Updates to last year’s instructions for certifying to system utilization of the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) in order to secure the funding augmentation. The funds are for Emergency Response, Family Maintenance, Family Reunification, and Permanent Placement services. Counties must meet two criteria: fully expend all budgeted CWS Basic GF allocations and certify that they are fully utilizing CWS/CMS. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
foster care | kin-gap
ACL 08-57E: Relative/Nonrelative Extended Family Member (NREFM) Approvals – Revised SOC 815 Form (11/25/08)
The Errata (to a letter that didn’t get posted) on the new form used in assessing and approving relative and NREFM caregivers. The form was modified to comply with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. [Download]
Emergency Regulation Packets
The following packets are being sent (in the next 6 business days) to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). As emergency regulations, they are effective January 1, 2009. They are also open for public comment:
1. Senate Bill (SB) 39 Regulations for the Reporting and Disclosure Requirements of Child Abuse and/or Neglect Fatalities. Comments due March 18th, 2009.
2. Asset Exclusion Changes and EITC Outreach in CalWORKs Program. Comments due February 11, 2009.
ACL 08-54: Instructions Regarding The Supplement To The Rate Paid On Behalf Of A Dual Agency Child (12/1/08)
This ACL provides instructions and a form for determining eligibility for, and the appropriate level of the supplement to, the regular “dual-agency” rate. The supplement is based on “extraordinary care and supervision needs”. (A dual agency child is a child receiving Foster Care or Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) benefits and who is concurrently a consumer of California regional center services due to a developmental disability, and/or a child receiving services under the California Early Start Intervention Services Act.) The children must be three years of age and older to be eligible for the supplement; counties have sole discretion to determine a supplement, which cannot exceed $1,000 per month. The ACL also has a Q & A section, and reviews the use of the “Supplement to the Rate Eligibility Form (SOC 836).” [Download]
ACIN I-76-08: Publication Of Social Security Income Pamphlets (11/7/08)
Assembly Bill 1633 required CDSS to convene a workgroup to develop Best Practice Guidelines to assist foster children to receive all RSDI or SSI/SSP benefits to which they are entitled. One best practice was to develop brochures to inform parents and youth about the SSI/SSP program. The brochures are now available online, with the addresses in link form in the ACIN. [Download]
ACIN I-82-08: Outcome Indicator On Health And Dental Assessments (10/8/08)
Information to help counties meet Child Welfare Services (CWS) program documentation, data reporting and program performance measurement requirements. The notice discusses a new measure for Health and Dental Assessments (the percent of children who meet the periodicity schedule for medical and dental assessments), required by the Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program. [Download]