At long last! This ACL implements the settlement in Vu v. CDSS, to provide a total of 12 languages for translation of food stamp information and material. In addition to the 4 languages already translated by the state (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Chinese), the state now will translate everything related to the food stamp program (and CalWORKs forms when they are combined-use forms with Food Stamps) into Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Farsi, Hmong, Korean, Lao, and Tagalog. A reminder that if the county’s automation can’t handle spitting out translated versions, to use a manual process to issue pre-printed paper ones. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACIN I-05-07: New In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Plus Waiver Program Regulations (2/23/07)
The “new” regs, effective 10/1/06, are attached to this ACIN. Basically, the IHSS Plus Waiver regulations replicate the “IHSS-R” Program regulations…except where they don’t. This ACIN lists the differences. Some variations in eligibility, program content, application process, needs assessment and overpayment process. Do IHSS? check out the details…. [Download]
ACL 07-11: Implementation Of Conlan II: Reimbursement Of Covered Services For IHSS Recipients (2/20/07)
The long-awaited-for notice and process for the submission and handling of claims for reimbursement for bills paid out of pocket by folks later found eligible for Medi-Cal, and who are IHSS recipients. CDSS is handling the IHSS claims. (DHS is doing the “straight” Medi-Cal — see All Plan Letter 07002.) The notice is set to be mailed to 11.5 million folks. Wow. [Download]
ACL 07-03: Federal Reauthorization Of TANF (1/12/07)
For the less welfare-nerdy (see ACL 07-05), a summary of the major changes to TANF in light of the federal Deficit Reduction Act and the federal Interim regulations, and California’s response to these changes. And yeah for our clients, this letter also clarifies that despite the changes that have been made to the TANF program at the federal level, the structure of CalWORKs welfare-to-work has not changed. CalWORKs continues to require counties to offer a broad range of employment and education activities, behavioral health services, and other activities necessary to help recipients achieve self-sufficiency. No point summarizing this. Anyone doing CalWORKs work needs to read and memorize this. Pop quiz tomorrow. [Download]
ACL 07-05: County TANF Work Participation Rate Data Reporting (1/17/07)
54 pages of instructions and definitions for counties to do data reporting for the feds. For Uber-welfare nerds who want a handy place for all the federal Welfare to Work defintions, rules on absences from assigned activities, documentation rules, and more. [Download]
ACL 07-02: Duties Of Adoption Service Providers In The Independent Adoptions Program (1/9/07)
Oh those pesky conflicts. This ACL clarifies that, for purposes of a prospective independent adoption, an Adoption Service Provider (ASP) may not both provide the advisement to the birth parent and the preplacement evaluation of the adoptive family. [Download]