2005 Idaho Code - 56-805 — FINANCIAL AID -- PERIOD

                                  TITLE  56
                        PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND WELFARE
                                  CHAPTER 8
                            HARD-TO-PLACE CHILDREN
    56-805.  FINANCIAL AID -- PERIOD. Financial aid to families adopting or
becoming guardians of hard-to-place children shall be awarded by the
department as follows:
    (1)  Persons who have applied to adopt the hard-to-place child and to
receive subsidies for the care and support of the hard-to-place child shall be
evaluated as to their suitability as adoptive parents by means of an adoptive
home study. Persons who are caring for a hard-to-place child in the state's
custody for whom reunification or adoption is not an option, and who wish to
be appointed legal guardians of the child and to receive subsidies for the
care and support of the child, shall be evaluated as to their suitability as
guardians by means of a guardianship study.
    (2)  Financial assistance shall be not more than the amount that would be
paid for foster or institutional care for the child if the placement for
adoption or guardianship had not taken place. Assistance may be provided
families adopting or becoming guardians for hard-to-place children until such
child is eighteen (18) years of age, parents are no longer legally responsible
for the child, or until the parents are no longer providing support for the
child.
    After an adoption with a subsidy is finalized or a guardianship with
subsidy has been ordered by the court and the court has released the child
from the state's legal custody, the family is independent of the department
except for an annual evaluation by the department of the need for continued
subsidy and the amount of the subsidy.
    (3)  Payment of the costs of medical services shall be made directly to
the physician or provider of the services according to the department's
established procedures.
    (4)  Payment of the cost of nonrecurring adoption or guardianship expenses
is limited to the following: reasonable and necessary adoption or guardianship
fees, court costs, attorney's fees, and other expenses which are directly
related to the legal adoption or guardianship of a child with special needs
and which are not incurred in violation of state or federal laws.
    (5)  Eligibility for the benefits payable and amounts thereof shall be
determined on a case-by-case basis by the department as set forth in the rules
promulgated by the state board of health and welfare.