On May 1, 2009 California’sSSP Payment Standards will be reduced back to 2008 levels. The Couples income limit for the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level program will be reduced to $1525. The A&DFPL rate will stay the same, at $1133, for individuals. This letter includes an updated Medi-Cal budget calculation chart. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
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ACWDL 09-18: MAY 1, 2009 Supplementental security income/state supplementary payment (4/23/09)
As of May 1, 2009, the SSI/ SSP levels are decreasing. This ACWDL includes a chart of the new SSI/SSP payment levels. [Download]
ACIN I-32-09: Criminal Record Background Check (4/24/09)
To assist counties to employ qualified staff who are in frequent and routine contact with children, this ACIN contains two links for “options and services currently available regarding criminal record checks” through state law and the California Department of Justice (DOJ). [Download]
ACWDL 09-17: Amendment of the federal provision of “deemed” eligibility for infants (4/13/09)
Deemed eligibility infants used to lose eligibility if they stopped residing with their mother. It was also required for the infants eligibility that the mother remain eligible for Medi-Cal or would remain eligible if still pregnant. Starting April 1, 2009 deemed infants will stay on Medi-Cal their first year even if they no longer live with their mother or if their mother is no longer eligible for Medi-Cal. This change was made by the new CHIPRA law. DHCS will change the regulations to comply there will also be changes to the MEPM and the relevant forms. [Download]
ACIN I-22-09: 2007-08 Title XX Social Services Block Grant Post-Expenditure Report (4/13/09)
This ACIN conveys the Title XX Social Services Block Grant Post-Expenditure Report for the FFY 07-08. It summarizes Title XX expenditures, program responsibilities, and the population served. The divisions covered are: Children and Family Services, Community Care Licensing, Human Rights and Community Services, and Welfare to Work. [Download]
ACL 09-11: Monthly Caseworker Visits With Foster Children (4/9/09)
The Child and Family Services Improvement Act has new federal requirements for monthly visits. (The Act noted that “there was a strong correlation between frequent caseworker visits with foster children and positive outcomes.” California received almost $5 million between 2006 and 2008 to carry out the Act, which must be spent by September 30, 2009. By FFY 2011, at least 90 percent of children in foster care under the jurisdiction of the court must be visited each month the child is in foster care and a majority of those visits must occur in the child’s home. Cases involving children in Foster Family Agency (FFA) certified foster homes who are visited by a FFA social worker are exempt.
The letter describes the process to develop and content of a data baseline to determine compliance. “Due to state fiscal constraints and limited federal funds provided, CDSS will first focus on improving current data collection methods of children already seen monthly by caseworkers.”
One problem area is that state regulations provide exceptions from monthly visits for children in long term foster care, placed with relatives, guardians, or non-related extended family members, but federal law does not provide for this exception. CDSS therefore is developing regulatory changes to eliminate many of these exceptions. The Governor’s proposed budget includes funds to cover the increased costs associated with increased visit requirements. [Download]