible for TA benefits. Also, relatives licensed as a relative home through Children’s Division who also receive IV-E or HDN maintenance payments are not eligible for TA benefits.