The foster care rate assessment is a two-step process that includes the participation of the child's foster parent.

(1) Step one: The child's social worker or designated rate assessment specialist will meet with the foster parent in person or telephonically to jointly complete the standardized assessment form.

(2) Step two: After step one has been completed, the child's social worker or designated rate assessment specialist enters the information from the assessment into the computer and, based on the responses to the questions in the standardized assessment, the rate assessment software program automatically calculates the foster care rate that will be paid on behalf of the child.