The Phones for Foster Youth program provides a free smartphone with unlimited voice and text and hotspot capability, to current and former foster youth residing in California.  To be eligible, a person must be a current or former foster youth between ages 13 and 26 who was in foster care on their 13th birthday or later and who resides in California.  To apply, persons must fill out an application by email and provide verification of their dependency or ward status and foster care placement.  Youth who do not currently have access to email or internet can contact the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson for assistance.

Pursuant to Executive Order, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) may issue foster care verification to current dependents and wards for purposes of the Phones for Foster Youth program.  CDSS, county placement agencies and IV-E tribes may provide verification directly.  County placement agencies and IV-E tribes may provide a list of foster youth eligible for the program.  Current or former foster youth may request a verification letter from contact the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson.  (ACIN I-32-20, April 17, 2020.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided guidance for operating the Resource Family Approval (RFA) program during COVID-19.  Interviews for family evaluation, including the applicants and children in the home, may be done by videoconference.

Capacity requirements for resource families or applicants may be waived if there is an immediate need for placement of additional children because of isolation or quarantine requirements. There may not be more than 6 foster children in a home unless there is an exception to the federal capacity limit.

A county may waive home and grounds requirements related to bedroom sharing and use of common areas for sleeping as necessary because of COVID-19.

If an RFA applicant cannot complete pre-approval training but has completed all other RFA requirements, the family may be approved and pre-approval training completed within 180 days of approval.

For complaints alleging behavior that serious endangers health or safety of a child in care, the county must conduct an in-person visit.  For complaints that do not pose an immediate health or safety risk, investigations may be opened and conducted by phone or video.

If a resource family has a 12-month approval update due, the family may complete it up to 180 days after the due date.

If a resource family asks to end inactive status in order to take immediate placement of a child, the county may complete the emergency placement process.  The county can extend the timeframe to get required updates to 90 days.

Counties are encourage to allow RFA applicants to submit scanned copies or photographs of documents.  If that is not available, counties may accept self-attestation of all required information.

Protocol for out of county placements is unchanged.  (ACL 20-43, April 17, 2020.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided guidance regarding new placement and funding flexibility to support emergency care and placement of children and nonminor dependents because of COVID-19.  If there is no other placement available, counties may use the emergency placement process to allow placement with an unapproved family.  These placements must include in-home inspection of the potential home, and California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) and child abuse checks.  The in-home inspection must be done in person.  The caregiver must complete and sign the criminal history disclosure form.

If local live scan services are not reasonably available, the time for the caregiver to submit fingerprints can be extended up to 90 days after the end of the shelter in place order.

Emergency caregivers are eligible for emergency caregiver funding.  This funding shall continue if approval exceeds 365 days because of delay in the Resource Family Approval process because of COVID-19.

Children who are exposed to, test positive for or present symptoms of COVID-19 may temporarily need a higher level of medical care and supervision.  CDSS authorizes paying a higher rate when the child requires isolation or quarantine because of COVID-19 and as a result there are increase care and supervision needs, or the child requires a new placement because of COVID-19.

Children in a Short-Term Residental Therapeutic Program may need to be moved.  If the higher rate is insufficient to find a placement for these children, the county is authorized to negotiate a rate for a family willing to accept the child.  (ACL 20-44, April 17, 2020.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is extending the Extended Foster Care program for nonminor dependents currently in Extended Foster Care who turn 21 on or after April 18, 2020 until June 30, 2020.  Before a nonminor dependent reaches their 21st birthday, counties should discuss this temporary extension with the nonminor dependent to determine if they want it.

Counties should be flexible with nonminor dependents who cannot meet eligibility criteria because of COVID-19.  In general, nonminor dependants must be either completing secondary education or in a program leading to an equivalent credential, enrolled in college or vocational education, participating in a program to promote or remove barriers to employment, be employed for at least 80 hours per month, or be incapable of doing other activities because of a medical condition.

Nonminor dependents who have lost their jobs or had their education disrupted remain eligible for Extended Foster Care.  Nonminor dependents who are doing distance learning remain eligible for Extended Foster Care.  Nonminor dependents remain eligible if they cannot participate because of COVID-19 but are doing programs to promote or reduce barriers to employment or have a medical condition that prevents them from participating.  Medical conditions can be short or long-term.  Written verification from a health care practitioner can be obtained after social distancing orders are lifted.

If eligibility cannot be maintained using this flexibility, placements must be continued until June 30, 2020.

Nonminors ages 18 to 21 requesting entry or re-entry into Extended Foster Care must continue to be served.  A nonminor’s inability to meet participation requirements because of COVID-19 is not a reason to deny entry or reentry.  Forms must still be completed but they can be temporarily done without a face-to-face meeting.

Nonminor dependants who have housing disruptions, including living in a college dormitory, must be given assistance in finding a safe and appropriate housing option.  (ACL 20-45, April 18, 2020.)