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7.0 FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS Family and Children's Services values the services of its foster families and relies on the foster care program to meet the placement needs of children. The agency is committed to working in partnership with foster parents by providing an equitable system of compensation. 7.1 Foster Care Rates
7.2 Reimbursable Items General Information The agency needs foster parents to submit receipts for almost all reimbursable items. (This allows the agency to claim the GST and to comply with accounting requirements). If prior written approval is required for an item it should be submitted with the expense form. As of September 1, 1996, foster parents will be able to submit their expense claims twice a month. Expense sheets must reach the office one day prior to the scheduled cheque transmission date. Refer to following form: 2996 EXPENSES TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE. (Also see Appendix R). Foster parents may arrange for a "float" to help them manage expenses for foster children. To arrange this, foster parents should contact the Bookkeeper or the Manager of Finance to discuss the amount and the details. The funds will then be issued to the foster parent by cheque or automatic deposit. When the foster parent makes a purchase and submits the receipts on their next expense claim they will be reimbursed for the full amount of the receipt. This "float" is then back to the original amount. The recommended amount for a float is $200.00. 7.3 Personal Needs The following items are to be covered by the regular daily foster care rate and are not to be included on an expense claim:
(Please note that some of the above items may be purchased by a teen with their allowance) The following items may be submitted on an expense claim. Receipts are required:
7.4 Babysitting Babysitting expenses should be submitted on a babysitting expense form (on the back of the regular expense form). All sections of this form must be completed. There is an expectation that foster parents will obtain receipts for babysitting whenever possible. Babysitting that allows foster parents to be involved in FFA work will be reimbursed by the agency out of the FFA budget. Foster parents should clearly mark this item as "FFA" on the expense form. Babysitting that allows foster parents to attend cluster meetings or special training workshops will be reimbursed by the agency. Babysitting for foster parent recreation will be reimbursed. If babysitting is being arranged for more than 2 days, foster parents should have prior written approval of the babysitting feeds from their Resources social worker. Babysitting/Daycare for foster parents who are working will be reimbursed by the agency. Foster parents should submit in advance a written plan for their daycare expenses. The plan should include a daily rate and a monthly maximum. This plan should have prior written approval from their Resources social worker. When foster parents are babysitting for other foster parents, the foster parents requesting the babysitting must submit the babysitting expense form. (This does not apply to overnight care by foster parents which is a Relief placement). 7.5 Prescriptions Foster parents will be given a personalized letter from the agency authorizing any pharmacist to bill the agency directly for prescriptions. This may only be used for prescription drugs. All other non-prescription medications and supplies should be submitted on the regular expense forms. Receipts are required. 7.6 Baby Supplies Diapers, baby formula and other baby care items should be claimed on the regular expense form. Receipts are required. Baby food jars (jars and cereals) should not be claimed on the expense form as they are covered by the regular daily foster care rate. 7.7 School Expenses The following items may be included on an expense claim. Receipts are to be obtained when possible:
Foster parents may be reimbursed up to a maximum of $7.50 a week for school lunches that the foster child purchases. This includes special pizza and hot dog days. Receipts are not required. (Packed school lunches are covered by the regular daily foster care rate). 7.8 Recreation It is important that foster children feel encouraged and supported in participating in community recreation activities. Memberships, lessons, uniforms, equipment and bicycles should be claimed on an expense form. Receipts are to be obtained whenever possible. Prior written approval from the Children's Services social worker should be obtained by foster parents for any item over $100.00. Foster parents should discuss plans for summer camps with the child's social worker. In general, these arrangements are paid for directly by the agency. 7.9 Books, Magazines, Videos, and Computer Games Foster parents may be reimbursed up to a maximum of $10.00 per month for books, magazines, and videos for the foster child. Receipts are required. Foster parents should get prior written approval from the children's Services social worker before purchasing a computer game for the foster child. 