Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024
(1) Youth who
are in DHR custody and residing in a foster family home may be given the
opportunity to live in a dwelling, separate from the foster family home, that
is specifically designated as a transitional or an independent living placement
when the youth's individualized service planning team agrees that the need
exists. The dwelling must be assessed and approved by the County DHR as being
in compliance with the Minimum Standards for Foster Family Homes.
(a) Youth must submit a weekly budget to the
foster family home provider and their DHR social worker prior to moving into
the placement, and this budget must fall within a youth's monthly
income.
(2) Physical
Setting and Placement
(a) Transitional and
independent living dwellings may include, but are not limited to, a mobile
home, garage apartment, or other type dwelling. Youth may share housing with
one (1) other person of the same (or near the same) age and of the same sex.
The foster family provider and the individualized service planning team may
grant an exception to this requirement to allow siblings to share housing. The
exception is dependent upon each youth's ISP and the availability of space for
the additional sibling(s). Regardless of how many youth live in the dwelling,
each must have a separate bedroom.
(b) Youth will be under the direct
supervision of the foster parent and the dwelling must be located adjacent to
or in close proximity to a foster parent's home for a youth's activities to be
monitored. The individualized service planning team will determine the amount
of monitoring and supervision the youth receives.
(c) The foster family home provider shall
provide articles and supplies for youth to furnish the home. The articles and
supplies may be new or used, must be in good condition, and must include a bed
and bed linens; a dining table and chairs; living or sitting room furniture; a
stove and refrigerator; kitchen furnishings; and a telephone.
1. The foster family home provider shall
adhere to DHR's Telephone And Mail Contacts policy. The telephone may be
limited to local calling if a "calling plan" or "calling card" is provided for
youth to contact parents, relatives, siblings, and other pertinent individuals
who live outside the local calling area. Youth may purchase their own telephone
and telephone services, but are responsible for any expenses that are beyond
the scope of Telephone and Mail Contacts policy.
2. Youth may purchase their own household
furnishings if desired; however, the furnishings should be inventoried so that
when youth move to another residence or leave foster care, their furnishings
can be easily identified from those of the foster family home provider. Items
purchased by youth will be moved with the youth.
Author: Jerome Webb
Statutory Authority: Foster Care Independence
Act of 1999 (H.R. 3443) amended title IV, Part E, Social Security Act;
Public
Law 106-169; Code of Ala.
1975, §
38-7-2.