California  Fostering  Connec0ons  to  Success  Act:  Housing  Op0ons  

THE  BASICS  

Goals  for  Extended  Foster  Care  • Help  youth  establish  lifelong  connec0ons  to  caring  adults  before  transi0oning  to  full  independence  •  Create  a  collabora0ve  youth-­‐centered  environment  • Work  proac0vely  with  youth  in  developing  and  reaching  their  independent  living  goals  •  Allow  youth  to  gain  real  life  experience  with  independence  and  allow  them  to  learn  from  their  mistakes  •  Provide  a  safety  net  for  the  most  vulnerable  youth  so  they  can  be  successful  as  independent  adults  •  Promotes  permanency  for  foster  youth  

Eligibility  Requirements  for  EFC  •  Extended  benefits  available  to  foster  youth  who:  •  Have  an  open  court  case  at  age  18  (i.e.  order  for  FC  placement)  •  Sa0sfy  one  par0cipa0on  requirement  •  Sign  a  mutual  agreement  •  Agree  to  meet  with  Social  Worker  •  Agree  to  work  on  transi0onal  independent  living  skills  •  Live  in  a  licensed  or  approved  seRng  •  Have  6  month  court  review  hearings  

Par0cipa0on  Requirements  • One  of  the  following  

1. Be  enrolled  in  high  school  or  equivalent  program    

2. Be  enrolled  in  college/voca0onal  school    

3. Work  at  least  80  hours/month    

4. Par0cipate  in  a  program/ac0vity  that  helps  you  find  a  job  or  removes  barriers  to  employment  

5. Be  unable  to  do  one  of  the  above  because  of  a  medical  or  mental  health  condi0on  

Youth  in  Delinquency  •  Youth  involved  in  the  delinquency  system  can  par0cipate  in  extended  foster  care  under  3  circumstances:  

1.  Proba0on  youth  (wards)  over  18  who  are  under  the  jurisdic0on  of  the  delinquency  court  with  an  order  for  foster  care  placement  on  his/her  18th  birthday  –  OR    

2.  Proba0on  youth  (wards)  over  17  years,  5  months    who  transferred  to  “transi0on  jurisdic0on”  and  is  under  transi0on  jurisdic0on  on  his/her  18th  birthday  –  OR    

3.  Proba0on  youth  who  was  transferred  to  dependency  system  prior  to  age  18  and  has  order  for  foster  care  placement  on  his/her  18th  birthday    

Youth  in  Guardianships  and  Adop0ons  • Non-­‐Related  Legal  Guardian  can  con3nue  to  receive  AFDC-­‐FC  benefits  un3l  the  youth  is  21  no  maAer  when  the  guardianship  was  established  •  Rela3ve  receiving  Kin-­‐GAP  can  con3nue  to  receive  un3l  youth  is  21  if  Kin-­‐GAP  payments  commenced  when  youth  was  age  16  or  older  OR  youth  has  verified  disability  •  Adop3ve  parents  can  con3nue  to  receive  AAP  un3l  the  youth  is  21  if  AAP  payments  commenced  when  youth  was  age  16  or  older  OR  youth  has  “mental  or  physical  handicap”  Sec0on  content  

PLACEMENT  OPTIONS  AND  FINANCIAL  BENEFITS  

Placement  Op0ons  •  Tradi3onal  placement  op3ons  s3ll  available  to  NMDs:  •  Foster  Home:  •  Approved  home  of  rela0ve  or  NREFM  •  Home  of  a  Nonrelated  Legal  Guardian  

•  Foster  Family  Home  •  Cer0fied  home  of  an  FFA  (includes  ITFC)  •  Group  Home  (with  limita0ons)  •  Small  Family  Home/Dual  Agency  Regional  Center  Homes  

•  Two  placement  op3ons  just  for  NMDs:  •  THP  +  Foster  Care  •  Supervised  Independent  Living  (SILP)  

