When a child is in a trial home visit or monitored return, the child is not eligible to receive either IV-E or state-paid foster maintenance payments. This is because the child is now living with the person who is responsible for the child’s financial support. The child can be reinstated for IV-E foster care payments without a new foster care application if the following are true:

• The reunification fails.
• DFPS retains responsibility for care and placement of the child (the original removal order is still in effect).

A trial visit or monitored return can last for only six months unless the court issues an order to extend the trial home placement beyond that time frame. A new foster care application must be processed based on current circumstances in the home if either of the following are true:

• DFPS conservatorship has been dismissed.
• The child stayed in the placement longer than six months without the court continuing the placement.

In these circumstances the child will more than likely not meet Title IV-E requirements and instead will be eligible to be paid by the state-paid.

Eligibility Staff Actions

If the child returns to foster care within the 6-month period or the court-ordered time frame, the eligibility specialist reinstates the child’s previous foster care eligibility.

If the child returns to foster care after the 6 month-period or the court-ordered time frame, the child’s Title IV-E eligibility must be re-established through a new Foster Care Application. In this case the eligibility specialist does the following:

• Asks the CPS caseworker to take the following actions:
• Complete and submit to the specialist a new Foster Care Application in IMPACT, reflecting the situation in the home from where the monitored return occurred in the month the child returned to foster care.
• Send the specialist the court order that moves or transfers the child into a different placement.
• Reviews the court order for the required Title IV-E judicial determinations described in 1532.4 Valid Removal from the Home.
• Processes the submitted Foster Care Application in IMPACT and answers the questions regarding the Title IV-E judicial determinations accordingly.
• Adds the appropriate eligibility for child in IMPACT.