foster care | kin-gap

ACWDL 12-3: Six New Aid Codes To Identify Assembly Bill 12 Non-Minor Dependents in the Foster Care, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, CalWORKs, and Adoption Assistance Program

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More Medi-Cal aid codes! These new codes will identify dependents age 18 through 21, who qualify for the current Foster Care (FC), Kin-GAP, CalWORKs, and Adoptions Assistance Program (AAP), who meet certain criteria under AB 12 to continue to receive extended benefits starting January 1, 2012.

Effective April 1, 2012, counties must begin using  the new aid codes (43, 49, 07, 4N, 4S, and 4W). Until then, counties must perform a MEDS transaction maintain eligibility for these beneficiaries. Download

ACL 11-21: Transitional Housing Placement And The Impact Of California Alliance Of Child And Family Services v. Allenby (3/10/11)

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The Court ordered California to adjust group home rates to reflect the California Necessities Index. The lawsuit did not directly impact the rates of the Transitional Housing Programs. However, state statute sets rates for the THPP and THP-Plus Programs based on a county’s average foster care expenditure for foster youth 16 to 18 years of age, in group home placements. These could be impacted by the court-ordered increases in RCL rates. This impact would need to be independently evaluated. [Download]

ACL 11-18: Monthly Caseworker Visits With Children Forms And Documentation For Probation Officers (2/11/11)

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Just clarifying ACL 10-19, which set forth the new federal requirements and reporting instructions in compliance with the Child and Family Services Improvement Act (the Act) of 2006. This ACL is to notify that both county child welfare departments and county probation departments are required to comply with mandates associated with the visitation and documentation of monthly caseworker visits. [Download] 

ACIN I-09-11: New CDSS Website For Child Fatality And Near Fatality Disclosure And Reporting Requirements And Information (2/8/11)

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Transparency, here we come! Online access is now available for information regarding California’s child fatality and near fatality reporting requirements (resulting from abuse and/or neglect). In addition, a link to the Statement of Findings and Information (SOC 826) is included. Providing this online information will “serve as a valuable resource to educate the public regarding California’s reporting requirements and disclosure laws” and improve transparency. [Download]

ACL 11-10: New Federal Policy Guidelines Relating To The Foster Care Program And Redeterminations (1/28/11)

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Effective July 9, 2010 (yeah, last year), annual redeterminations of AFDC of deprivation, is no longer required after the initial linkage determination has been made. A new review process is effective January 1, 2011, and applies to both federal and state foster care cases. Counties shall continue to assess the child and provider circumstances that impact eligibility with the existing forms, annually. [Download]

ACL 11-15: New Kin-Gap Program Requirements (1/31/11)

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Effective January 1, 2011,the Kin-Gap program is enhanced. New improvements include:

  • Federal Financial Participation (FFP) for foster children placed with an approved relative guardian who are Title IV-E eligible, and providing for a parallel state funded Kin-GAP Program for foster children placed with an approved relative who are not Title IV-E eligible;
  • Reducing the length of time that a court-dependent child must reside in the approved home of the prospective relative guardian while under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court or a voluntary placement agreement from 12 to 6 consecutive months;
  • Continued eligibility for Kin-GAP regardless of the state of residence
    of the relative guardian and child;
  • Requiring the county child welfare agency, probation department, or Title IV-E agreement tribe to enter into a binding written agreement with the relative guardian;
  • Allowing the above entities and the relative guardian to renegotiate the payment amount based on the changing needs of the child and the circumstances of the relative;
  • Allowing entry into the Kin-GAP Program under a voluntary placement agreement with an approved relative that resulted in a guardianship being established in juvenile court under W&IC section 360; and
  • Extending Kin-GAP benefits to age 21 for a youth who has a physical or mental disability that warrants the continuation of assistance.

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