THP+FC  and  SILPs  •  THP  +  Foster  Care  and  SILPs  are  only  available  to  Non-­‐Minor  Dependents  •  Youth  who  are  not  NMDs  and  thus  not  eligible  for  THP+FC  and  SILPs  are:  •  Non  minor  former  dependents  living  with  NRLG  •  Non  minor  former  dependents  living  with  rela0ves  and  receiving  Kin-­‐GAP  •  Non  minor  former  dependents  who  were  adopted  out  of  foster  care  and  are  receiving  AAP  

•  Any  youth  who  are  in  guardianships  established  in  probate  court  

Foster  Homes  •  Foster  Homes  include  placements  with:  •  Rela0ves*  (*note  –  a  rela0ve  must  be  federally  eligible  to  receive  foster  care  funding)  

•  Non-­‐Rela0ve  Legal  Guardians  •  Non  Rela0ve  Extended  Family  Members  

•  A  foster  family  home  needs  to  be  approved  by  the  child  welfare  agency  in  the  county  •  An  approved  home  is  eligible  for  basic  foster  care  benefits  of  $820/month*  •  Children  and  NMDs  who  are  eligible  for  foster  care  benefits  can  receive  dual  agency  rates,  specialized  care  increments,  and/or  wraparound  services  

Foster  Family  Home  •  A  foster  parent  must  have  a  license  issued  by  the  Department  of  Social  Services  to  operate  a  foster  home  •  Eligible  for  basic  foster  care  rate  between  $640-­‐820  •  Children  and  NMDs  can  receive  specialized  care  increments  

 

Foster  Family  Agency  •  Cer0fied  home  of  a  Foster  Family  Agency  includes  Intensive  Treatment  Foster  Care  (ITFC)  •  County  placement  agencies  use  two  types  of  FFAs:  •  “treatment  foster  care  or  therapeu0c  foster  care”  •  “non-­‐treatment  foster  care”  

•  The  foster  care  rate  varies  by  age  group,  purposes,  and  types  of  services  of  the  FFAs  

•  The  range  of  foster  care  benefits  paid  to  the  FFA  is:  •  Non-­‐Treatment:  $640-­‐820  •  Treatment:  $1697-­‐1956  •  ITFC:  $4034-­‐5581  

Group  Home  •  A  group  home  is  intended  for  foster  children  with  significant  emo0onal  and/or  behavioral  problems  who  require  more  restric0ve  environments  •  Youth  may  only  remain  in  group  home  if  under  age  19  AND  con0nuing  in  group  home  is  in  NMDs  best  interest  in  order  to  complete  high  school  or  equivalent,  OR,  if  there  is  a  mental  health  or  medical  condi0on  • Decision  on  group  home  placement  is  to  be  a  youth-­‐driven,  team-­‐based  case  planning  process  

Group  Home  Con0nued  • Once  NMD  completes  high  school  or  GED  or  turns  19,  whichever  is  first,  con0nuing  in  a  group  home  is  prohibited  UNLESS  •  NMD  has  a  medical  or  mental  health  condi0on  (par0cipa0on  condi0on  #5)  and  con0nuing  in  a  group  home  func0ons  as  a  short-­‐term  placement  

•  The  rate  paid  to  the  group  home  is  between  $2223-­‐9419  

Just  for  NMDs  •  Two  placements  for  NMDs  (rates  as  of  July  1,  2012)  •  THP  +  FC  new  rates  are:  •  $2,797  per  youth  per  month  for  single  and  scamered  sites  •  $2,225  per  youth  per  month  for  host  family  

•  Supervised  Independent  Living  Placement  (SILP):  •  Limited  to  the  basic  foster  family  home  rate  of  $820  •  No  specialized  care  •  Possibly  CalFRESH  •  SILP  rate  will  go  up  each  July  1  with  basic  FFH  rate  

Transi0onal  Housing  •  There  are  3  types  of  transi0onal  housing  placements  for  foster  youth  and  emancipated  foster  youth:  •  THPP  for  minor  dependents  16-­‐17  •  THP  +  Foster  Care  for  NMDs  18-­‐21  •  THP-­‐Plus  (regular,  not  foster  care)  for  emancipated  foster  youth  18-­‐24  who  are  either  not  par0cipa0ng  in  EFC  or  are  over  age  21  

