10A NCAC 71L .0103      APPLICATION PROCESS

(a)  County departments of social services and North Carolina licensed private adoption agencies shall submit applications on behalf of an eligible individual for the State Maternity Fund in writing on the "Application for State Maternity Fund" Form DSS-6187, which may be accessed at https://policies.ncdhhs.gov/divisional/social-services. The original must be submitted to the State Maternity Fund Coordinator, Family Support and Child Welfare Services Section, Division of Social Services and shall include the following information:

(1)           the reasons the client cannot remain in her own home (own home includes a foster care facility in which a child resides);

(2)           a description of the client's financial resources;

(3)           household gross monthly income(s), names and ages of other minor children in household, and statement of US citizenship or immigration status;

(4)           a description of the recommended living arrangement and why it is appropriate;

(5)           the proposed plan of services for the biological parents and the child;

(6)           an explanation of why the necessary services cannot be obtained for the client in a community-based living arrangement;

(7)           a tentative agreement to accept the client by the individual responsible for maintaining the recommended living arrangement; and

(8)           the anticipated date of admission and the expected date of delivery (month, day, and year for both).

(b)  Applications shall not be delayed because the actual admission date has not been confirmed. The service agency must notify the North Carolina Division of Social Services when the admission date is confirmed so that review and action on the application can be completed. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

(c)  Applications that do not contain all information required by this Rule shall not be processed.

(d)  Funds shall not be approved to offset residential costs incurred prior to the North Carolina Division of Social Services' receipt of the actual application with original signatures.

(e)  Upon receipt of notice that funds have been approved, unless the placement is to be in a licensed maternity home, the agency requesting funds must negotiate with the individual responsible for maintaining the living arrangement a written agreement setting out mutually agreed upon responsibilities.

(f)  Payments shall not exceed the amount initially approved.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143B‑153;

Eff. April 1, 1978;

Amended Eff. January 1, 1983;

Readopted Eff. September 1, 2021.