ACIN I-44-08: Severe Weather Emergency Response Plan Protocols For IHSS And Adult Protective Services (APS) Recipients (6/9/08)

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Just in time for hot weather days, this ACIN discusses coordinating with local and county agencies to ensure the safety of IHSS and APS recipients/consumers, in case of a severe weather-related emergency. The letter describes the three phases of heat-related emergencies. Phase II in this series is considered a Heat Alert which can be triggered by a issuance (by listed agencies) of an Excessive Heat Warning, or predictions of power outages, electrical blackouts, or rotating blackouts during periods of high heat. A Phase III is considered a Heat Emergency, which is when a local/regional/state government declares an emergency. There are also Phases for Cold Weather…

The Adult Programs Branch (APB) will issue an electronic alert to County Welfare Directors, Public Authorities and County IHSS/APS Program Managers during a Phase II Heat alert or other prolonged severe weather emergency. CDSS staff will also be available to advise counties and coordinate with State OES as necessary. In the event of Phase III of the Heat Plan or Phase II and Phase III of the Extreme Cold-Freeze Plan , APB will contact the affected counties to determine whether emergency contingency plans have been activated and what steps have been taken to ensure client safety. When the County gets an APB alert, staff should refer to their local emergency response plans. (And those counties without a plan are “encouraged” to make one!) The local plan should include procedures that the county will follow to identify and produce a targeted list of the most vulnerable populations for immediate use. The letter goes on to describe options and resources.
[Download]

ACL 08-26: Federal And State Changes To Requirements For Interstate Placement Of Children And Caregivers Rights (5/28/08)

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Recently enacted federal and state law impacts the placement of dependent children and wards of the court across state lines. States must develop a process to ensure that foster care and adoptive home studies for children placed across state lines are completed within 60 calendar days; to establish a 14-day time frame for agencies to reject home studies done in another state for placing a California child across state lines; ensure caregivers access to court proceeding; require the court to consider both in-state and out-of-state options.

The effective date of the federal law was October 1, 2006, but California got an extension. The pertinent provisions of the state implementing legislation (SB 703) were effective January 1, 2008. This letter sets out the California provisions, including the exceptions for the 60 day time frame to do the home study (circumstances beyond agency’s control) and what must be in the home study to be complete, incentive payments for “on time” studies, and data reporting requirements. [Download]

ACL 08-27: CalWORKs: COLA Increase To The MBSAC (5/28/08)

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That time of year: new Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care (MBSAC) are out, effective July 1st (5.26% increase).  The Maximum Aid Payment COLA is delayed until 10/08.  The new MBSAC chart is attached, and includes the new income in-kind (AIK) charts, which also get a COLA.  These MBSAC and AIK increases also apply to Refugee Cash Assistance and Trafficking/Crime Victims benefits.  [Download]

ACIN I-36-07: CalWORKS REFERRAL TO FOSTER CARE (6/27/07)

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Ok, Regs@ missed this one, but in honor of the the ACIN’s year anniversary….  What’s a county to do when a child gets CalWORKs by living with a relative, who then dies? If the child is now living with a non-legal guardian non-relative, the county is required to tell the non-relative caretaker that 1) the child may be eligible for Foster Care benefits and 2) the local legal aid office or county bar association may be able to provide additional information and assistance in pursuing such benefits.  If interested, the county is then to refer the household to apply for Foster Care benefits.