This policy guide provides information on Transitional Independent Living Planning, including instruction on how to complete a Transitional Independent Living Plan & Agreement (TILP).
This policy guide was updated from the 02/25/21 version to clarify the obligations related to the provision of transition to adulthood services as distinct from Independent Living Program (ILP) Services. A new policy, 0080-505.11, Independent Living Program has been created to provide details regarding ILP. This version was also updated to clarify the language regarding the timeframe for completion of the Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP), and to update TILP requirements to reflect new state and federal law. This version makes the connection between the TILP process and requirements, and the obligations laid out in Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 391, which are detailed in DCFS policy 0100-535.60. Lastly, this version also adds information regarding the 6-Month Transition Plan and adds information regarding referring to campus-based support programs.
POLICY
Transition to Adulthood Services
The obligation to begin identifying, providing and setting transition to adulthood goals begins at age fourteen (14) years old. How these obligations are implemented is dependent on the youth’s age and will differ based on the individual young person's needs. This obligation applies to all youth in out-of-home care and does not depend on their eligibility for any specific funding stream for services. Ensuring that a youth’s transition needs are assessed, goals are set, and services are provided are critical to developing a meaningful TILP that supports a youth’s growth; it is also critical to satisfying the dependency court requirements related to service delivery and planning, as laid out in WIC 391. WIC 391 imposes requirements for reporting that must be made to the court at a youth’s regularly scheduled review hearings verifying the county child welfare department’s provision of the applicable required transition to adulthood services, beginning when a youth reaches age fourteen (14) years old, and with enhanced requirements added both when the youth reaches age eighteen (18) years old, and when they discharge from care.
Case Planning and Transitional Independent Living Planning
For a youth who is fourteen (14) or fifteen (15) years of age, the case plan shall include a written description of the programs and services that will help the youth, consistent with the youth’s best interest, to prepare for the transition from foster care to successful adulthood. This can include services like life skills building, employment and education support and counseling, financial management, housing counseling and support, and relationship building. The case plan should include the dates of initial and any subsequent determinations of the youth’s needs and goals and all instances of service delivery.
DCFS must initiate transitional independent living planning in the form of a TILP for all youth and nonminor dependents (NMDs) age sixteen (16) years old and older residing in out-of-home care. When initiating the planning, CSWs can provide eligible children/NMDs with a Youth Policy Guide regarding TILP to help them better understand the process. DCFS must ensure that all dependent children/NMDs approaching transition to adulthood are equipped with the educational, medical, and psychosocial tools necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. The transitional independent living planning process will be more effective the earlier it begins.
Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP)
The Transitional Independent Living Plan & Agreement (TILP) is a Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) Case Plan document that:
Describes the child/NMD’s transition to adulthood goal(s)
Describes activities that will assist the child/NMD in achieving those goals, including, programs and services provided by the Independent Living Program (ILP) and other services for transition age children/NMDs
Identifies the individuals assisting the child/NMD to meet those goals
Indicates the planned completion date
Evaluates progress towards reaching those goals
Includes any accommodation or support needed by a youth with a disability to achieve the goal.
Describes whether the youth has an in-progress application pending for Title XVI Supplemental Security Income benefits or for special immigrant juvenile status or other applicable application for legal residency and an active dependency case is required for that application.
The TILP must be updated at least every six (6) months or concurrently with the case plan and status review hearing date. It should be updated more frequently to respond to changing circumstances and at the request of the child or NMD. It must be incorporated into the initial case plan or case plan update. For further reference see Sample Transitional Independent Living Plan & Agreement. Finally, for a child who speaks a primary language other than English, the case plan and TILP must be translated into their primary language.
6 Month & 90-Day Transition Plan
In addition to the TILP and ILP services, children in foster care and NMDs are required to have a 6-Month and a 90-Day Transition Plan.These plans are necessary components to assist foster youth in planning to prepare to exit foster care and are intended to maximize the use of time prior to exiting care so that youth can utilize resources, strengthen discharge planning, and experience positive outcomes that support long-term self-sufficiency and prevent homelessness. The 6-Month & 90-Day Transition Plans cover the following areas:
Housing
Education
Health insurance
Mentors/Continuing support services
Workforce support/employment services
A power of attorney for health care, and information regarding the advance health care directive form.
For the 6-Month Transition Plan, CSWs are required to provide youth who are in out-of-home placement with the DCFS 5556, 6-month Transition Plan. This form is only to be completed when the youth turns seventeen and half (17.5) years of age (regardless of whether the youth will be participating in Extended Foster Care), and again at either at twenty and a half (20.5) years old, or at the time of exiting foster care before the age of twenty-one (21).
The 90-Day Transition Plan is completed at least ninety (90) days prior to exiting foster care or for Nonminor Dependents (NMDs) within the ninety (90) day prior to exiting Extended Foster Care (EFC). The 90-Day Transition Plan should build on the TILP and must include concrete outcomes that describe where the young person will live, how they will support themselves and continue to meet their educational, employment, and well-being goals. In addition, the court cannot terminate jurisdiction over a young person without the submission of an adequate 90-Day Transition Plan. A well-developed TILP will help ensure that the CWS is able to meet this key requirement. Once the 90-Day Transition Plan is completed, no additional TILP updates are required unless the court continues dependency beyond the 90-Day period and a TILP update is due.
Supporting Participation in the Extended Foster Care (EFC) Program
A TILP should include a goal that meets eligibility criteria for Extended Foster Care (EFC) beyond the youth's eighteenth (18th) birthday and continued court jurisdiction until twenty-one (21) years of age, as a nonminor dependent (NMD). It should also include any supportive services to ensure active and meaningful participation in one or more of the eligibility criteria described below.
NMD’s must meet at least one (1) of the following requirements to be eligible for EFC:
NMD is completing high school or an equivalent program (GED);
NMD is enrolled in college, community college, or a vocational education program;
NMD is participating in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment;
NMDs meet this criteria if they are working toward meeting goal(s) in their Transitional Independent Living Case Plan by participating in an Independent Living Program activity or a program that moves the youth forward in reaching a goal on their TILP
NMD is employed at least eighty (80) hours per month; and or
NMD is unable to do one (1) of the above requirements because of a medical condition
NMD’s TILP’s must address two (2) goals related to eligibility for extended foster care. The first is the NMD’s “Plan A,” and the second is a back-up plan or “Plan B.” NMDs who are unable to meet a goal because of a medical condition are not required to have a second goal (Plan B).
If a Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP) and SOC 161, Six-Month Certification of Extended Foster Care Participation, are completed and the child/NMD meets EFC participation requirements, the child may be eligible for federal or state foster care funding. If not, the only available funding source would be General Relief Ineligible funds (GRI) also known as "County Funds". Refer to Extended Foster Care Benefits & Preparation for more details.
A youth in foster care age seventeen (17) years and five (5) months may express a wish not to remain in foster care past age eighteen (18). (This includes children who meet the definition of Indian Child or who are placed with juvenile court non-related legal guardians (NRLGs). In such a case, the youth’s TILP should include goals and services that will help them meet at least one of the EFC eligibility criteria in case they decide to remain in foster care. The youth should also be informed of the option to re-enter foster care at any time up until reaching age twenty-one (21).
Independent Living Program (ILP)
The John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood–often referred to as the Independent Living Program (ILP) is a federally funded and state administered program, which assists eligible children/NMDs to develop the skills and the connections to people, resources, and communities to assist youth in making a successful transition to adulthood. ILP services are available to all eligible, 16-21 year olds (up to and including the day before their 21st birthday) youth/NMDs who currently or formerly resided in foster care. The ILP Coordinator determine ILP eligibility concurrently with the development of the initial TILP. ILP Coordinators assist the CSW in locating and providing ILP services. Each regional office has a Transition Station maintained by a ILP Coordinator who provides Independent Living Program (ILP) materials to CSWs.
It is important to note that the obligation to provide transition to adulthood services and to develop a TILP exists for all youth from ages sixteen to twenty-one (16-21) years old regardless of their eligibility for ILP services. Youth who are not Title IV-E/Chafee funding eligible must be provided transition to adulthood services to assist them in meeting their TILP goals and the goals of their 90-day transition plan. CSWs in collaboration with the agency shall ensure that these service needs are met by existing service providers or by identifying services in the community.
Contracted Services: Individualized Transitional Skills Program (ITSP)
ITSP is the current contracted service developed to enhance daily life skills and promote Self-Sufficiency. ITSP began in January 2014 with service provision to eligible Transition Age Youth (TAY) countywide. The ITSP goals are consistent with the requirements to fulfill the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Act (Chafee Act) and the eight Chafee Outcome Measures which are:
Receiving high school diploma
Educational attainment
Employment
Avoidance of dependency
Avoiding homelessness
Avoiding non-marital childbirth
Avoiding incarceration
Avoiding high-risk behaviors
Below are some key points about ITSP:
ITSP is voluntary for participating TAY who can maximize the available services up to two (2) years
TAY must be referred prior to their nineteenth (19th) birthday
Will serve TAY, who are ILP eligible ages sixteen (16) up to their twenty-first (21) birthday
TAY may have an open DCFS/Probation case or a closed case to participate
ITSP offers individualized/one-on-one services, primarily in the home/placement
The case carrying Children Social Workers (CSW) or Deputy Probation Officers (DPO) will be required to submit a current Transition Independent Living Plan (TILP) with a goal for ITSP participation and the DCFS 5557/Referral form to the ILP Coordinator in the regional/area offices for screening/referring to the appropriate Contractor servicing the area where the TAY resides. If the case is closed, a TILP is completed by the child/NMD and the Coordinator
TAY must reside in Los Angeles County to be referred for ITSP
The contracted agency is The Community College Foundation (TCCF) for all of Los Angeles County.
The contractor will match the TAY to a Transition Development Specialist (TDS)
TDS will administer a life skills assessment to initiate services and determine progress
A TAY can receive up to four monetary incentives at seventy-five dollars ($75) each, totaling three-hundred dollars ($300) for completion of ITSP goals
TDS will meet with the TAY monthly to implement ITSP
TDS may host group activities to promote socialization and meet ITSP goals
ITSP will also promote permanent connections/relationships
TAY residing in LA County but served by another county are referenced as “Out-of-County” They may participate in LA County’s Life Skills program (ITSP) and receive an incentive payment not to exceed the maximum amount noted in the current contract language.
Transitional Independent Living Planning Teams
DCFS employs a core team and a support team as part of its transitional independent living planning services.
Core Team
The Transitional Independent Living Planning Core Team consists of the CSW, youth/NMD, the youth’s attorney and CASA, individuals identified by the youth as important to them, including family and supportive adults, care provider(s), and an ILP Coordinator. Care providers include Foster/Kinship Caregivers, Foster Family Agencies (FFAs), and Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTPs). Expectant and parenting youth (EPY) participating in EPY conferences may benefit from including supportive adults from their EPY conference team.
CSW (Team Leader) Responsibilities:
Assessing a child's/NMD’s interests, aptitudes, abilities, strengths, and needs, to set goals and to develop a Transitional Independent Living Plan.
CSW can share the Benefit Eligibility Finder with child/NMD/caregiver ahead of the meeting to help determine what benefits the youth may be eligible for to support transition planning and permanency decisions.
Developing the TILP during a face-to-face contact with the child/NMD.
Inviting members of the independent living planning (ILP) support team and other supportive adults identified by the child/NMD to participate in developing and implementing the TILP
Complete referral to Educational Specialist when appropriate
The case transfer will be completed by the ER CSW as part of the Initial Case Plan and by the DI when writing the Jurisdictional/Dispositional Hearing Report.
Ensuring that:
The child/NMD actively participates in the developing the TILP
The TILP includes all required goal information, including progress towards reaching the child/NMD’s goals
The completed TILP is signed by the child/NMD, caregiver, CSW and SCSW, and that this is documented in CWS/CMS
Eligibility for the Extended Foster Care (EFC) option, if applicable
Following through on their activities identified in the TILP
Seeking/obtaining employment, a volunteer position, and/or community involvement, when possible
When appropriate:
Utilizing community resources
Following through on medical and dental care
Starting and maintaining a savings account
Having a plan that includes educational and work training
Foster/Kinship Caregiver and Foster Family Agencies (FFAs) Responsibilities:
In addition to the requirements listed below, the FFA is responsible for providing social work staff to support the foster parent(s) in TILP implementation.
Filling a parental role (daily care, supervision, nurturing)
Teaching the child/NMD life skills
Attending trainings, including in-services
Implementing the caregiver’s portion of the Case Plan
Assisting the child/NMD:
In the implementation of their section of the case plan and if applicable, the 90-Day Transition Plan
With obtaining sufficient and appropriate clothing for school, work, etc.
With exploring community resources for services and employment opportunities
With developing money management and savings skills
With exploring local housing resources
In providing information to the CSW for completing the TILP
Arranging transportation for the child/NMD
Facilitating:
A child care network/support system for the child/NMD to participate in ILP experiences and employment
Informing the CSW about any ILP type delivered services they have administered
STRTPS and other Licensed Community Care Facilities Responsibilities:
Complying with its program statement and DCFS contract requirements
Designating program staff to participate as Core Team member(s)
Developing and documenting an Individualized Transition Plan for each child fourteen (14) years or older and providing the CSW with written quarterly reports
Ensuring that the child/NMD:
Has all necessary medical examinations and treatment
Attends school
Is provided education supports to achieve academic goals
Updating and maintaining the child/NMD's Health & Education Passport Binder
Facilitating family bonding time with the child/NMD's family, as appropriate
Providing social work therapeutic intervention, as needed
Developing a site specific transition program in addition to linkages with other public/private transitional opportunities
Exercising the reasonable and prudent parent standard in an age and developmentally appropriate way.
Providing discharge planning/post-placement living arrangements, if applicable
Participating in the 90-Day transition planning conference, including the development of a 90-Day Transition Plan
Informing the CSW about any ILP type delivered services that the program has administered
ILP Coordinator Responsibilities:
Ensuring that:
Eligible children/NMDs participating in ILP up to age 21 have a TILP/Transition Age Living Plan
Funds and services are offered to ILP eligible children/NMDs ages 16 to 21
Participation in ILP is not used as a reward
Services do not duplicate or replace services already available through other agencies and programs
Child/NMD's EFC eligibility is addressed in each TILP
A child/NMD’s benefits, services, and treatments are fair and equitable
Collaborating with the CSW, child/NMD, caregiver(s), and other service providers to ensure the provision of state-mandated Core Services and activities designed to meet goals in the child’s TILP.
Providing technical support to CSWs to ensure that each TILP lists actionable, realistic, and measurable goals and specific activities that will assist in achieving a child/NMD’s goals.
Reviewing the TILP for needed Core Services and the DCFS 5557, TILP Transmittal & Supplement
Reviewing the TILP Transmittal & Supplement, for completeness and accuracy
Initiating the request for funds/services for ILP eligible children/NMD’s, when appropriate.
Recruiting, ordering, and providing individualized ILP services to eligible children, including adults who formerly resided in foster care, legally emancipated minors, and Kin-GAP children.
Documenting the type of ILP services provided to the child/NMD
Utilizing the Incentive to aid legally emancipated minors and eligible adults who formerly resided in foster care.
To qualify for the Incentive, a NMD must be eligible for ILP, be eighteen (18) years of age or older, and have a financial need verified by YDS. Children who currently reside or formerly resided in foster care, as well as NMDs may qualify.
Coordinate and meet with School District Foster Youth Liaison to discuss education before the TILP and/or include them in the TILP process to ensure that:
A designated school representative confers with the CSW, child/NMD, educational rights holder, and care provider regarding the child/NMD's grades, timelines for school progress reports, class credits, test scores, special programs (such as extracurricular opportunities, sports, tutoring, clubs, etc.), graduation options and courses needed for graduation, attendance, any necessary accommodations for students with disabilities under Section 504, and special education Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), if applicable.
Educational planning takes place. This may include tutoring, summer school, remediation, magnet schools, continuations, etc.
Educational goals (including post-secondary educational goals) are set
A strength-based conference to address individualized resource needs takes place. These needs may include magnet schools, a career advisor, a school-to-work program, General Education Development (GED) high school equivalency counseling, extracurricular activities, academic support, credit recovery, parental/caregiver involvement opportunities, etc.
Other school resources for the child/NMD, are identified as necessary.
The school works with the child/NMD and the holder of the child's educational rights to help the child/NMD stay at their school-of-origin and access necessary transportation or, alternatively, to help the child/NMD transfer to an appropriate school in a timely manner if the education rights holder determines it is in the best interest for the youth to change schools.
For a child/NMD interested in being connected to a campus-based support program, such as NextUp or Guardian Scholars, a Release of Information form, can be sent to ILP (see form for instructions) to refer the child/NMD to the program at their college(s) of interest. ILP will send this form to the campus-based support program who will then reach out to the child/NMD to provide additional supports.
Support Team
The Transitional Independent Living Planning Support Team consists of the core teams members as well as providers, professionals, and people important to the child/NMD. Members provide direct linkage, services, support, and input into the assessment and implementation of the transitional independent living planning services. The team may include, but is not limited to:
DCFS staff
Community Worker
Education Specialist
SCSW
Juvenile court staff
Educational Liaison
Education rights holder (ERH)
Technical Assistant (TA)/Eligibility Worker (EW), or
Co-located DPSS staff
Public Health Nurse (PHN)
Wrap Around Liaison
Independent Living Program (ILP) service providers
The Community College Foundation
California Youth Connection
Peer partner
Family friends
Mentors doctors, teachers, counselors, attorneys, and employment counselors
County Counsel Responsibilities:
Providing consultation to the CSW regarding any legal issue related to legal emancipation of a minor or termination of jurisdiction when a foster child reaches the age of majority.
Reviewing court reports for appropriate documentation and/or transitional independent living planning services that are planned for and provided to the child/NMD. This includes referrals for ILP, as appropriate.
Reviewing court reports recommending legal emancipation of a minor or termination of jurisdiction when a foster child/NMD reaches the age of majority. The Juvenile Court Officer CSW must confirm that all the WIC 391 required elements have been addressed.
Attending transitioning to independece training.
Advocating for transitioning children/NMDs.
Education Specialist Responsibilities (when referred by CSW):
Advocating on behalf of the child/NMD.
Consulting with, answering, and assisting CSWs and caregivers with issues related to education.
Assist and link child(ren)/youth to services regarding:
School enrollment and disrenrollment
School of Origin and various modes of transportation to School of Origin
School Attendance and credit checks
Obtaining and reviewing school records
School Disciplinary issues such as suspension and expulsions
Special Education assessments and meetings
504 Plans
Early childhood education programs
Graduation checks and discussion of graduation options
Access to remedial and enrichment education resources and services
Social development and behavioral health
Participating (as requested and authorized) in Child and Family Team Meeting, IEP meetings, Section 504 meetings, school disciplinary meetings, Multidisciplinary Action Teams (MATs)(specifically related to education matters), Transition Planning Conferences, etc.
Education and Development Section Responsibilities:
Meeting with the Education Unit quarterly to discuss regional needs, new policy, etc.
Providing information regarding community based and local educational resources to regional staff.
Coordinating educational forums
Participating in local community advisory councils
Train CSW and Regional staff regarding education matters
Community Worker Responsibilities:
In addition to the responsibilities below, the community worker works with the CSW to provide frequent and in-person follow-up, gather information at schools, accompany the child/NMD to court when appropriate, and assist the ILP Coordinator in ensuring that all services provided to the child/NMD are documented in CWS/CMS.
Assisting CSWs and current foster children/NMDs in the transitional independent living planning process.
Acting as a mentor for selected foster youths to promote improvement in their self-esteem, motivation, academic performance, and readiness to engage in transitional planning.
Modeling successful behavior.
Advocating on behalf of the child/NMD with the CSW.
Providing the child/NMD with support, resources, and access to a network of foster children who are also transitioning.
Providing community education and foster teen club leadership through presentations at various conferences, etc. throughout Los Angeles County.
Public Health Nurse Responsibilities:
Assisting:
The CSW in transitional independent living planning by consulting with the CSW and/or child/NMD regarding health issues.
With sending requests for release of medical information and obtaining copies of medical records.
The CSW and child/NMD in arranging for state mandated Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) medical and dental exams prior to termination of jurisdiction, and providing the CSW and child/NMD with information on CHDP providers in the area where the child/NMD plans to live following termination of jurisdiction.
Interpreting medical records information, as requested by the CSW.
Documenting pertinent health information in the child/NMD’s Health Notebook.
Contacting schools and/or other organizations/agencies to gather relevant medical information.
Counseling the child/NMD on current health and follow up needs including where and how to obtain medical services and medication after termination of jurisdiction.
Participating in the child/NMD’s 90-Day transition planning conference.
Data collected on foster children/NMDs in foster care through ILP delivered services must be tracked in CWS/CMS NYTD data fields in order to be reported nationally to the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD).
DCFS staff must ensure that all the required CWS/CMS NYTD data fields are complete and accurate.
Assessment and Planning Prior to Completing the TILP
Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities
Invite members of the independent living planning support team and any other supportive adult(s) identified by the child/NMD to participate in developing and implementing the TILP.
For children who entered foster care after their sixteenth (16th) birthday, complete the TILP prior to the disposition hearing.
Include the TILP in the child’s Case Plan when submitting documents to the court for hearings where services will be determined. These hearings include disposition hearings, each status review hearing, the first permanency planning hearing and each permanency planning hearing thereafter.
When employment is a goal listed in the TILP, include the following language in the plan:
"The purpose of employment is to enable the child/NMD to gain the knowledge of work skills, and the responsibilities of maintaining employment pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 11008.15".
This requirement also applies to the post-emancipation Once a TAY has been established as ILP eligible, a signed TILP will be submitted and maintained in the TAY file by the ILP Coordinator.
Update the TILP to reflect any progress, modifications to goals, activities, responsible parties, and planned completion dates, at least every six (6) months to coincide with the status review hearings or as requested by the child/NMD to accommodate their needs.
Ensure that the initial TILP and each update to the TILP is signed and dated by the CSW, the child/NMD, the caregiver, and the SCSW.
Inform the child/NMD about the DCFS Independent Living Program (ILP) and encourage their participation.
Document the identified ILP services and the child/NMD’s participation in the TILP.
Ensure that the identified ILP services are provided while the child/NMD remains under DCFS supervision.
Defer ILP enrollment if the child/NMD is physically or mentally unable to benefit from the program or the child/NMD declines to participate.
Provide the child/NMD and appropriate parties, the necessary records, referrals, and documentation to ensure timely and appropriate ILP service provision to meet the goals and services of the TILP.
Complete the TILP and the CWS/CMS Planned and Delivered Services even if the child/NMD refuses to cooperate in developing the TILP or to participate in ILP services.
Document any refusal to cooperate or participate and explain the efforts made to obtain the child/NMD’s cooperation.
Continue to invite the child/NMD to participate in the TILP development and to offer ILP services at least once every six (6) months.
Document all efforts of working with child/NMD to develop a transition plan that includes the following types of goals meant to help them transition out of foster care in the Contact Notebook:
Educational
Employment
Housing
Health
Other age and developmentally appropriate life skills
Document these efforts on the Associated Services tab under the “Independent Living Services” service category.
Provide a copy of each completed TILP and any updates to the child/NMD, caregiver, and other persons who are essential to the completion of the TILP goals. For a child who speaks a primary language other than English, the Case plan and TILP shall be translated into their primary language.
As needed update or complete the following fields in CWS/CMS. An authorized staff person may also assist:
Client’s Race/Ethnicity
Client’s Hispanic or Latino Origin status
Whether or not the client is an Adjudicated Delinquent
The client’s Education Level
Whether or not the client is receiving Special Education
Assist the child/NMD in completing the TILP goals by collaborating with public and private agencies/persons. These may include individuals at schools, colleges, the Department of Education, the Department of Mental Health, Transition (ILP) Coordinators, caregiver(s), the Student Aid Commission, the Employment Development Department and One-Stop Career Centers, etc.
Children/NMDs unable to do one of the first four requirements because of a medical condition are not required to have a second goal.
In addition to the EFC goals, describe in the TILP any additional services that will assist the child/NMD if applicable to attain the ILP goals. These services may include:
Education attainment
Literacy skills, passing the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) English Language Arts and Mathematics components, high school diploma/GED, or a plan for admission to college or vocational training
Budget and financial management skills, knowledge of landlord/tenant issues, self-advocacy skills, and credit issues
Development of a mentoring relationship with a responsible adult
Knowledge of how to acquire and receive important documents
Birth certificate, Social Security Card, Driver’s License/State Real ID, Proof of citizenship, Death certificate(s) of parent(s) or guardian(s), proof of county dependency status for education aid applications, school records, immunization records, medical records, DCFS Health & Education Passport, work permit, information regarding the child's/NMD’s case, contact information for relatives, etc.
Receipt of mental health counseling, as needed
Establishment and maintenance of a bank account, including a savings account for children/NMDs transitioning to independence
College, vocational training program, or other educational or employment program admission information, prior to termination of jurisdiction
Gainful employment through the provision of information about and participation in employment and training services provided through the One-Stop Career Centers
Receipt/completion of applications for sources of independent living financial support
Referral to appropriate county adult social services agencies as needed prior to termination of jurisdiction
Completion of Medi-Cal reapplication, prior to termination of jurisdiction
Acquisition of safe and affordable housing upon termination of jurisdiction, including THP-Plus and the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) or Family Unification Program (FUP) Housing Choice Voucher Program
Provide and/or assist the child/NMD to obtain documents identified in the TILP goals during the first six (6) months of the child’s sixteenth (16th) year or as soon thereafter as is reasonable.
If known or anticipated, include in the TILP, written determination, and authorization for the child/NMD to withdraw cash savings necessary for independent living purposes prior to each withdrawal from the transitioning to independent living savings account.
In addition to personal property, a child declared a ward or dependent of the juvenile court who is sixteen (16) or older, or a NMD may retain resources consistent with WIC 11155.5(A). Any cash savings that the child/NMD has can be used for purposes directly related to the child/NMD’s TILP case plan goals.
The withdrawal of savings by a child (under 18) requires the written approval of the child’s probation officer or social worker and must be related to the goal of emancipation. Written approval is not required for NMDs.
Document savings and incentive payments in TILP, if applicable.
Consider placing eligible children/NMDs in the Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP), if they are at least sixteen (16) years of age.
Discuss a plan to address any unpaid citations, tickets, fines, or incomplete court ordered community service, if applicable.
The CSW should assist the child/NMD in developing a workable plan for meeting their legal obligations before jurisdiction is terminated.
For any children/NMDs eligible for EFC, ensure that they participate in the two (2) goals required for EFC.
Review the child’s progress towards the TILP goals at each monthly face-to-face contact.
Document the progress in the Contact Notebook.
Update the TILP if there has been progress, goal modifications, activities, etc.
Ensure that the child/NMD, caregiver, CSW, and SCSW sign the TILP.
Document this service as an ILP delivered service in the Contact Notebook under the Associated Services Tab.
Completing the Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP)
CSW Responsibilities
Generate the TILP document on CWS/CMS.
In the Case Management Section (green button), select ‘+’ – ‘Create a new document.’ (It defaults to State of California.)
From that category, select ‘Transitional Independent Living Plan’, and then select ‘OK’ to generate the form.
It will include some populated data.
The TILP document can also be created in Spanish. For a child who speaks a primary language other than English, the case plan and TILP shall be translated into their primary language.
Document the goals that were created based on discussion with the child/NMD and caregiver in the ‘Goals’ column of the TILP document.
Goals must be clearly defined and the child/NMD must agree to meet them over the upcoming six (6) months. They must be actionable, realistic, and measurable.
Brainstorm and list the specific activities that will need to take place to accomplish the goals in the ‘Activities’ column of the TILP document.
List these activities sequentially.
For NMD’s whose goal is a Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP):
Use the SOC 157C,Standardized SILP Readiness Assessment Tool for discussion points to inform the TILP, including a statement of the NMD’s financial readiness
Advise the NMD that the SILP payment will not be available until the month following the SILP’s approval by the Youth Development Services (YDS) Division. However, while the SILP approval is pending, the county may approve the prospective SILP as a Transitional Living Setting under WIC 11400(x)(4) and provide payment pursuant to ACL 21-95.
Explain the tasks the child/NMD will perform, the tasks the CSW will perform, and the tasks the CSW and/or member of the independent living planning support team will assist the child/NMD in completing in the ‘Responsible Party’ column of the TILP document.
This section may also be used for any additional responsible parties.
Encourage the child/NMD to commit to a specific date for completing each activity and note those dates in the ‘Planned Completion Date’ column of the TILP document.
Ensure that completion dates are realistic.
Generate a list of resources and services, in and outside of the system that will support the listed activities or goals in the TILP document. Ensure that the child/NMD knows how to access these resources and services.
Obtain the child/NMD’s, CSW’s, caregiver’s, and SCSW’s signatures on the TILP.
A hardcopy of the TILP must be submitted to the SCSW for approval and signature.
Provide the original TILP document to the child/NMD and a copy to the caregiver(s).
Place another copy of the TILP document in the DCFS case file.
A copy must be attached to the Case Plan when submitting to court.
Document the TILP information in CWS/CMS.
Go to the Transition Plan notebook to complete the TILP record.
This includes the date the TILP was signed, any reasons for deferring TILP services, etc.
In the Case Plan/Case Plan Update, document Planned Services that will assist the child/NMD in meeting thier TILP goal(s).
For NMDs, document how the two (2) EFC participation requirements are being met.
In the Contact Notebook, Associated Services tab, document the ILP services the child/NMD is receiving as a Delivered Service. Select an ILP Service Type from drop down menu.
Monitor the child/NMD’s progress towards the planned goal(s) and modify services and activities as appropriate.
SCSW Responsibilities
Review the hard copy TILP.
If complete, sign the TILP to approve the document, and return it to the CSW for distribution.
If not approved, return to the CSW for corrective action.
YDS Division Responsibilities
For a child/NMD interested in being connected to a campus-based support program, such as NextUp or Guardian Scholars, send the Release of Information to Campus-Based Foster Youth Support Programs form to ILP (see form for instructions) to refer the child/NMD to the program at their college(s) of interest. YDS will send this form to the campus-based support program who will then reach out to the child/NMD to provide additional supports.
CDSS MPP Division 30-506.4 – States the responsibilities of the county of the youth’s residence for provision of ILP services.
