Proving change can be slow: this letter contains regulations promulgated in response to a 2002 Child and Family Services Review, which resulted in an HHS-required Program Improvement Plan (PIP) effective July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2005. The PIP addressed findings that California did not have sufficient statewide requirements for the initial and ongoing training of new child welfare workers and supervisors, and the lack of necessary child welfare requirements for probation officers and supervisors who are working with Title IV-E placement wards. The new regs go into effect July 1, 2008, and list what training topics must be completed by which staff and at what frequency. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Webdog
ACIN I-32-08: Extension Of Food Stamp Income Exclusion For Deployment To a Combat Zone (5/19/08)
The 2008 federal appropriations bill extended the exclusion of Combat pay as income for Food Stamps. Of note is that this letter clarifies that a household’s access to a service person’s bank account, under certain circumstances, ALSO is excludable as a resource. The bank account does not count as a resource if the household can document “to the satisfaction of the County” that it’s access is solely for the purpose of paying the service person’s bills, etc., and the household cannot use the funds for its own purposes. The letter lists as possible verification a written statement from the service person, a statement from the involved financial institution, or “other means attesting to the fact.” (The funds are excluded under the provision for jointly held resources that are inaccessible to the Food Stamps household.) [Download]
ACIN I-34-08: Intercounty Transfer Coordinator List For CalWORKs, Medi-Cal And Foster Care (5/16/08)
The “go to” list for who to contact about ICT problems. [Download]
ACIN I-30-08: Revised Agency-Relative Guardianship Disclosure Form (4/30/08)
All this ACIN does is transmit a new form, but oh what a form it is! Goes over the right to not become a guardian, and the impact of becoming a relative guardian on the foster care case and benefits. Also informs about Kin-GAP. [Download ACIN; Download Form]
ACIN I-25-08: New Trustline Regulations Implementation FAQs(4/28/08)
Guidance regarding the implementation of the new Trustline regulations for Stage One child care, the Q & As are billed as “informational.” Counties “have the flexibility to create their own informational material for the new Trustline regulations,” and are encouraged to share information with parents and providers. Questions include: how long does registration last; how are parents/providers informed of the new rules; information on the new Trustline Automated Registration Process (TARP) (in 24 counties); a discussion of the 120- and 30-day retroactive periods. [Download]
ACIN I-24-08: Approval Of Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) Waiver For 2008-2009 (4/21/08)
The FNS has approved a one-year waiver from the ABAWD work requirement for 52 counties within California. The waiver will begin May 1, 2008. When folks discontinued for not meeting an ABAWD work requirement subsequently reapply for non-Assistance food stamps in a waiver county, they can be eligible for benefits. The letter additionally reminds counties that FSET still applies, as do work sanctions. Just when you were feeling the love. [Download]