Lots of county info, but noted here because you may want to see if your county is applying to participate in these helpful programs. The goal of both programs is to foster children about to age out, and former foster children with safe living environments while helping them learn and practice life skills in order to achieve self-sufficiency. Counties electing to participate in the programs provide supervised independent living housing and support services. The letter of intent is due 10/15! [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
FY 2008 HUD FMRs available
HUD has posted the Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for FY 2008, which took effect October 1, 2007. The FMRs are determined for each metropolitan area and non-metropolitan county and are used to determine the respective payment standard amounts under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, and rents under certain other HUD programs.
ACIN I-54-07: Paid Family Leave (PFL) Program, For IHSS Providers (10/2/07)
Although IHSS providers have been paying for the PFL program since January 2004, the state is just now explaining the program to counties. The PFL program is an enhancement to the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program, providing partial wage replacement for up to six weeks in a 12-month period when the provider takes time off work to care for parents, children, spouses, and registered domestic partners or to bond with a new minor child. This program provides protection against wage loss only, it does not protect the individual’s job. EDD administers the PFL program. Per the ACIN, EDD must answer all questions and provide claim forms. Although counties can provide EDD-supplied posters, pamphlets, and other materials to educate providers the PFL, if an IHSS provider asks the county for a claim form, the county is to tell them to contact EDD. [Download]
Food Stamps public comment on proposed regulations
There are two Food Stamps regulation packets up for comment. The packets are: Restaurant Meals for the Homeless, Elderly and Disabled and Food Stamp Program Recertification Simplification and Statewide Finger Imaging System Exemptions. Comments are due November 14, 2007.
Errata to ACL 07-09: Correction Implementation Of Assembly Bill 1633 (9/11/07)
This corrects the error in ACL 07-09, which said that 18 year old foster youths could participate in a GED program less than full time basis and still meet Aid Foster Care requirements. Wrongo. The youth MUST be in the GED program full time. The County Welfare Department (CWD) is to verify only full time attendance. Full-time enrollment is defined by the school or program. It is not the duty or function of the CWD to check on the school’s or program’s standards or definitions in this area. [Download]
ACL 07-33: Foster Youth Proof Of Wardship Documentation (9/21/07)
Two years later, CDSS realized the need for revised instructions the verification document given to youth upon emancipating from foster care to eliminate delays in the processing of the application for Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) and financial aid. Turns out that the prior ACL 05-32, which provided the original instructions, used “dependency” and “wardship” in a way different from the financial aid programs. This ACL includes acceptable language of “proof of wardship.”
Students who check the status of their Chafee ETV award at the Chafee WebGrants for Students website, who see in red “Department of Social Services Record,’ need foster care verification. Students can submit either the proof of wardship, or their Independent Living Plan. Although previously, students and county social workers were informed that the ILP Eligibility Certification Form was no longer required to verify the foster care eligibility for the Chafee ETV Program, when a “proof of wardship” is not available, the Eligibility Certification Form will be necessary. Youth who are/were in legal guardianship or the KinGAP are ineligible for the Chafee grant unless in a foster care placement at any time between the ages of 16-18. Each county should identify a point person who can assist in foster care eligibility verification for the purpose of the Chafee program. [Download]