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This section contains provincial policies and standards with respect to the placement of children into foster homes and, when applicable, family residences including agency staff used as a place of safety.

Subsection 2 1 of The Child and Family Services Act lists relevant matters that must be considered in determining the best interests of a child. A child may come into the care of a child and family services agency in one of four ways under the Act:. The Foster Homes Licensing Regulation contains provisions relating to the placement of children in a foster home as follows:. Total number of foster children allowed.

Foster Family/Parent FAQ’s | Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba

Total number of dependent residents children and adults allowed. Limits re children under two and five years of age. Complaints and grievances — Licensing agency to have written grievance policy for foster children. Agencies and their mandating authorities are encouraged to work together in the development and use of foster homes.

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This collaboration is mandatory with respect to the designation of an agency to provide joint intake and emergency services under section 21 of The Child and Family Services Authorities Act. Sharing of foster home resources licensed by designated intake agencies is essential.

A child may remain in the same home for a period of time following a case transfer to the agency that will provide ongoing services. Section 7 of the Foster Homes Licensing Regulation limits the number of children that can be placed in a foster home and the total number of dependent residents allowed. Licensing agencies are required to obtain prior approval in writing from their mandating authorities before allowing exceptions to the number and ages of children under subsections 7 4 and 5 of the regulation.

Agencies are expected to place siblings together when possible unless it is clearly not in the best interests of a child. Factors that may make it inadvisable to place siblings together include:. Child maintenance refers to funding provided for the care and supervision of children in care.

It does not apply to children who remain in their own homes through an order of supervision under clause 38 1 a or for whom an order of private guardianship is obtained under section 77 of The Child and Family Services Act. This section provides an overview of child maintenance funding for children in foster care.

Child maintenance policies and rates are covered in detail in Section 1.

Payments made to foster parents are normally not taxable and are seen by Canada Revenue Agency CRA as personal expenses unless the person is in the business of providing this service. Basic maintenance is intended to compensate foster and place-of-safety parents for the cost of providing care for a child in care.

The Foster Parent Chart of Accounts for basic maintenance consists of a basic amount paid to a care provider and an agency allowance to be used for children in care. The Child Protection Branch notifies all relevant parties by letter whenever there is a change or increase in basic maintenance. The basic amount depends on the age of the child and the location of the home.

Thoughts from a Foster Family: "How much do you get paid to be a foster parent?"

Foster parents are entitled to the full basic amount each month. Agencies are not allowed to withhold any portion of it. For example, the allowance for replacement clothing is to be issued monthly rather than quarterly or semi-annually. The agency allowance may be paid to foster parents or administered by the agency. The agency allowance is to be used for costs for children in care related to activities such as sports and music, education costs including school supplies, special occasions such as birthdays and holidays, and other special costs.

Foster parents are paid basic maintenance for the day a child is placed. They are not paid for the day a child is discharged or removed from the home unless a child is placed and removed from a home on the same day. Agencies are responsible for identifying situations where a foster parent receives a duplicate payment or is overpaid and for recovering these funds.

These allocations are described in detail in Section 1. These processes provide for a consistent and rational approach to decision making. Agencies are encouraged to establish panels or committees consisting of a supervisor, a resource coordinator, an agency financial person, and designated front-line staff.

Placing Agencies — Placing agencies are responsible for assessing whether a child requires additional funding over basic maintenance in accordance with Standard 10 in this section. In this regard, placing agencies are also encouraged to consider funding agreements and contracts as well case planning factors such as home visits and parental contact.

Managing Agencies — When placing a child in a home managed by another agency, a placing agency should consult with the managing agency in deciding whether special needs funding is required and, if so, the rates and items to be paid.

Managing agencies are responsible for coordinating services provided to the child and foster home including the use of alternative care providers for respite. Care and Expenditure Reviews — Care plans should be reviewed at least every six months to ensure they have been implemented and to make necessary changes based on an updated assessment of the child.

Special rate funding must be reviewed at least once a year.

Absences may be planned or unplanned. Examples of planned absences are summer camp and home visits. Unplanned absences include missing children. Policies and standards pertaining to absences are covered in detail in Section 1.

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Placement Planning — Placement planning for a child in care must include planning for planned and unplanned absences. For unplanned absences, the worker and foster parent discuss and agree as to what action is to be taken in the event a child goes missing. Reporting Return of a Missing Child — When a missing child is found or returned, the foster parent, placing agency and, when applicable, managing agency immediately notify the others as the case may be.

Also, the placing agency or, when applicable, the managing agency ensures that the police and appropriate others are informed. Basic Maintenance during Absences — A placing agency may pay basic maintenance to a foster home for planned or unplanned absences up to 14 days providing the child is expected to return to the home. When a child is visiting his or her family as part of a discharge plan, the agency may continue to pay basic maintenance to the foster home for up to one month.

A decision to continue to pay maintenance beyond 14 days should be made in advance by the placing agency. The foster parent should be advised of this decision and any changes in payment. Fee for Service and Absences — When a fee for service is part of the payment, a decision must be made whether or not it is continued.

As a general rule, special rate funding is discontinued during a planned or unplanned absence unless the foster parent is expected to continue providing services such as visiting the child in hospital, searching for a missing child, and meeting with workers or parents.

Preparing Foster Parents — It is important that provincial and agency absence policies be discussed with and clearly explained to foster parents as part of their orientation and when a child is placed in the home.

When a child is placed in a foster home on an emergency basis, detailed information about the child is given to the foster parent at the time of or as soon as it is available following the placement. The written consent may be in the form of a contract with the licensing agency when the placing agency is a designated intake agency or the foster home is managed as part of a foster home program operated by a managing agency.

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Site Map Contact Us MANITOBA. Your Government Business Residents Online Services Visitors. Stay Connected to the Manitoba Government. Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our RSS View our videos on YouTube. Introduction Download this section in PDF format This section contains provincial policies and standards with respect to the placement of children into foster homes and, when applicable, family residences including agency staff used as a place of safety.

Legislation Policy Standards Legislation Subsection 2 1 of The Child and Family Services Act lists relevant matters that must be considered in determining the best interests of a child.

A child may come into the care of a child and family services agency in one of four ways under the Act: Section Placing Children into Foster Care 6. Numbers and Ages of Children Section 7 of the Foster Homes Licensing Regulation limits the number of children that can be placed in a foster home and the total number of dependent residents allowed.

Factors that may make it inadvisable to place siblings together include: Basic Maintenance Basic maintenance is intended to compensate foster and place-of-safety parents for the cost of providing care for a child in care. Planned and Unplanned Absences Absences may be planned or unplanned. Standards Foster Home Selection — Selecting a foster home involves the following steps: Information on Child Shared with Prospective Foster Parent — Except for emergency placements, a placing agency ensures that a prospective foster parent is provided with sufficient information to make an informed decision about accepting a child.

At a minimum, this information includes: Foster Home Pre-Placement Process — Except in the case of an emergency requiring the immediate placement of a child, the worker responsible for placing a child in a foster home: Sharing of Foster Home Resources — When a placing agency is not the agency that licensed a foster home, the placing agency: The licensing agency updates the foster care management record within five working days of receiving the information or documentation.

Informing Foster Parents of Payments — The placing agency ensures that a foster parent is informed in writing of foster care payments they will receive including: Accessibility Disclaimer Copyright Privacy Contact Government.

Download this section in PDF format. Placing Children into Foster Care. Written consent of licensing agency required to place a child in a foster home. Licensing agency approval to use a foster home for day care, school or day treatment programs.

Incidents defined and requirements for reporting and reviewing listed.