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Purpose:
La Crosse County Human Services is
dedicated to the preservation of the family, and strives to provide
comprehensive services to children of all abilities and their families.
It is through an integrative system of support with families and the
community that we have been able to develop and implement these
services. Our families are full participants in all aspects of their
child’s individualized plan of support.
Applicability:
Beginning January 1, 2006, families will
have a responsibility for a portion of the cost of services their
children receive. This will be done through the use of the Children’s
Long Term Support Parental Fee System. The funding sources included in
the parental fee system include: Children’s Long Term Support Waivers and Children’s Mental Health Supportive Services
excluding Comprehensive Community Services.
In the event a parent(s) or legal guardian will be unable to meet their
parental fee, an appeal process is available through the Fee Waiver
Committee coordinated through fiscal services.
Policy/Procedure:
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Social Workers (SW) will assist
parent(s) or legal guardian by filling out a Declaration of Income
Form. This will occur annually or when supportive services begin for
each child. The annual review will be completed by April 15 of each
new calendar year. Parent or legal guardian may request at any time
to their SW a fee recalculation if experiencing a dramatic change in
income. The general guideline for a change will be an increase or
decrease of 10% in adjusted gross income.
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FS will send a letter to the
parent(s) or legal guardian indicating their monthly parental fee
and the right to appeal. A copy of the letter will be sent to the
SW.
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If the parent(s) or legal guardian
wants to appeal the parental fee the SW will assist the family to
request a reduction or to waive the fee through the Fee Waiver
Committee. This will be submitted to Fiscal Services.
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The SW will attend the Fee Waiver
Committee in order to clarify the reasons for the request. The
decision of the Fee Waiver Committee is binding. The reduction or
waiver of the fee must be documented in the child’s Individual
Support Plan, along with the original fee assessment.
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Prior to commencing or continuing
(annual review) any supportive services the SW will ensure that the
parent(s) or legal guardian agrees to the parental fee.
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While a child is receiving
supportive services and parent(s) or legal guardian indicates they
will no longer continue to pay the parental fee the county may, with
proper notice, terminate the child from the supportive services.
The county must make the family aware of the right to appeal. The
county may reduce the fee to judgment amount, and then institute
county collections.
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In the event parent(s) or legal
guardian choose not to pay the parental fee and without the service
it may create either a health and safety issue, the potential for
the child not to remain in a community based setting (parent or
legal guardian home, foster home or treatment foster home) and or
present a financial challenge to the human service system the SW
will attend the Fee Waiver Committee. The SW will request a waiver
of the parental fee outlining the specific reason it is necessary to
waive the parental fee.
Declaration of Income Form for Parental Fee
Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) and Children's Mental Health
Supportive Services (CMHSS) Parental Fee Guidelines |
