Montana Foster Care
Rates (Foster Care)
Foster care rate paid at:
- Sending State’s rate
- Negotiable
Montana foster care rates:
| Service Level of Care |
Amount per day |
| Basic |
0-12 years old--$21.07/day; 13-21 years old--$24.83/day (effective 12/1/2011) |
| Moderate |
no information provided |
| Specialized |
0-2 years old--$31.15/day; 3-12 years old--$29.56/day; 13-25 years old--$33.06/day (effective 7/1/2011) |
| Intense |
no information provided |
Requirements (Foster Care)
Foster Care Resource Requirements:
Foster parents must be at least 18 years of age; be physically, mentally,and emotionally competent to care for children; like and understand children; be in good general health; be of good moral character; be able to demonstrate the foster home has sufficient resources to meet the needs of their existing family, independent of foster care reimbursements; comply with state laws including those that relate to the possession or use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and firearms; and have lived together for at least 24 months unless an exception is granted. No person residing in or visiting the foster home may pose a risk or threat to the safety and well being of children in the home. The foster home shall protect the foster child from exposure to sexual or violent language and behavior inappropriate to the child's age, including but not limited to, physical activity, visual or media depictions, and music, including lyrics. Foster parents must complete an application, a home study, training, and criminal and child protection checks.
Training (Education and Training):
- Foster parents must complete the Department's Keeping Children Safe training, which is an 18 hour training, and must complete 15 hours of on-going training each year.
Requirements (Licensing)
Licensing Requirements:
Foster Care Placements:
Montana requires the following types of placement resources to be licensed/approved/certified:
-
Foster Care
-
Relative-Foster Care
-
Adoption
-
Foster/Adopt
Montana uses the following terms to authorize a resource family for foster care and (or) adoption after completion of education and training in state:
-
Approve (Adoption)
-
Verified (Foster Home)
- Certified
Montana resource training program is as follows:
Montana accepts the following training programs as comparable to its education and training program licensing:
- Other: Varies with each Region in Montana; and the Training must meet Montana curriculum.
Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)
Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:
Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:
Montana offers classes (education and training) to become licensed/certified/approved:
- Other: This varies based on each region of the Child and Family Services Division and the need for the training.
Wait Time for Criminal Records Results
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: Not Offered
- Local/County: Not Offered
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: 15-30 days
- Local/County: Not Offered
