Foster Care Per Diem Payments- The basic per diem rate is reimbursed to foster parents who care for children with basic parenting needs. This is the lowest per diem rate paid. Additional amounts may be paid based on the severity of the child’s needs. The child’s Case Manager will provide information on the current per diem rate as it is periodically changed through legislation. The following service provisions are included in this rate:

• Room and board. 
• Clothing replacement allowance. (The Case Manager will confirm the present amount.) 
• ∗Medicine chest items: aspirin, first aid, etc. 
• Additional items included are:
  • Toothpaste 
  • Dry cleaning 
  • Tooth brushes 
  • Hair brushes/combs 
  • Haircuts 
  • Kleenex

The per diem is all-inclusive. That is, individual costs are not assigned to each component (room and board vs. clothing) of the per diem. *Costs for physician prescribed across the counter medications are reimbursable.

• Special Per Diem Rate – A special per diem or “add on” amount ranging from .50 to $1.75 is added to the basic foster care per diem when a child requires more than the usual level of care. This amount may be approved by your local DFCS agency. The additional amount may be temporary, such as when a child is recovering from a major surgical procedure, or it may be on-going, such as with chronic behavioral, medical, or emotional needs. 
• A Level of Care (LOC) per diem is available for children with a diagnosed, moderate to severe medical (medically fragile), emotional , or psychological condition that requires accelerated levels of care and services. This per diem is approved at the state level and requires documentation from the foster parent and licensed professionals regarding diagnoses and the provision of services. Additional information in regard to the requirements of this level of care may be obtained from the child’s Case Manager.

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