§346-65  Child abuse and neglectdiscretionary emergency assistance.  (a)  The department may grant funds toa family for child abuse and neglect discretionary emergency assistance inaccordance with this section.  The purpose of these grants is to assistchildren and families when an emergency situation arises or is imminent whichmay cause child abuse or neglect or has caused children and families to needassistance from the department pursuant to chapter 587, and the financialassistance may prevent the abuse or neglect, prevent the removal of a childfrom a family, or would meet the immediate needs of a child who has beenremoved from a family.

(b)  Emergency assistance shall be authorizedwhen:

(1)  A situation arises or is imminent which presentsan immediate or imminent threat of child abuse or neglect or has causedchildren and families to need assistance from the department pursuant tochapter 587;

(2)  The family is eligible for public assistance orhas no available financial resources;

(3)  Financial assistance may eliminate or alleviatethe situation and remove the immediate or imminent threat of child abuse orneglect; and

(4)  No other financial resources are available fromwithin the family or from other public or private source which could be used toeliminate or alleviate the situation.

(c)  Emergency assistance may be used forshelter, respite child care, clothing, transportation, medical costs,utilities, food, repairs, essential equipment, and other goods or serviceswhich in the discretion of the department are necessary to eliminate oralleviate the emergency situation.

(d)  A family shall not be granted more than$1,000 in emergency assistance during one fiscal year; except that under anexceptional situation as determined by the director, a family may be grantednot more than $2,000 during one fiscal year.

(e)  For the purposes of this chapter only,emergency assistance shall not be considered income to the head of household orfamily nor as part of the family's assistance allowance. [L 1986, c 160, §1; amL 1988, c 327, §4]