Legal Authority/Introduction 

LEGAL AUTHORITY:

• KRS Chapter 205
• KRS 605.120 Payments to home where children are placed-reimbursement system for foster parents-Pilot projects-Kinship care program-Administrative regulations-Decisions regarding haircuts and hairstyles
• KRS 605.150 Authority to promulgate administrative regulations
• KRS 615.030 Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children.
• 922 KAR 1:130 Kinship Care Program
• 922 KAR 1:130E Kinship Care Program
• 922 KAR 1:400E Supportive Services
• 922 KAR 1:490 Background checks for foster and adoptive parents, caretaker relatives and reporting requirements

Procedure

Effective April 1, 2013, start-up costs are no longer available due to budgetary constraints. 

The SSW: 

1. With oversight from the Family Services Office Supervisor, approves the amount of start-up costs that may remain to facilitate permanency and notifies identified regional staff of the necessary start-up costs after indicating the need on the DPP-1276;
2. Pursues and uses other potential funding sources and community resources prior to pursuing a request for start-up costs.

Regional staff:

1. Issues payment by check directly to a vendor provider for the needed services or items, and follows guidelines for tracking of funds as established in Chapter 30 Services and Supports.

Practice Guidance 

• Start-up costs for kinship care include providing for an attorney fee, if needed by the caretaker relative in obtaining permanent custody of the child.
• The total amount of assistance allowed for the kinship care case for start-up costs cannot exceed the maximum amount for the appropriate number of eligible children in the kinship care case as follows: