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Question of the Week
Q: I understand that youth who meet the eligibility requirements for both extended foster care and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) may be eligible to receive both at the same time, but that there are offsetting rules.
However, what about for former foster youth participating in THP-Plus? Are there offsetting rules, or can those youth receive their full SSI/SSDI payment regardless of THP-Plus participation? For the answer, follow this LINK.
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State Issues Policy Guidance: Ensuring Mental Health Services for Out-of-County Youth
California’s Health and Human Services Agency issued joint communication from the Department of Social Services and the Department of Health Care Services to counties and providers regarding presumptive transfer for foster children placed outside of their county of origin, which serves as policy guidance until regulations are adopted.
Assembly Bill 1299 (Ridley-Thomas), was enacted in 2016 establishing a prompt transfer of the responsibility for the provision of, or arranging and payment for Specialty Mental Health Services from the county of original jurisdiction to the county in which the foster child resides, consistent with Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) requirements.
The All County Letter (ACL) and Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services (MHSUDS) Information Notice (IN) discuss the role of the Child and Family Team; the requirements for presumptive transfer, including assessment and waiver conditions; how and when to inform the necessary individuals about presumptive transfer; conditions and exceptions to the conditions of presumptive transfer; and the procedural steps. For more information, download the ACL and IN.
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Issue Brief Finds Biggest Effect of Extended Foster Care: Enrollment in College
As part of the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood (CalYOUTH) Study, Professor Mark Courtney and his colleagues at the University of Chicago have issued a policy brief exploring the relationship between extended foster care and selected outcomes for youth transitioning to adulthood from care in California. The analysis measures the impact of remaining in foster care past age 18 on seven outcomes: secondary education, post-secondary education, assets, economic hardship, homelessness, receipt of public assistance and criminal justice involvement.
The study finds that for every outcome, remaining in care longer is associated with better outcomes. The most powerful outcome was enrollment in college: an additional year in foster care almost triples (2.8 times) the likelihood that a youth will be enrolled in college. Additionally, an extra year past age 18 more than doubles the likelihood that a youth will have financial assets, and reduces the likelihood that the youth will experience an economic hardship, become homelessness or become involved with the criminal justice system by half or more. To read the policy brief, follow this LINK.
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Governor Signs Bill Requiring Voter Registration Materials to the 8,573 NMDs in California
Governor Brown has signed Senate Bill 332 (Stern), which requires voter registration materials to be provided to foster youth ages 18 to 21 in California, of which there are currently 8,573. The bill also authorizes a county social worker to provide a voter registration form to a child 16 years of age or older (in California, 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote), and to non-minor dependents.
The bill requires that the voter information be provided on a flyer for the Independent Living Program (ILP), added to each county’s ILP website and to the website of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson, and added to three existing forms completed by NMDs and their case workers in Extended Foster Care: The Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP), the Mutual Agreement (SOC 162) and the Voluntary Re-Entry Agreement (SOC 163). For more information, read the bill text.
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Study Finds Nearly Half of Medicaid Births to Young Mothers Have Child Welfare History
PolicyLab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia released a research brief, “Health Status of Young Adult Mothers with a History of Child Welfare Involvement.” Based on a sample of 16,000 mother-infant pairs in a large Mid-Atlantic city, researchers found that for every 100 Medicaid-financed births by mothers aged 15-24, nearly half (43) of the mothers are known to the child welfare system.
Mental health conditions were common among mothers with a history of child welfare involvement (37%). Additionally, mothers with the highest intensity of past child welfare involvement (i.e. dependent placements and/or juvenile justice involvement) were most likely to carry diagnoses of mental illness – one in were three diagnosed with substance use, one in four with depression and one in five with conduct disorder.
Treatment continuity in the postpartum period was very low for both physical and mental health conditions. Less than half (44%) of all mothers receiving medication treatment for a chronic condition in the preconception period received this medication in the postpartum year. To read the brief, follow this LINK.
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Web Seminar to Explore Best Practices for Child and Family Teams
Child and family teams (CFTs) are at the center of implementation of the Continuum of Care Reform in California. But what makes them different than traditional interdisciplinary teams and how can they be used to provide the support children and families really need?
This question and more will be addressed on a web seminar on Wednesday, August 23 at 10:00 a.m. organized by Alliance for Children’s Rights. Panelists will discuss what is required in the formation and facilitation of CFTs and how to ensure that CFTs are a key support system for children, youth and families. To register, follow this LINK.
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