ACL 09-01: New ‘Request For Verification’ Form (CW 2200) For Verifying Eligibility In The CalWORKs And Food Stamp Programs (3/12/09)

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Transmits a new, statewide “Request for Verification” form for verifying eligibility. Consistency and efficiency rules! The form informs clients of their rights and responsibilities in regards to verifying their eligibility. It informs clients that they can ask for help if they are having trouble getting verification and that counties can help pay for verification if necessary. It also provides suggested types of acceptable verification and includes a client authorization for release of information so that counties can work directly with a third party to obtain verification when necessary. It will be translated into 17 languages.

This form is not intended to be used to verify hours of participation in work activities. [Download]

ACL 09-09: Relative Caregivers and Permanency Options (2/23/09)

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Notice of changes brought about by AB 298 regarding how legal guardianship for a relative is considered as a permanency placement option. 1) a relative caregiver’s preference for legal guardianship over adoption, unrelated to an unwillingness to accept legal or financial responsibility for the child, cannot be the sole basis for recommending the removal of a child from the relative caregiver for adoptive placement; 2) requires that a relative caregiver be given information regarding the options of guardianship and adoption. To “ensure consistency” the state has provided an optional form; 3) changes the order of preference for permanent placement of the child. The the second option, after that of termination of parental rights, is now appointing the relative caretaker the legal guardian; 4) requires the court, under certain circumstances, to not terminate parental rights if the child is living with a relative who is unable or unwilling to adopt the child, unrelated to an unwillingness to accept legal or financial responsibility for the child, but who is willing to be the legal guardian, when removal of the child would be detrimental; 5) changes to the report that the county must prepare. [Download]

ACWDL 09-11: The extension of the Qualifying Individual 1 program sunset date to December 31, 2010 (3/10/09)

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The QI1 program is a Medicare savings program that pays the Medicare Part B premium for people under 135% of the FPL. The program’s sunset date has been extended until December 31, 2010. Counties will continue to accept applications until DHCS notifies them that the program has been discontinued. [Download]

ACWDL 09-10: Implementation of AB 1512; clarification and instructions for disenrollment of children in foster care from the COHS and Medi-Cal change of address procedures for children in foster care and adoption assistance programs (3/5/09)

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AB 1512 requires that foster care children that have moved to a new county be disenrolled from the County Organized Health System (COHS) in the previous county within two working days of a request from certain entities. Foster care kids and kids in the adoption assistance program are not required to be in managed care in most counties, in COHS counties they do have to be in the COHS. In the past when FC and AAP kids moved out a COHS county they either were unable to disenroll right away or were disenrolled only to be automatically reenrolled at the beginning of the next month. This new letter lays out a process that implements AB 1512 and is designed to correct the past disenrollment problems. Counties will immediately enter in the county system the child’s new residence address and where necessary the residence county code and counties will contact the Medi-Cal Managed Care Ombudsman’s office to disenroll the child. When the ombudsman’s office is contacted not by the county but by an authorized medical decision maker the ombudsman’s office will disenroll the child and instruct the decision maker to contact the FC or AAP worker in the county of responsibility to ensure that the new residence address is updates in the county system. The letter also contains information regarding access to mental health services and instructions for when a Foster Child moves out of state. [Download]