Alaska rule allows higher foster pay for short-notice placements starting Nov. 26

Alaska's Department of Family and Community Services may pay a higher foster care rate when a child arrives at a foster home with less than 24 hours' notice, under a rule filed with the lieutenant governor's office Tuesday that takes effect Nov. 26. The foster parents must meet state licensing requirements at the time of placement.

The new emergency placement rate is 125 percent of the base foster care rate for the child's age range, adjusted for geographic differentials, the cost-of-living factor the state uses to set foster care pay by location. The department can pay it for no more than 10 days for a child in a foster home.

The department's resource family manual says short-notice placements have drawn emergency shelter rates for up to 10 days, with pay returning to the standard level if the child stays longer. The published rate sheet lists a first-10-day emergency rate of $50.91 for all ages. The new rule instead bases payment on the child's age range and location.

The same order narrows that separate emergency shelter payment. Emergency shelter rates will go only to licensed foster homes with a specialization for emergency shelter care, which the department describes as homes available to take children on an emergency basis. Department materials say these families may receive a child without a prior visit and must check the child's immediate health needs, arranging medical or dental care when necessary. Those homes will receive 125 percent of the base rate for the child's age range, adjusted for geography, plus $40 a day.

The department proposed the rule Aug. 14 and took written comments through Sept. 18. Its adoption order says no public comments were received. The department said the change is not expected to require more state funding, and the August notice listed no compliance cost for private persons, other state agencies or municipalities.

Acting Commissioner Tracy Dompeling signed the adoption order Oct. 13. The Department of Law approved the rule Oct. 23, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom's office filed it Oct. 27.

The filed text is scheduled to appear in the state's register of regulations in January 2027.