ACL 11-09: Independent Living Program (ILP) For Non-Related Guardianships (1/19/11)

SB 654, added W&IC section 10609.45, effective January 1, 2011. The statute now provides for new ILP eligibility requirements for former dependent children that entered into a non-related legal guardianship on or after the age of eight, who are getting permanent placement services. The law also includes youth in counties operating under the Title IV-E Waiver Capped Allocation Demonstration Project who are placed with a non-related legal guardian, even if they are not receiving permanent placement services.  Counties are to use state funds to provide ILP services to youth placed with non-related legal guardians between the ages of 8 and 15 years old. These youth are eligible for federally funded ILP services at ages 18-21 as “former foster youth,” and if they were dependents getting foster care at age 16. [Download]

ACL 11-04: CalWORKs Family Reunification Services – Q & A (1/27/11)

After a CPS removal of children from the home, the parents can continue to get CalWORKs WTW services as part of a Family Reunification (FR) plan, for up to 180 days (with good cause extensions). This letter transmits a series of questions and answers initiated by counties regarding FR services. Parents on sanction or penalty (WTW, school attendance, immunization, etc.) can also be required to have an FR plan, but not those ineligible for CalWORKs (e.g. SSI, timed out, barred  nonviolent (drug) felons, etc.)  Parents in a voluntary placement can have a voluntary FR plan. Cases that are closed for “no eligible child” can be reopened, without reapplication, as a CalWORKs FR case. Families which have children remaining in the home are not FR cases (as all children must be gone). [Download]

ACIN I-05-11: Father Engagement Strategies (1/11/11)

Info on CDSS strategies for “Father engagement,” specifically within the child welfare system. Targeted  inclusion of fathers, from prevention and early intervention, through assessment and planning, to the provision of services, to help strengthen families. DSS did a study is called “Supporting Father Involvement” (SFI), and is now disseminating the SFI results, and supporting the design and implementation of plans to assist public child welfare agencies with enhancing their efforts to involve fathers.  [Download]

ACL 10-66: Moratorium On The Acceptance And Processing Of Group Home Rates Applications (12/24/10)

Notice to “all interested parties” as well as counties that starting October 19, 2010, there is a 12-month moratorium on applications for Foster Care group home rate applications for any of the following: a new program; a new provider; a program change, such as a rate classification level increase; a program capacity increase; and a program reinstatement.  CDSS may grant an exception to the moratorium on a case-by-case basis.  [Download]