Effective 1/07, a statutory modification provides temporary placement of a foster child on an emergency basis when the current foster caregiver suddenly becomes unavailable to continue providing care. The new provisions uses the same requirements as for emergency placements when the child is initially taken into protective custody. Immediately following the emergency placement of a child with a relative/NREFM, the county child welfare agency shall evaluate and approve or deny the home for purposes of AFDC–FC eligibility.

Once the emergency is resolved, the county must determine whether the child will remain with the relative/NREFM or be returned to placement with the original caregiver. [Download]

A clarification that the requirement to repay the federal government as soon as a county discovers an overpayment means after provision of due process to the recipient. Comes with an attachment of various strategies. [Download]

Senate Bill 1641 requires a Foster Care placement agency to ensure, “to the fullest extent possible,” the placement best meets the day-to-day needs of the child by assessing which type of placement (relative, family home, group) meets the health, safety, and well-being needs of the child, in the least restrictive most family-like environment, and in which the child is permitted to engage in reasonable, age-appropriate day-to-day activities. And just in case reason leaves us, the bill requires foster caregivers to use a “prudent parent standard” to determine day-to-day activities that are age-appropriate, and specify that they are not allowed to permit the child to engage in day-to-day activities that carry an unreasonable risk of harm or subject the child to abuse or neglect. [Download]

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]

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]

Oops. ACL 07-13E had a tiny error. Like what the eligibility requirement is for the program!  It erroneously stated that to be eligible youth needed to be 12 continuous months with a legal guardian. Turns out the CORRECT statement is that the youth 1) have lived with a relative 12 continuous months; 2) have a kinship guardian appointed by the juvenile court; 3) have the juvenile court case dismissed. Also a reminder that though the letter was about probation youth, the regular Kinship rules re: dependents is unaffected…. [Download]