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Foster care maintenance payments are paid directly to the foster parent by the child-placing agency on a monthly basis. Maintenance payments are designed to assist the caregiver in providing for the child’s basic needs. It is not expected that the maintenance rates will cover all the needs of the child. Service needs of children and their families are not included in the definition of maintenance. There is an annual supplemental clothing allowance in addition to monthly maintenance payments.
The Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool (VEMAT) evaluates a child’s behavioral, emotional, and physical/personal care needs to determine whether an enhanced maintenance payment is necessary to support the child’s safety and well-being. The VEMAT is scored on a scale of 0-36, based on the child’s level of need and the increased supervision and support required from the foster parent. The VEMAT score determines the amount of the monthly enhanced maintenance payment that may be added to the standard monthly maintenance payment. For further information on the VEMAT, please refer to the following webpage: Foster Care Guidance Section 18 - Maintenance Costs
Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool (VEMAT) Score:
| 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | Emergency Placement Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $224 | $448 | $672 | $896 | $1,120 | $1,344 | $1,568 | $1,792 | $2,016 | $1,120 |
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