Rule and Procedure Table of Contents
a) Initial Placement Clothing/Personal Hygiene Expenses | b) Replacement Clothing/Personal Hygiene Expenses
a) Initial Placement Clothing/Personal Hygiene Expenses |
|
Type Service Code Document
1201 Initial Placement Clothing/Personal Hygiene Expenses CFS 932
See Appendix A (IV) for amounts
Instructions: Initial placement clothing is a one-time only expense to be authorized for a child in his first out-of-home placement at the time the case is opened or within six months of the time the case is opened. Purchase of such clothing is not intended to completely outfit the child since the monthly payment rate provides for replacement clothing. The child's current wardrobe shall be taken into account prior to authorizing this purchase. The listing of items on the CFS 932, Purchase Authorization, are intended to be used as guidelines. Caretakers are allowed to take advantage of both sales and seasonal needs; however, regions must make sure, if several purchase authorizations are used, that the total expenditure does not exceed the maximum allowable.
Initial personal hygiene items may also be authorized for a child in his first out-of-home placement at the time the case is opened. Purchase of such items is intended to assist a child in his personal hygiene needs and can include but is not limited to such items as a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush/comb/pick, deodorant, feminine hygiene items. These purchases may also cover personal items for infants such as bottles, baby powder, baby oil, disposable diapers, etc. Cosmetics, perfume, jewelry, hairdryers, etc., are not allowable.
b) Replacement Clothing/Personal Hygiene Expenses |
|
Type Service Code Document
1202 Replacement Clothing CFS 932
1205 Unmarried Mothers Clothing - Wards CFS 932
Instructions: Replacement clothing costs, other than those included in the child's living arrangement cost, for which the Department is responsible are those due to destruction of clothing by fire, flood, or the child's willful destruction; because of unsuitability of clothing due to health or medical reasons such as extraordinary weight gains or losses, excessive growth, or damage done to clothing to accommodate casts or braces; when special items are required as a result of residential placement or when a youth enters an independent living program, such as YTP or YCP. Replacement clothing may also be purchased for wards who have been returned home for an extended period of time and returned to placement. Wards who are in a DOC facility may be issued a clothing voucher at the time of discharge from the correctional facility. See Appendix A (IV) for amounts. Unmarried mothers may be issued a clothing voucher for maternity clothes. See Appendix A (IV) for amounts. In all cases, the reason for replacement clothing must be noted on the purchase authorization. The approval of the Regional Administrator or designee is needed for replacement clothing.
Aside from the above situations, replacement clothing is the responsibility of the foster home, the private agency, or the residential facility. If the child's wardrobe does not appear to be adequate, the child's worker shall inform the caregiver of this fact in writing. The worker shall also advise the caregiver that if he or she fails to replenish the child's wardrobe within 30 days, the Department will replace the clothing and the amount of the purchase authorization will be deducted from the future payments to the foster parent, the private agency or the residential facility.
To ensure that this process is observed, the purchase authorization should clearly spell out that this is replacement clothing, which should be deducted from a particular caretaker's payment. The name of the child and the caretaker should be noted. This purchase authorization should be scheduled separately or flagged by means of a cover memo directed to the attention of the Central Office Payment Unit, 406 E. Monroe, Station #438, Springfield, IL 62701. Upon receipt of this flagged voucher, the Board Unit will process a credit to be taken against the future payment to the caretaker in question in the amount of the clothing purchase authorization.
The maximum amount allowed for replacement clothing is the same as the amount allowed for initial placement clothing. See Appendix A (IV).