Information on implementing SB 945, which requires that notice to former foster children ( W&IC 300 or 727) of services to which they may be eligible. This includes availability of federal and state programs that provide financial assistance, housing, and educational resources for which the person may be eligible; and information about the availability of federal and state independent living program for youth 16+. [Download]
California got a federal waiver, expanding access to CalFresh. SSI rules provide that if eligibility is terminated for certain reasons, the person is “suspended” for 12 months, so they don’t have to reestablish disability if the basis for the termination ends. However, federal rules provide that in Cash-Out states (California), people on SSI suspend status remain ineligible for SNAP. Effective June 23, 2011, people who were suspended from SSI because of state budget cuts or federal lifetime limits for refugees, should be eligible. The basis for the suspension must be verified. [Download]
FNS has published proposed regulations, and is soliciting public comments. Although much of the proposed regulations cover defining retailer trafficking, large portions of it apply to collusive practices between retailers and recipients and other “program abuses by client.” The proposed regulations also address mandatory 2008 Farm Bill provisions requiring reciprocal disqualification in SNAP when an individual is disqualified from the FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations). There is even a discussion of purchasing drinks with bottle deposits and keeping the cash for the bottle return. “Nonetheless, clients who intentionally purchased products in containers for purposes of disposing of the products and exchanging the containers for cash are, in effect, trafficking without a complicit retailer.” Comments due on or before August 19, 2011.
Clarification on the start date of the court ordered higher foster care family home rates. On June 9, 2011, the Court found that “effective immediately,” means any check that had not been issued by the date of the May 27, 2011 order shall include the increased rate. Since checks for reimbursement of foster care for the month of May had not yet been issued by May 27th; increased rates apply for the provision of foster care for the entire month of May 2011. Contains a chart of the rates, and notes that a COLA will kick in July 1st. [Download]
This ACIN is issued to provide counties with information and resources about family finding and engagement activities to help identify, locate and engage appropriate relatives for foster care placements. Funding has been made available to reimburse counties for this work. [Download]
Counties were instructed in ACL 11-36 to use the TEMP 2254 and TEMP 2253 forms to inform teen parents of the new program requirements and to schedule an orientation appointment. This letter clarifies that copies of these forms also must be sent to the head of the AU of which the teen parent is a member, if the teen parent is not the head of the AU. The TEMP 2254 must be sent to the head of the AU before July 1, 2011. The TEMP 2253 must be sent to the head of the AU when the form is sent to the teen parent, prior to the teen parent’s orientation date. [Download]