Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 148 - OFFICE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES › Chapter 14 - RULES FOR LEVELS OF CARE FOR FOSTER HOMES › Section 148-14-2 - Levels of Care (LOC) - Child Functioning Levels

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
The following levels of care designations are used to
				  determine the reimbursement rate to be paid to the foster parent.
A.
LOC A- Basic Care - Minimal
				Needs.
This level is for children who have minimal needs and require the
				type of care offered in a Family Foster Home for Children. "Children with
				minimal needs" may have occasional episodes of behavioral and/or emotional
				problems which do not significantly impair the child's interpersonal
				relationships and ability to function at home or at school. "Children with
				minimal needs" are expected to function largely at an age appropriate level
				educationally, socially, physically, medically, developmentally and
				emotionally.
B.
LOC B - Basic
				Care - Mild Needs.
This level is for children who have mild needs that
				require a higher than LOC A-Basic Care level of services in a Family Foster
				Home. "Children with mild needs" may display the following: minor developmental
				delays, episodic problems relating with others, infrequent concerns/problems
				regarding performance in school, limited or short-term mental health treatment
				needs and stable/routine medical needs.
C.
LOC C-Treatment Care - Moderate
				Needs.
This level is for children who have moderate needs and require
				the type of care offered in a Specialized Children's Foster Home. "Children
				with moderate needs" may display the following: moderate developmental delays,
				ongoing problems with interpersonal relationships including a history of
				self-abusive behaviors, and minor episodes of aggression toward others. They
				may also have ongoing needs for mental health treatment, monitoring of school
				problems and/or special education needs and/or medical supports.
D.
LOC D - Treatment Care - High
				Needs.
This level is for children who have high needs that require a
				higher than LOC C - Treatment Care level of services in a Specialized Foster
				Home. "Children with high needs" may display the following: significant
				developmental delays, impulsivity requiring external control, ongoing conflict
				with others, unresponsiveness to social prompts, need for special education
				services to address performance and/or behavior issues, slow or no progress in
				mental health treatment, and may require in-home supports for medical
				conditions. They may have a history of self abusive behaviors, including
				assault on others.
E.
LOC D -
				Basic or Treatment Care - Exceptional Medical Care.
This level is for
				medically fragile children in Basic of Treatment Care with a high level of
				medical need that does or could lead to care in an "intermediate care nursing
				facility". It is likely that these issues will not moderate and may become more
				severe over time and require specialized care to support activities of daily
				living. It must be shown that the Foster Parent has obtained the training
				necessary to meet the medical needs of the child and is directly providing that
				level of care. Examples of children who meet this criteria include, but are not
				limited to, children that: require a feeding tube, congenital heart
				disease/abnormalities requiring surgery and monitoring, weekly to monthly
				hospital/specialist monitoring, kidney dialysis, severe forms of cancer, and/or
				severe failure to thrive with long range effects.
F.
LOC E-Treatment Care - Severe
				Needs.
This level is for children who have severe needs that require a
				higher than LOC D - Treatment Care level of services in a Specialized Foster
				Home. "Children with severe needs" may display the following: severe
				developmental delays, a risk to self or others including deliberate aggression
				toward others, inability to maintain control in spite of close supervision,
				chronic/serious medical condition, and poor/no response to mental health
				treatment.