Foster care is part of social services. It provides funding for the cost of care for eligible children and adults.

For more information on foster care, call the DCYF Child Safety and Permanency Division at 651-431-4660.


MFIP:
Trial Home Visit:

A court may order a trial home visit for a child who has been in foster care. The trial home visit is meant to be a transition to permanent reunification with the parent or guardian and for a significant amount of time, not to exceed 6 months. During the trial home visit, the foster care provider would not be receiving foster care payments on behalf of the child but could receive, on a short-term basis, a child welfare payment from the county to hold a bed for the child.

The county social service agency is not expected to provide financial assistance to the parent. Instead, the parent(s) is expected to be able to provide for the child’s needs in his/her home again.

During the trial home visit, the child is considered to be in foster care; the social services agency retains custody and provides case management services, but the child is not eligible for foster care maintenance payments. The parent(s) and child can receive MFIP, if otherwise eligible.

Child Placed with a Parent in Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program:

A child is eligible for foster care maintenance payments for up to 12 months when placed with a parent who is receiving services in a licensed residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program. The placement authority may be either a voluntary placement agreement or court-ordered trial home visit.

While the child is co-located with a parent in an SUD program and receiving foster care maintenance payments, the child is not eligible for MFIP. The parent(s) can receive MFIP for their own needs, if otherwise eligible.

Also see 0011.21 (Receipt of Other Assistance).


SNAP:
If Foster Care children/adults are part of the SNAP unit then the foster care income is counted. For information about foster care and SNAP eligibility, see 0014.03.06 (Determining the SNAP Unit), 0017.15.39 (Foster Care Payment Income).


MSA, GA, HSP:
No provisions.