The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided information about financial support for eligible at-risk families with child welfare contact during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Financial support is up to $600 per eligible household, or up to $1,200 for eligible households with three or more children at risk of entering foster care.
Households are eligible if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Households with a Family Maintenance service component without a subsequent entry into Foster Care.
- Households with an Emergency Response service component without a subsequent entry into Foster Care.
- Households with a substantiated ER referral, without an accompanying case opening or entry into FC.
- Households with an inconclusive ER referral, without an accompanying case opening or entry into FC, where the Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment was considered “high” or “very high.”
- Probation cases where a child was at “imminent” or “serious” risk of removal or was a candidate for FC.
- Households where a child was returned for a Trial Home Visit (THV)
All categories include cases identified in May, 2021, and new eligible families identified in June through December, 2021 depending on availability of funds.
County child welfare services agencies will get a list of potentially eligible clients, with instructions for ensuring client eligibility. County probation departments will give CDSS lists of eligible families.
Prepaid cards will be issued to eligible families. Open Family Maintenance, Trial Home Visit, Emergency Response cases, probation candidates, and Substantiated Referrals will receive a one-time $600 payment ($1,200 if the family has three or more children at risk of entering Foster Care). Families determined to be at “High” or “Very High” risk with an inconclusive referral will receive a total one-time $300 payment ($600 if the family has three or more children at risk of entering Foster Care).
Families who receive a payment under one eligibility category will not receive a second payment if their case moves to another category.
These funds do not count as income for CalWORKs or CalFresh.
(ACL 21-83, July 21, 2021.)