SILP  Overview  •  Supervised  Independent  Living  Placement  (SILP)  seRngs  may  include  but  are  not  limited  to:  •  Apartment  living  •  Ren0ng  a  room  (including  with  a  rela3ve)  •  Shared  roommate  seRngs  •  Dorms  •  Living  situa0ons  with  adult  siblings,  appropriate  extended  family  members,  tribal  members,  NREFM  or  mentors  should  be  explored  

SILP  Monthly  Benefit  •  Limited  to  basic  rate  ($820/month)  • NMDs  can  receive  the  foster  care  benefit  directly  •  Clothing  allowance  available  •  Paren0ng  NMDs  receive  the  infant  supplement  ($411/month)  •  Specialized  care  increment  not  available    

SILP  Approval  Process  

Youth  iden0fies  place  to  live  

Requests  SILP  

approval  

Readi-­‐ness  

assess-­‐ment  

Site  Inspe-­‐c0on  

Readiness  Assessment  •  Required  for  all  NMDs  in  SILPs  except  those  in  student  approved  housing/dormitories  

 • NMD  &  SW/PO  should  work  together  to  assess  readiness    •  Some  SILP  types  require  more  independence  than  others    

Readiness  Assessment:  Purpose  and  Components  

•  can  afford  iden0fied  housing  •  has  stable  income  

To  assess  whether  NMD  has  a  feasible  financial  plan  

•  e.g  budge0ng,  managing  money  To  assess  whether  NMD  has  knowledge  of  financial  skills  

•  e.g  grocery  shopping,  preparing  meals,  self  care,  paying  bills,  transporta0on,  etc.    

To  assess  whether  NMD  is  developmentally  ready  to  handle  daily  tasks  on  their  

own  

•  e.g.  waking  up  in  0me  for  work  or  school,  stress/anger  management,  decision-­‐making  

To  assess  whether  NMD  has  the  ability  to  handle  

independence  

Help  With  Budge0ng  • Helpful  tools  for  NMDs  who  express  need  for  assistance  with  preparing  for  his/her  budget  for  readiness  assessment:  •  Budge0ng  tool  included  in  Young  Adult’s  Guide  to  Housing  •  Online  budget  tool:  hmp://www.californiarealitycheck.com/  •  Select  op0on  1:  Reality  Check  •  Tool  is  great  for  MNDs  to  explore  housing  costs  in  their  country  

Readiness  Assessment  Denials  

•  Rent  &  u0li0es  exceed  income  

• Unstable  income  • No  knowledge  of  how  to  manage  money  

• Unable  to  care  for  self  without    assistance  due  to  a  medical  or  mental  health  condi0on  (as  cited  in  ACL  11-­‐77)  

Examples  of  

reasons  for  

denial:  

Finding  and  Maintaining  Housing  •  Foster  Youth’s  Guide  to  Housing  can  be  found  at:  

http://www.cacollegepathways.org/college-housing-options-foster-youth

• Guidebook  provides  resources  and  direc0on  on:  

Ø  Budge0ng  Ø  Searching  for  housing  Ø  Applying  for  housing  Ø  GeRng  established  Ø  Maintaining  housing  

Approving  a  SILP  (SOC  157A)  •  Two  step  process  to  approve  a  SILP  •  Assess  NMD’s  “readiness”  to  live  in  a  SILP  –  taking  into  account  the  par0cular  placement  at  issue  

•  Health  and  safety  inspec0on  of  the  physical  space    •  NOTE:  this  is  not  required  for  NMD  living  in  a  dorm  or  other  college  housing  

Placement  for  Re-­‐Entering  NMDs  •  Placement  in  a  licensed  foster  home  where  minors  reside  is  allowed  •  Pre-­‐placement  appraisal  conducted  •  County  may  elect  background  check  for  NMDs  placed  in  homes  with  minors  •  Placing  agency  has  discre0on  to  place  prior  to  receipt  of  results  based  on  results  of  appraisal  •  Criminal  record  does  not  disqualify  them  from  re-­‐entry  

Differences  in  Housing  MNDs  New  licensing  standards  reflect  status  as  adult  

