JOYOUS SEASON PAYMENTS

It is that time of year again to remind everyone about the JSP (Joyous Season Payments) that will be mailed to providers for children in Out of Home Care.

ATTACHED PLEASE FIND THE MEMO FROM RICHARD ANDERSON REGARDING JSP PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN IN OUT OF HOME CARE. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW RATES AND THE NEW AGE LEVELS. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PLACEMENTS ARE CURRENT IN SAFE ON December 1st TO ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT PROVIDER IS PAID.

                                                                                          M E M O R A N D U M

TO:                             REGIONAL DCFS OFFICES

FROM:                       Richard Anderson

                                    Division Director

DATE:                        November 20, 2006

SUBJECT:                  JOYOUS SEASON PAYMENTS TO CHILDREN IN OUT OF HOME CARE

It is the time of year for joyous season payments.  This year we have increased the rates and added another age level.  The rates will be $50.00 for children 5 years of age and under, $60.00 for children 6-12 years of age and $65.00 for 13 on up.  It is suggested that the provider allow the older children to use some of this money to buy gifts for their family or friends.

We will run the checks on Monday, December 4th and they will be mailed out to providers the next day.  Payments will be made to providers with children open under the following placement codes: CEF, CES, CFP, CXP, DAG, DAI, DCC, DFB, DFM, DIR, DLF, DLR, DLS, DPG, DPI, DPM, DPR, DRC, DRH, DRL, DRM, DSM, DSS, DST, DTF, DTR, DTS, EFB, EFG, EFP, FHX, ILP, SCC, SCP, SEP, SFP, SFS, SHB, SHG, SPC, SSP, SXP, SXS, TFS, WHX.   

Cases that are open under: BAF, BFH, BGH, BHR, BSM, COR, CRT, ILN, MFN, SHN, will need to be paid on a Form 295F (One Time Payment).  Children coming into care (and who will remain in care through

December 25th), that are opened on the SAFE system after December 1st, will also need to be paid on a Form 295F.

Please make sure the following is completed on the SAFE system by regional staff no later than the close of Friday, December 1st   to insure a check being issued to the correct provider:

• Close providers who should not be open.  Check SAFE and make sure your children are open to the correct providers.

• Close the placement in the incorrect home and open a placement living arrangement (payment authorization) to the correct provider.

All checks will be mailed directly to the providers on December 5th; so regional staff will not need to distribute them.

If a provider’s license has expired at the time of the check run, payment cannot be made until the license is updated.  You will then need to do a 295F (One-Time Payment) for the JSP payment after license has been updated.  Please contact your regional Family Resource Consultant to consult with licensing and update the provider in USSDS.  (JSP is a companion service to the above listed codes; providers who have a current level of care open do not need to have a JSP added to the PR07 screen.  Only those providers who are non-paid providers will need to have the JSP open on the PR07 screen in USSDS).

If you have any questions, please contact Linda O’Brien at DCFS State Office.  Thanks