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With respect to a child who has attained 14 years of age, the child has been consulted regarding the kinship guardianship arrangement.
An agency may provide kinship guardianship assistance payments for a sibling of a child determined eligible, regardless of whether the sibling meets the eligibility requirements, if the agency and the relative agree on the appropriateness of placing the sibling in the home of the relative.
If subsidized guardianship payments are provided, an agency is required to enter into a written, binding kinship guardianship assistance agreement with the prospective relative guardian that provides the following:
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The amount of each kinship guardianship assistance payment and the manner in which the payment may be adjusted periodically based on the circumstances of the relative guardian and the needs of the child, in consultation with the guardian. A kinship guardianship assistance payment on behalf of a child cannot exceed the foster care maintenance payment that would have been paid on behalf of the child if the child had remained in a foster home.
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Any additional services and assistance that the child and relative guardian will be eligible for under the agreement and the procedure by which the relative guardian may apply for additional services as needed.
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That the agency will pay nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship of the child up to $2,000.
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That the agreement shall remain in effect without regard to the state residency of the relative guardian.
42 USC 671 (a) (20) requires a state to provide procedures for fingerprint-based criminal records checks of relative guardians and child abuse and neglect registry checks of relative guardians and adults living the guardians' home before guardianship assistance payments may be made.
42 USC 673 (b) (3) (C) provides that a child for whom kinship guardianship assistance payments are being made is categorically eligible for Medicaid in the same manner as a child for whom foster care maintenance payments are made.
Before the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 was adopted, 11 states operated subsidized guardianship programs as demonstration projects under federal waivers, including a Wisconsin program in Milwaukee County. The demonstration projects found that the availability of subsidized guardianship increases the number of children who exit foster care to permanent homes, maintains child safety, and saves money through reductions in out-of-home placement days and subsequent decreases in the administrative costs associated with supervising foster care cases. For a synthesis of the findings of the subsidized guardianship demonstration projects, see:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs_fund/cwwaiver/2011/subsidized.pdf.
Staff Time Required
250 hours.
Contact Information
Jonelle Brom, Division of Safety and Permanence
(608) 264-6933
Natural Resources
Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—
(DNR # FR-19-11)
This statement of scope was approved by the governor on July 14, 2011.
Subject
Statement of Scope relating to Chapter
NR 47 proposed changes to Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP) for non-industrial private forestland owners.
Objective of the Proposed Rule
The objective of the proposed amendments to Chapter
NR 47, Subchapter VII, is to implement updates and improvements to the Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP). These recommended changes were identified during a review of the WFLGP completed by the Division of Forestry, with the assistance of partners.
Description of Policy Issues/Analysis of Policy Alternatives
Revisions to Chapter
NR 47, Subchapter VII - The Private Forest Landowner Grant Program, will implement updates and improvements to the program related to the implementation and administration of the WFLGP for NIPF owners including practice description and priorities, grants calculations, allowable costs, and eligibility for applicants and practices.
Statutory Authority
Statutory authority for creation of this rule can be found in s.
26.38, Wis. Stats.
Estimate of Time Needed to Develop the Rule
The Department estimates that approximately 100 hours of existing staff time will be needed to develop this rule. This time includes drafting the rule, taking the rule to public hearings, presentations to the Natural Resource Board, legislative review, and rule adoption.
Summary and Comparison of Applicable Federal Regulations
There are no known federal rules which apply to the WFLGP for NIPF owners.
Entities Affected by the Rule
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Non-industrial private forestland owners wishing to apply for grants to create a forest stewardship plan or implement a forestry practice on their land.
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Division of forestry staff involved in the administration of the grant programs.
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Any cooperating forester, other resource managers or other private businesses that may be hired by a landowner to implement a practice under the grant program.
Agency Contact Person
WFLGP for NIPF owners
Carol Nielsen
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
101 South Webster Street
P.O. Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
608-267-7508