Control  over  cash  and  property  

Right  to  own  a  car  

Control  over  health  care  decisions  

If  Internet  access  in  home,  it  must  be  made  available  to  youth  

Allowed  to  be  les  at  home  unsupervised  overnight  

Access  to  items  needed  for  cooking  and  cleaning  

Fingerprin0ng  of  NMDs  •  Licensing  rule:  no  fingerprin0ng  required  for  NMDs  •  Coun0es  can  use  fingerprin0ng:  •  Youth  remaining  in  care  in  the  same  placement  amaining  age  18  –  no  fingerprints  

•  Youth  who  exit  and  re-­‐enter  –  they  may  be  fingerprinted  only  for  the  purpose  of  assessing  the  safety  and  appropriateness  of  placement  in  a  facility  that  has  minors  

 

No0fica0on  of  Whereabouts  •  If  NMD  wants  to  go  away  over  night:  •  The  licensed  FFA/FFH  and  Group  Home  staff  shall  report  to  NMDs  case  manager  any  prolonged  absence  or  failure  to  return  of  NMD  las0ng  more  than  72  hours  “that  involves  the  NMD  and  threatens  the  physical  or  emo0onal  health  or  safety  of  the  NMD”  

•  If  the  caregiver  wants  to  go  away  over  night:  •  Caregiver  permimed  to  leave  NMD  in  the  home  alone,  including  overnight  (up  to  72  hours  with  no  no0ce  to  the  case  manager)  

•  If  longer  than  72  hours,  caregiver  shall  provide  wrimen  or  verbal  no0fica0on  to  the  case  manager  and  get  prior  approval  

NMD’s  Personal  Rights  •  Examples  of  personal  rights  that  apply  to  a  NMD:  •  Acquire,  possess  and  maintain  vehicle  •  Select,  obtain  and  store  own  food  •  Adequate  privacy  for  visitors  •  To  be  informed  by  caregiver  of  laws  regarding  complaints  and  confiden0ality  of  complaints  

•  Send/receive  unopened  mail  •  Acquire,  possess  and  maintain  landline  or  cell  phone  •  Leave  or  depart  the  home  at  any  0me  at  NMD’s  discre0on  •  To  be  free  from  unreasonable  searches  of  personal  belongings  

•  Caregiver/Provider  shall  ensure  NMD  is  verbally  informed  of  these  rights  at  0me  of  placement  and  provided  wrimen  informa0on  regarding  agencies  NMD  can  contact  if  rights  are  violated  

Shared  Living  Agreement  (SLA)  •  SLA  is  a  basis  for  a  wrimen  understanding  between  the  NMD  and  caregiver/roommate  and  is  recommended  for  when  the  youth  enters  EFC  •  Should  be  broad  in  scope,  covering  aspects  of  shared  daily  living  

 

•  Each  SLA  should  be  individualized,  reflec0ng  specific  values,  concerns  and  personali0es  of  all  par0es  

 

•  Should  support  NMD’s  con0nued  transi0on  into  adulthood    

•  Renego0ated  and  updated  as  needed  and  appropriate    

Shared  Living  Agreement  (SLA)  •  Examples  of  what  to  include  in  SLAs:  •  Mentoring/Skills/Interests  •  Household  agreements  and  customs  •  Health  and  safety  concerns  •  Household  chores  and  responsibili0es  •  Amendance  and  performance  at  school  or  work  •  Financial  (allowances  or  personal  spending)  •  Drugs  and  alcohol  •  Conflict  resolu0on  •  Curfews  •  Guests    

Re-­‐Entry:  Extended  Foster  Care  •  Re-­‐enter  unlimited  5mes  if  under  the  statutory  age  limits  •  Re-­‐entry  is  intended  to  be  accessible  and  easy  • NMD  is  eligible  for  benefits  again  as  of  the  date  that  the  Voluntary  Re-­‐entry  Agreement  is  signed  and  the  NMD  is  placed  in  an  eligible  facility  •  Link  to  re-­‐entry  contact  in  each  county:  •  Dependency:  hmp://cwda/org/downloads/tools/cws/cwda_ab_12_re-­‐entry_contact_list_04_24_12.pdf  

•  Proba3on:  htpp://www.cpoc.org/php/Placement/placementroster/php  

QUESTIONS?