Relative caregivers of foster children who are not eligible for federal foster care payments may be eligible for an equivalent payment through the Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) program if their counties elect to participate in the program. While the households of relative caregivers might be eligible for CalWORKs benefits for non-federally eligible foster children, those payments are lower than the federal foster care payment rate. This letter explains the eligibility requirements for the children and caregivers and instructs the counties on the requirements of the program and how to opt in or out, in accordance with Welf. & Inst. Code §11461.3. ACL 14-89.
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Foster Care
New instructions on Medi-Cal enrollment for former foster care children
DHCS issued a letter outlining the handling of former foster care youth in the Mandatory Coverage Group (MCG) and Optional Coverage Group (OCG) for Medi-Cal applications and enrollment. Applicants in these categories are supposed to be provided with a simplified eligibility determination and enrollment process through the use of self-attestation. Instructions, frequently asked questions, and the application form are included with the letter.
DHCS defines MCG as those youth who were receiving Medi-Cal in foster care under the responsibility of any state of tribe on their 18th birthday or a later age. OCG includes youth that were not receiving Medi-Cal benefits while in foster care on their 18th birthday and are between ages 18-21. DHCS ACWDL 14-41.
ACIN I-54-14: Instructions For The Annual Report For The Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention And Treatment, Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, Promoting Safe And Stable Families Programs And Child Abuse Prevention Councils (9/5/14)
Instructions to the counties re: the annual reporting requirements. Chock full of acronyms. [Download]
Public Comment: Child Fatality Reporting and Disclosure regulations
Public hearing/comment deadline is 10/15/14. For information click here.
ACIN I-46-14: Title XX Social Services Block Grant Pre-Expenditure Report (8/15/14)
This report summarizes Title XX expenditures, program responsibilities, and the population served. The programs covered are Child Welfare Services, Foster Care, Community Care Licensing, Deaf Access, CalWORKs Child Care, CDE Child Care Programs, and the DDS Regional Center Program. [Download]
ACIN I-42-14: The Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Option Program (8/1/14)
Introductory information regarding the Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Funding Option Program enacted by SB 855. Relatives who care for a non-federally eligible child in foster care is not eligible to receive foster care payments. Instead, the relatives can get CalWORKs payments. The CalWORKs benefits are not a per-child payment, however, but are based on the size of the family as a whole, and are less than the AFDC-FC rate. To address this issue, the Legislature has enacted the ARC Funding Option Program, which gives counties the option to provide funding equal to the basic foster care rate to an approved relative caregiver of a non-federally eligible child. [Download]