I am not finding that this regulation is clear enough about applying this process to adoptive families. It does state it "shall be used to determine the daily supervision component of the foster care maintenence payment or the adoption assistance payment."  Then regulation then says very little about how this is to be applied to adoptive families.

I would propose that the regulation be clear that if the VEMAT tool is to be used for any adoptive family that it be used, by mandate, for ALL adoptive families.  If the Commonwealth is seeking to acheive greater consistency among all DSS and LCPAs in thier payments to families on behalf of children, everyone should be using the same tool and should be mandated to do so (a "shall" not a "may"). Even if a negotiation process is implemented with regards to Adoption Assistance, all families should start with the same tool to assess an amount from which to then negotiate.

I was please to see that the "team" of people making the decision for the child is a "shall include" and not a may. I hope to see that their is oversite of this so that all children have the appropriate advocates for them sitting at the table making decisions.  I would not be supportive of agencies picking and choosing who they want on the team. Again, consistency across the state in this regard is important.