Caring for a foster child is a rewarding yet financially demanding journey. Understanding the available Funding For Foster Care Programs is crucial for resource families to provide the best possible support and nurturing environment for children in need. This guide breaks down the various funding avenues available, ensuring you are well-informed and equipped to access the financial assistance you are entitled to.
Initial Support: Emergency Caregiver Funding
If you’re providing immediate care for a child through an emergency placement, you’re eligible for emergency caregiver funding. This initial support is set at the basic foster care rate, which was $1,037 per child per month as of July 1, 2020. This funding typically continues until you complete the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process.
Prompt submission of your RFA application is essential. Crucially, emergency funding will not commence until your signed RFA application is received. This funding is retroactive, meaning you will receive payment in the month following the month you provided care. For instance, if a child is placed in your care in April, you will receive the emergency caregiver funding for April in May.
Funding Upon Approval: Approved Resource Family Support
Once you achieve full approval as a resource family and a child is placed in your care, you will continue to receive financial support. The basic foster care funding rate for approved resource families is also $1,037 per child per month. This rate is subject to slight increases each July to align with the cost of living.
Similar to emergency funding, approved resource family funding operates on a retroactive basis. Payments are issued in the month following the month of care. This consistent financial support is designed to assist with the ongoing needs of the foster child in your home.
Tailored Support: Level of Care (LOC) Funding
Beginning April 1, 2021, a Level of Care (LOC) assessment became a standard practice for all home-based foster care placements, irrespective of the placement date. This assessment is vital as it determines the monthly funding rate based on the specific care and supervision required by each child. The LOC assessment considers various domains, including Physical, Behavioral/Emotional, Educational, and Health needs. The LOC rates range from $1,037 to $1,387, reflecting the diverse needs of children in foster care.
If you have concerns about the LOC assessment conducted by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for a child in your care, it’s recommended to discuss these concerns with your assigned county worker. This discussion can help determine if a redetermination request is necessary. For detailed information on the appeals process, you can refer to the Notice of Action (NA403.pdf).
For a deeper understanding of the LOC process, resources are available. You can watch an informative video (or a Spanish version) or consult the Frequently Asked Questions document (and Spanish FAQ). For general inquiries about the LOC process, you can email [email protected].
Enhanced Funding Opportunities: Additional Support Programs
Beyond the Level of Care rate, several additional funding sources can significantly increase the financial support available to foster families, particularly those caring for children with specific needs.
Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC) Funding
Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC) is designed for families who are specially trained and licensed through contracted Foster Family Agencies (FFAs) to care for children and young adults with intensive medical, therapeutic, or behavioral needs. ISFC aims to provide a family home environment for children with high needs, preventing placement in more restrictive settings. ISFC families receive substantial monthly financial support, amounting to $2,706 per month for each eligible child.
To access ISFC funding, families must be licensed through an ISFC FFA. Existing Resource Family Homes can often transfer their license to an ISFC FFA. In certain situations, ISFC funding may be granted even before ISFC training is fully completed. Eligibility for ISFC funding hinges on the child’s need for specialized programs addressing specific challenges. If you believe a child in your care qualifies for ISFC and are denied, you have the right to request a reassessment or an administrative fair hearing. Qualifying needs can include:
-
History of violent offenses or significant property damage
-
History of sex offenses or commercial sexual exploitation
-
Aggressive and assaultive behaviors or animal cruelty
-
History of eating disorders or fire setting
-
Life-threatening illnesses
-
Gang involvement or habitual truancy
-
Psychiatric hospitalizations or runaway behavior
-
Severe mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts or self-harm
-
Substance use/abuse
-
Three or more placement changes due to behavioral issues
-
A score of 7 or higher on the Level of Care protocol in either the health or behavioral/emotional domain
Specialized Care Increments (SCIs)
For children who may not meet the criteria for ISFC but still have special needs, Specialized Care Increments (SCIs) offer additional county-level funding. SCIs are designed to support families caring for children with special medical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional needs. Every child undergoing an LOC rate determination is also assessed for SCI eligibility.
