This ACL notifies counties of the requirements of Public Law 110-351. PL 110-351 amended Title IV-E of the Social Security Act to require that case plans for children and youth in foster care include specified assurances for educational placement stability, and provides for the cost of reasonable travel for the child to remain in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement as an allowable foster care maintenance cost. [Download]

Transmits the final regulations on how to report and disclosure of information related to cases of child abuse and/or neglect that result in fatalities. These are modified from the 1/08 emergency regulations. [Download]

Information about the new Federal requirement to have plans for “aging out” Foster Children. The plan is due 90 days prior to the age out date, and must include: housing, education, health insurance, mentors/continuing support services and workforce support/employment services. [Download]

Errata to ACL 09-85…The preliminary injunction also impacts Wraparound rates. Wraparound rates are based on the group home Rate Classification Levels, and so are also affected. The Errata lists the rates that should be restored. [Download]

Information on the impact of Senate Bill (SB) 597, which modified the budget trailer bill provisions of AB X4, 4. AB X4 required a 10% reduction in the program rates for Foster Family Agencies (FFAs). Subsequently, SB 597 allowed FFAs the flexibility in how they apply the 10% rate reduction to their social work and administration, and provided that no more than 10% shall be deducted from the child base and increment. This letter provides a chart to reflect those rates.

However, nothing precludes FFAs from providing a payment to the certified parents in excess of the basic rate and child increment. The letter also provides a schedule with the FFA rates and components for FFAs providing treatment programs, and other information about these rates. It also includes a discussion of the rates for group homes, which are impacted by an injunction in California Alliance of Children and Family Services, which prohibited further reduction of the group rates. [Download]

Info on the new data entry requirements for the Child Welfare Services/Case Management system. Effective 10/1/10, systems must document all ILP type services provided to foster youth and former foster youth, including those supervised by probation. Notice of 5% penalties for noncompliance with the requirements. As it gets closer to NYTD implementation, CDSS will release an ACL detailing information on training, data collection for aftercare and probation and other implementation concerns. Counties are encouraged to email questions, so the state can work on them. [Download]