Foster Care

ACL 13-10: CalWORKs: Changes Affecting Non-Minor Dependents As A Result Of SB 1013 And AB 1712 (2/7/13)

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SB 1013 now allows Non Minor Dependents (NMD) who turn 19 before to January 1, 2013 to keep getting benefits beyond age 19 and up to age 21, provided all other applicable eligibility requirements have been met.  No additional paperwork or requirements needed. NMDs whose benefits were discontinued in 2012 due solely to attaining age 19 may have benefits resumed or re-enter foster care, if they agree to meet one or more of the participation conditions.

NMDs who voluntarily exited prior to turning age 19 in 2012 could re-enter at any time up to their 19th birthday during 2012. If a NMD voluntarily exited foster care in 2012 and then turned 19 in 2012, the NMD must wait until January 1, 2013 to re-enter foster care.

AB 1712 exempts CalWORKs NMDs from the SFIS fingerimaging requirements, effective January 1, 2013.  The letter reviews other rules (living out of state, child support if the NMD is a parent, and county of residency for NMD.)  [Download]

ACL 12-70: Educational Stability And Case Plan Assurances (12/7/12)

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Instructions on implementing PL 110-351 and 112-34, which amended Title IV-E to require that the foster care case plan include a plan for ensuring the educational stability of the child.  Each placement of the foster child is to take into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity of the foster home placement to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement. The county agency must assure that there is coordination with the appropriate Local Educational Agency (LEA) to ensure that the foster child remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of each placement; or if remaining in such school is not in the best interest of the child, to provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school, which includes submission of all educational records to the new school. [Download]

ACL 12-71: Relative And Nonrelative Extended Family Member (NREFM) Assessment/Approval (12/14/12)

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Implementation Of The Harris v Wagner lawsuit, involving due process for a relative or NREFM who is denied assessment or approval to provide foster care. People who are denied approval or found not to be a NREFM now have a right to a state fair hearing.  The leter goes through the notices that must be issued, divided up into two time periods (12/1-17 and post 12/18/12); hearings will begin next year.  [Download]