Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)General. AFDC-F policy in general will be as follows: (1) Article IV and sections 701 and 902 of the Welfare Code (62 P. S. §§ 401-448, 701 and 902); sections 401(d) and 405 of the County Institution District Law (62 P. S. §§ 2301(d) and 2305); and sections 2164 and 2168 of the County Code (16 P. S. §§ 2164 and 2168) provide the legal base for furnishing child care in a foster home or children's institution (category symbol, C-F).(2) The AFDC-F program is intended to underscore the basic objectives of the AFDC program to maintain dependent children in their own homes and to assist parents to provide care for their children essential to their healthy growth and development. The provisions of the program safeguard the rights of the child and his parents and relatives during periods of temporary or prolonged stress when separation of the child is less damaging to the child then their remaining together.(3) The objective during the separation is to improve conditions so that the child might return to his home or to develop other plans for the child such as placement with other relatives or adoption.(b)Department responsibilities in AFDC-F. The responsibilities of the Department in AFDC-F will be as follows:(1)Responsibilities through County Assistance Offices. The Department, through its County Assistance Offices, will be responsible for: (i) Providing protective services to AFDC families.(ii) Referring to the County Child Welfare Office those children whose home conditions indicate that removal from their home is necessary.(iii) Determining initial and continuing eligibility for AFDC-F.(iv) Providing services to the family of a foster child when the family continues to receive AFDC.(v) Providing medical assistance to AFDC-F children.(vi) Authorizing payment for AFDC-F children.(2)Responsibilities through regional offices. The Department, through its regional offices, will be responsible for: (i) Licensing or approving and supervising foster homes, including institutions.(ii) Supervising the child welfare services administered by the county authorities.(iii) Reviewing the service program of the county child welfare agencies for approval for grants under the Department's grant payment program.(c)County child welfare responsibilities in AFDC-F. The county child welfare agency will be responsible for: (1) Placing children in licensed or approved foster homes and institutions.(2) Applying for AFDC-F for children who appear eligible.(3) Arranging for and purchasing the foster or institutional care for the child.(4) Providing services during placement, including planning for medical and special needs of the child.(5) Providing services to the relatives of the C-F child, except when an active AFDC case continues in the home.(6) Billing the Department for the unmet cost of care it provides to children who are eligible for AFDC-F.