Child Care Fund

• MDHHS provides financial reimbursement to counties for community-based programming and placement costs for youth. The annual budget of approximately $400 million is shared between the State, 83 counties and participating Native American Tribes. The cost share is 100% paid initially by the County/Tribe for foster care, institutional care, independent living, and In-Home Care programming and reimbursed by the State at 50%.

  In-Home Care programs are innovative and creative community-based programs that are developed locally as an alternative to out-of-home placement. These programs are approved annually by the Child Care Fund Monitoring Unit based on program and youth eligibility. Common examples of In-Home Care programs are: Intensive Probation, Counseling, Assessments, CASA, Wraparound, Truancy Intervention, Drug Court, Non-Scheduled Payments, and Family Reunification. In-Home Care programs are utilized by youth and families in the community to prevent out-of-home placement or while the youth is in placement to reduce the overall time spent out-of-home.

  The Child Care Fund Monitoring Unit approves Annual Plans and Budgets that are locally driven with emphasis on community resources, networks, and programming needs.