7.10 Mileage Foster Parents should claim for mileage expenses when they are required to make a special trip for the foster child (e.g. to take the child to school, court, doctor's appointment, recreational event, etc). If the foster family would be making the trip anyway (if the foster child were not in the home) mileage should not be claimed. Mileage expenses for foster parents who are involved in FFA activities (e.g. Executive meetings, FFA AGM etc) will be paid by the agency out of the FFA budget. Foster parents should submit this on their regular expense form and clearly mark it as an FFA item. Mileage expenses for foster parents involved in other agency business (e.g. cluster meetings, training events, agency meetings, agency committees, FF Recognition Dinner etc) will be paid by the agency. 7.11 Restaurant Meals Foster parents may claim the expense of restaurant meals for the foster parent and the foster child when they must be away from home at meal times for a special reason directly related to the foster child (e.g. court, a doctor's appointment, a special school event). The limits for these meals are the same as for agency staff: Breakfast $8.00; Lunch $12.00; Dinner $18.00. Receipts are required. Foster parents may claim up to a maximum of $30.00 per month for restaurant or "fast food" snacks for the foster child. Receipts are required. 7.12 Snacks Snacks such as chips, pop, candy, gum, cookies, popcorn or other grocery items are covered by the regular daily foster care rate and should not be submitted on expense claim forms. Foster parents will be reimbursed up to $7.50 per week for school lunches that the foster child purchases. This includes special pizza and hot dog days. Receipts are not required. 7.13 Vacations Foster parents may claim expenses for vacations. A vacation could be one extended trip or a series of day trips (e.g. 6 day trips planned for a two week period in the summer). The expenses that should be submitted are:
Receipts are required. Any vacation for which expenses will be more than $100.00 should have prior written approval. Foster parents should submit a written plan of expenses before the vacation for signature by the Service Manager or designate following recommendation by the Resource Worker, Children's Service Worker or the Finance Manager. 7.14 Telephone Calls Long distance calls made by the foster parents:
Long distance calls made by the foster child:
7.15 Allowance Helping a foster child manage an allowance is primarily the responsibility of the foster parent. Having the foster child do chores around the home to earn some of their allowance is acceptable. There should be a plan for helping the foster child save a portion of their allowance for special purchases. The following are guidelines for weekly allowances:
(If foster parents give less than $15.00 weekly they may withhold the remainder and help the teen make the purchases they want). Teens who are working toward independent living may negotiate an individualized allowance amount with their foster parent and social worker. 7.16 Clothing When a child enters a home their wardrobe should be reviewed by the foster parent and the social worker to determine needs. The foster parents can then purchase whatever clothing the child requires and claim this on their expense form. Receipts are required. Any single purchase over $100.00 needs prior written approval by the Children's Services social worker. 7.17 Clothing Allowance Teens who are working toward independent living may negotiate a clothing allowance with their foster parent and social worker. Teens will be expected to provide receipts for their purchases. Seasonal and special event items may be covered separately by the agency. These require prior written approval by the Children's Services social worker. 7.18 Emergency Placement Expenses A social worker (it may be a Family Services social worker or an After Hours worker) making an emergency placement into a foster home may authorize up to $100.00 for the foster parent to make necessary immediate purchases. Receipts are required. Authorization of any other expenditures of an urgent nature must be given by the After Hours Supervisor or a Children's Services Supervisor who has authorized the placement. 7.19 Gifts Foster parents may spend up to $100.00 on Christmas gifts and up to $50.00 on birthday gifts for the foster child. Receipts are required. 7.20 Driving Lessons Foster children are expected to earn half the cost of driving lessons and all of the cost of car insurance. Foster parents are NOT expected to allow their car to be used by the foster child. 7.21 Equipment Foster parents who wish to be considered for placements involving young children or infants should have the necessary equipment (e.g. crib, stroller, high chair, etc...) in their home. Only in exceptional circumstances will the agency purchase equipment to be used in a foster home. Any item purchased by the agency remains agency property. 7.22 payment schedule for 2001 omitted. 7.23 Foster Parent Insurance Coverage
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