Author: Webdog

ACL 08-41: CalWORKs Welfare-To-Work Transportation Services (9/28/08)

Posted on by

This ACL clarifies when counties’ must review and update CalWORKs transportation reimbursement rates, and other state transportation support services issues. For reimbursing participants for use of a vehicle, counties whether using an existing county rate or a rate it develops, must cover necessary transportation costs based on regional market rates and should include the cost of gas, oil, insurance, license and registration fees, as well as a provision for normal wear and tear and maintenance.

If a county chooses to develop its own rate, it can 1) Establish a flat mileage reimbursement rate that covers all necessary costs; 2) Establish a mileage rate that includes basic costs (i.e., gas, oil, insurance, license fees) and also provide separate payments or reimbursements for costs such as registration, and wear and tear and maintenance. (In combination, the basic mileage rate and separate payments or reimbursements must cover necessary costs.); 3) Establish a two-tiered rate that decreases after necessary fixed costs have been covered, such as vehicle license fees. The lowered rate would cover continuing expenses, such as gas and oil. Before a county implements a new transportation reimbursement rate or changes an existing rate, the county must submit an amendment to the CalWORKs County Plan for state review and certification. The letter ends with a reminder for counties to pay transportation as soon as administratively possible, and the requirement of advance pay. [Download]

ACL 08-42: CalWORKs Program Implementation Of Homeless Assistance Changes (10/17/08)

Posted on by

This letter implements, effective on January 1, 2008, changes to the Homeless Assistance Program (HAP). Recipients can now verify Domestic Violence (DV) with a sworn statement made by the victim, unless the agency documents in the case file, in writing, an independent, reasonable basis to find the recipient not credible. The DV may be verified by a sworn statement for up to two periods of temporary HA payments and two payments of permanent HA. Further, the CWD will be required to immediately inform HAP recipients, who verify DV with a sworn statement, of the availability of DV counseling and services and refer them to services upon request.

If the CWD requires a recipient, who verifies DV by a sworn statement, to participate in a homeless avoidance case plan, the plan shall include the provision of DV services, if appropriate. If a recipient, who is seeking an exemption to the once-in-a-lifetime provision of HA based on DV, has previously received homeless avoidance services based on DV, the county shall review whether services were offered to the recipient and consider what additional services would assist the recipient in
leaving the DV situation. [Download]

ACIN I-80-08: ABAWD Statewide Waiver for FFY 2009 (10/17/08)

Posted on by

Yippee! The Food and Nutrition Service has approved a statewide waiver of the Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirement. The waiver would last for a one-year period beginning October 1, 2008 and ending September 30, 2009. The ABAWD work requirement would be waived for all counties within California, unless a county declines to participate. Counties wanting to decline the waiver would need to get Board approval and send that to DSS before the end of November. [Download]

ACL 08-43: Release Of Information To Birth Relatives Of Previously Adopted Children (10/6/08)

Posted on by

Transmittal of information about a new law that allows for the release of information to birth relatives of previously adopted children whose adoption failed or was set aside, and the child returned to the foster care system. The provisions of this statute apply to a child who meets all of the following criteria: 1. Does not have an appropriate potential caretaker that exists from his/her adoptive family, including a non-relative extended family member (NREFM) of the adoptive family; 2. Was previously a dependent of the court; 3. Was previously adopted and the adoption has been disrupted, set aside or has been released into the custody of CDSS or a licensed adoption agency by the adoptive parent(s); and 4. Was not the subject of a voluntary relinquishment by the birth parent(s). Effective January 1, 2008, when a child who meets the above criteria is removed, the agency should use the same standards and procedures to identify a safe and permanent home as utilized when a child is removed from their birth parent(s). The same preferential consideration given to a birth relative who requests placement of the previously adopted child in their home should be used. Once the birth relative is found, and desires to provide a safe and permanent home, the agency may furnish identifying information relating to the child to that relative, if doing so promotes the welfare of the child. [Download]

ACIN I-68-08: Kinship/Foster Care Emergency Fund (10/3/08)

Posted on by

A listing of the Emergency Fund allocations. The purpose of the Fund is to enable successful emergency placement of a child with a relative, nonrelative extended family member or foster parent, by removing barriers to such a placement. The fund may also be used to retain a placement when extenuating circumstances may alter the stability of the placement. Additionally, funds may be used to assist a prospective foster parent/home in meeting the requirements to provide care to a child. All expenditures of this funding are to be for one-time needs and not to pay for recurring expenses. [Download]