Caregivers receiving SCI funding are required to complete a specialized Foster and Kinship Care Education curriculum, available through the community college system. This includes an initial 12-hour course plus 4 hours of specialized training tailored to the foster child’s individual needs, totaling 16 hours. Annual renewal of SCI requires an additional 6 hours of specialized training, which can be obtained through the community college system or online Foster Parent College.
For more details, refer to the Specialized Care Increment Flyer (and Spanish Flyer).
Dual Agency Rates
Children in foster care who are also clients of a Regional Center are entitled to a “dual agency rate” payment, even if they are not currently receiving direct Regional Center services. Eligibility hinges on the child being deemed eligible for Regional Center services, which support individuals with developmental delays or disabilities such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. If you care for a child with such conditions, request a Dual Agency Rate assessment from your county worker.
As of July 1, 2020, the dual agency rate for children eligible for lifetime Regional Center services is $2,714 per month, potentially reaching $3,714 depending on the child’s self-care level and other factors. For children under 3 qualifying for early intervention due to developmental delays, the rate is determined by the Level of Care (LOC) unit. If you are unsure about the correct rate or need a re-evaluation, contact your county worker to initiate an assessment.
Infant Supplement
Resource Families may receive an infant supplement when a foster youth placed with them gives birth. This $900 monthly supplement helps cover the extra costs of infant care, including food, clothing, and shelter. It is paid in addition to the basic rate for the foster youth parent. In Los Angeles County, a $440 supplement is available during the last three months of pregnancy to prepare for the baby. Foster parents caring for their own biological grandchildren who are also in foster care can also qualify. It’s important to note that either the Resource Family or the foster youth parent can receive the supplement, but not both. Further information is available on Teen Parenting.
Educational Travel Reimbursement
Financial assistance is available for transporting a foster child to their “school of origin”—typically the school they attended before entering foster care—if it is more than three miles from your home. This “educational travel reimbursement” or “school of origin funding” supports maintaining educational stability and continuity. Additional transportation support may also be available. More details are available on Foster Youth Education.
Support for Relative Caregivers
Relative caregivers and non-related extended family members are eligible for all the funding opportunities mentioned above, along with specific programs tailored to their unique circumstances.
Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) Program
The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment program (Kin-GAP) supports children permanently placed with a relative legal guardian after their dependency case is closed. Kin-GAP is not automatic and requires court approval based on the recommendation of the county social worker or probation officer, ensuring it is in the child’s best interest. Participation in Kin-GAP is voluntary for relative caregivers. For more information, contact the Resource Family Hotline at 1 (800) 697-4444. Learn more about the Kin-GAP Program.
Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Program
The Approved Relative Caregiver program (ARC) provides cash aid to relative caregivers of children ineligible for federal Foster Care benefits (Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care or AFDC-FC). Eligible caregivers can receive ARC payments equal to the current foster care rate. To determine ARC eligibility, contact the Resource Family Hotline at 1 (800) 697-4444. More information is available on the Approved Relative Caregiver Program.
Post-Adoption Support: Adoption Assistance Program (AAP)
Recognizing that a child’s needs continue after adoption, the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) provides benefits to adoptive families. AAP benefits are available from the date of adoptive placement until age 18, with potential extensions to age 21 under AB12. The benefit amount is reassessed at least every two years or sooner upon family request.
AAP funding mirrors Approved Resource Family Funding. For children with special needs beyond basic care, the Social Worker will work with the family to determine the maximum AAP Benefit Amount and any additional funding for which the child is eligible. Families can choose to receive monthly benefits immediately or defer them to be requested before the child turns 18.
Addressing Funding Issues
For any questions regarding vouchers, missing funding, or incorrect funding amounts, please contact the Resource Family Helpline at (800) 697-4444 or email [email protected]. Eligibility workers are available to review your case and provide assistance.
This comprehensive guide is intended to clarify the landscape of funding for foster care programs, empowering resource families to access the support they need to provide stable and nurturing homes for foster children.
