TITLE 53. SOCIAL SERVICES AND INSTITUTIONS

CHAPTER 4. CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Part 6. Families Achieving Independence in Montana (FAIM)

Requirements For Eligibility -- Family Investment Agreement

53-4-606. Requirements for eligibility -- family investment agreement. (1) Eligibility for financial assistance under the FAIM project with regard to income, resources, and all other factors of eligibility must be determined in accordance with the waivers granted by the U.S. secretary of health and human services under section 1115 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1315.

(2) (a) As a condition of eligibility for financial assistance, all specified caretaker relatives and other family members, as specified by the department by rule, shall enter into a family investment agreement with the department and shall comply with the terms of that agreement.

(b) The family investment agreement must set forth the mutual obligations of the participant and the department to help the family achieve the goal of self-sufficiency. The agreement may contain provisions:

(i) regarding actions to be taken by the specified caretaker relative and by the department to secure child support;

(ii) requiring that the immunization and health-screening requirements of the early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program be met for all children in the family;

(iii) requiring the participant to cooperate in any assessments necessary to identify barriers to self-sufficiency and listing specific actions to be taken in order to eliminate any identified barriers; and

(iv) specifying other services and activities appropriate for the participant or family.

(c) Families in which the specified caretaker relative or other adult household member, as specified by rule, fails or refuses to enter into a family investment agreement without good cause are ineligible for financial assistance.

(d) An individual who is required to enter into a family investment agreement and who refuses or fails, without good cause, to comply with the terms of the family investment agreement must be sanctioned in accordance with the rules and policies of the department.

History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 491, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 486, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 27, Ch. 465, L. 2001.