(a) Rates for foster family agency programs participating under this chapter shall be exempt from the current AFDC-FC foster family agency ratesetting system. (b) Rates for foster family agency programs participating under this chapter shall be set according to the appropriate service and rate level based on the level of services provided to the eligible child and the certified foster family. For an eligible child placed from a group home program, the service and rate level shall not exceed the rate paid for group home placement. For an eligible child assessed by the county interagency review team or county placing agency as at imminent risk of group home placement or psychiatric hospitalization, the appropriate service and rate level for the child shall be determined by the interagency review team or county placing agency at time of placement. In all of the service and rate levels, the foster family agency programs shall: (1) Provide social work services with average caseloads not to exceed eight children per worker, except that social worker average caseloads for children in Service and Rate Level E shall not exceed 12 children per worker. (2) Pay an amount not less than two thousand one hundred dollars ($2,100) per child per month to the certified foster parent or parents. (3) Perform activities necessary for the administration of the programs, including, but not limited to, training, recruitment, certification, and monitoring of the certified foster parents. (4) (A) (i) Provide a minimum average range of service per month for children in each service and rate level in a participating foster family agency, represented by paid employee hours incurred by the participating foster family agency, by the in-home support counselor to the eligible child and the certified foster parents depending on the needs of the child and according to the following schedule: Service In-Home Support and Counselor Hours Rate Level Per Month A 98-114 hours B 81-97 hours C 64-80 hours D 47-63 hours (ii) Children placed at Service and Rate Level E shall receive behavior de-escalation and other support services on a flexible, as needed, basis from an in-home support counselor. The foster family agency shall provide one full-time in-home support counselor for every 20 children placed at this level. (B) (i) For the interim period beginning July 1, 2012, through December 31, 2016, inclusive, only the following modified service and rate levels to support modified in-home support counselor hours per month shall apply: Service In-Home Support and Counselor Hours Rate Level Per Month Level I 81-114 hours Level II 47-80 hours Level III Less than 47 hours (ii) Children placed at Service and Rate Level III shall receive behavior de-escalation and other support services on a flexible, as needed, basis from an in-home support counselor. The foster family agency shall provide one full-time in-home support counselor for every 20 children placed at this level. (C) When the interagency review team or county placing agency and the foster family agency agree that alternative services are in the best interests of the child, the foster family agency may provide or arrange for services and supports allowable under Californiaâs foster care program in lieu of in-home support services required by subparagraphs (A) and (B). These services and supports may include, but need not be limited to, activities in the Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) program. (c) The department or placing county, or both, may review the level of services provided by the foster family agency program. If the level of services actually provided are less than those required by subdivision (b) for the childâs service and rate level, the rate shall be adjusted to reflect the level of service actually provided, and an overpayment may be established and recovered by the department. (d) (1) On and after July 1, 1998, the standard rate schedule of service and rate levels shall be: Service Fisca
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