Kinship Foster Care Program Licensure of Kinship Foster

Kinship Foster Care Program Licensure of Kinship Foster Families in South Carolina Presented by: Avis Brabham-Moody, Benita Jones, & Salley Branch

Licensure of Kinship Families: How Did We Get Here? • A Kinship Care workgroup convened with the purpose of addressing the licensure of kinship care foster homes for children in the custody of DSS and reiterate the process already in state statute and DSS policy to staff. • The target population that is being addressed at this time is the following: § Children who are in the custody or guardianship of the Department of Social Services and who are placed in an unlicensed placement with a relative.

Definition of a Relative: For the purposes of Kinship Foster Care a relative is a person related through blood, marriage or adoption.

What is Kinship Foster Care? • Program developed to license Kinship Caregivers for placement of a child who is in the custody of DSS to provide case management services, social support, system navigation and financial support.

Why Should Caregivers Be Licensed? • To ensure that Kinship Care families who have children currently in DSS custody and are unlicensed are informed of the option to receive support for these children. • To ensure that children can remain connected to their family in a safe environment which in return will constitute/create placement stability. • To increase the possibility of children being able to receive more services (e. g. , Independent Living Services)

2016 – 2017 Appropriation Act: • In July 2016, the General Assembly authorized the Department of Social Services to increase foster care board payments for children who are in foster care. The Department of Social Services Act 38. 14 states, in pertinent part, that “The Department of Social Services shall furnish as Family Foster Care payments for individual foster children under their sponsorship and under kinship care. These specified amounts are for the basic needs of the foster children to include kinship care assistance. ” The following amounts have been allocated based on the age of the child/children: Ages 0 -5 $404 per month (increased from $383) Ages 6 -12 $469 per month (Increased from $458) Ages 13+ $535 per month (increased from $518)

Kinship Care Statute(s): • South Carolina Code 63 -7 -2320 Kinship Foster Care Program (Current as of: 2016) www. scstatehouse. gov/code/t 63 c 007. php

Act Lice ion nsi Ste ng ps… Pro ced Wh o& ure s: Ho w

Process Map: How Will This Be Achieved?

When to Educate Kin on Licensing Option: When a child has been or will be removed and placed in the care, custody or guardianship of the Department of Social Services.

When to Educate Kin on Licensing Option: • At removal, kin identified for placement on the option to be licensed. § For Kin interestedo. CW written referral form to KCC o. KCC initiate process o. KCC review referral and assist with application o. KCC sends application to IL

Non-Safety Elements Waiver: • Non-safety elements must be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine whether they are a safety concern based on the child’s needs in the case and family. • Notwithstanding the requirement that a relative licensed as a kinship foster parent must be licensed in accordance with the same requirements as nonrelative applicants. • The Department may waive, on a case-by-case basis, for relative applicants, NON-SAFETY ELEMENTS.

List of Non-Safety Elements: • • • Income Requirement(s) Medical Report(s) Letters of Reference Reasonable child bedroom and sleeping arrangements Documentation (e. g. , marriage licenses and divorce complaints and decrees), as the Department deems appropriate **Note: Safety elements such as criminal and child abuse and neglect background checks required by Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, 42 U. S. C Section 671(a)(20)(A), MAY NOT BE WAIVED

Current Policies The below referenced policies have been revised and published referencing the licensure of Kinship Care families: • • 741. 1 Licensure of Kinship Foster Families 510. 3 Diligent Searches, Family Engagement, & Visitation 520. 3 Court-Ordered Custody and/or Guardianship 719. 02 Safety Planning

Kinship Caregiver Information Packet • Kinship Care Letter • Licensing Application Packet

Regional Kinship Coordinators Each SC DSS Region has a Kinship Care Coordinator: Region 1: Jennifer Gilmer, LBSW --- Jennifer. Gilmer@dss. sc. gov ; 1 -888 -839 -0155 Region 2: Chasiti Washington, MS --- Chasiti. Washington@dss. sc. gov ; 1 -888 -839 -0159 Region 3: Benita K. Jones, MS --- Benita. K. Jones@dss. sc. gov ; 1 -888 -854 -4277 Region 4: Jada-Moody-Davis --- Jada. Moody-Davis@dss. sc. gov ; 1 -888 -854 -4317 Region 5: Mellinda B. Tyler, MA --- Mellinda. Tyler@dss. sc. gov ; 1 -888 -839 -0157

Next Steps and Future Planning… • Ensure that relatives who are caring for a child are aware of existing supports and services like TANF child-only grants, SNAP benefits, child care, and child support • Enhance the services array and support to meet the needs of kinship caregivers who are not licensed. This could involve partnership with child serving agencies and the faith community to provide various services. • Develop a kinship guardianship assistance program.

Additional Information…. • The Kinship Foster Care program is expected to be in full implementation on April 30, 2017 • For additional questions and/or technical assistance, the following individuals should be contacted: Avis Brabham-Moody avis. brabham-moody@dss. sc. gov (803) 898 -8157 Benita K. Jones benita. k. jones@dss. sc. gov (803) 584 -8112 Salley Branch salley. branch@dss. sc. gov (803) 898 -7558 Sharleta Woodall Sharleta. woodall@dss. sc. gov (803) 898 -2084