CDSS MPP Division 31-206.37 – Requires that each youth in placement, age sixteen (16) or older have a CWS/CMS documented Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP), as specified in Section 31-236.
CDSS MPP Division 31-236 – Details the requirements for the Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP).
CDSS MPP Division 31-525.1 – States that the purposed of the ILP is the provide program services and activities as described in the TILP to assist eligible youth to live independently.
CDSS MPP Division 31-525.2 – Requires the CSW to determine ILP eligibility concurrently with the development of the initial TILP and re-determine ILP eligibility with each TILP update.
CDSS MPP Division 31-525.4 – States in part that ILP participation can be deferred only if the youth is physically or mentally unable to benefit from the ILP as determined by the youth’s primary care physician or health/mental health care professional or if the youth declines to participate in the ILP.
CDSS MPP Division 31-525.5 – States in part that eligibility for the ILP will not be determined by outside agencies such as contractors or vendors.
Family Code (FAM) Section 7120 – States that a minor may petition the superior court in the county in which they reside or are temporarily domiciled for a declaration of emancipation. It also lays out the requirements for the emancipation petition.
Federal Public Law 110-351, Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act – Requires that a foster youth have a 90-Day Transition Plan that specifically covers housing, education, health insurance, mentors/continuing support services, and workforce/employment services.
United State Code (USC), Title 42, Sections 675, 677 – Requires that the Case Plan contain a written description of the programs and services which help foster youth age sixteen (16) or older to prepare for the transition from foster care to independent living.
Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 10609.3 – Requires the provision of a stipend for ILP eligible, emancipated, former foster youth to supplement ILP services and to assist youth with specific independent living needs.
WIC Section 10609.4(e)(f) – Requires the ILP to service the needs of NMD’s who are eligible for services per WIC 11403.
WIC Section 10609.45 – Sets forth ILP eligibility criteria for former dependent children of the juvenile court placed with a non-related legal guardian.
WIC Section 11008.15 – States that the following income may be disregarded when determining eligibility for public assistance:
Income earned by dependent youth which was derived from participation in the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982
Income earned by dependent youth who is a full-time student pursuant to the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984
Income earned by dependent youth, sixteen (16) or older who is a participant in the Independent Living Program
Income earned by a nonminor dependent (NMD) who is participating in a transitional independent living case plan, and
In all cases, the current Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP) states that the purpose of the employment is to enable the youth to gain knowledge of needed work skills, work habit, and the responsibilities of maintaining employment.
WIC Section 11155.5 – Details requirements regarding the personal cash savings of dependent youth and NMDs who are participating in a transitional independent living case plan. It also states that written approval from the social worker is not required for cash withdrawals by NMDs.
WIC Section 11400(r) – Details requirements of the Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP) for eligible youth ages 16-18.
WIC Section 11400(r) and (x)(2,),(3) – Details the requirements of the Transitional Housing Placement Plus foster care program for eligible NMDs.
WIC Section 11401(e) – States that aid in the form of AFDC-FC must be provided on behalf of any child under eighteen (18) years old, and after January 1, 2012, to any NMD.
WIC Section 11403 – Institutes California’s implementation of the Federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 for current or former dependents or wards of the juvenile court consistent with their transitional independent living plan.
WIC Section 16501.1(g)16(A)(ii) – States that the case plan shall include the Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP), a written description of the programs and services that will help the child/NMD, consistent with the child/NMD’s best interests to prepare for the transition from foster care to independent living. In addition, it should detail whether the youth has an in-progress application pending for Title XVI Supplemental Security Income benefits or for Special Juvenile Immigration Status or other application for legal residency and an active dependent case is required for this application). For a child who speaks a primary language other than English, the TILP shall be translated into their primary language. When appropriate, for a nonminor dependent, the transitional independent living case plan, as described in WIC 11400(y), shall include the TILP, a written description of the programs and services that will help the nonminor dependent, consistent with their best interests, to prepare for transition from foster care and assist the youth in meeting the eligibility criteria set forth in WIC 11403(b)(1)-(5). If applicable, the case plan should also describe the individualized supervision provided in the supervised independent living setting (for NMDs). The case plan should be developed with the child/NMD and individuals identified as important to the child/NMC, and must include the steps DCFS is taking to ensure that the child/NMD achieves permanence, including maintaining or obtaining permanent connections to caring and committed adults.
A non-specific file number generated by the Emergency Response Command Post (ERCP) identifying a placement case that is transferred from ERCP directly to a regional Family Maintenance and Reunification (FM&R) or generic (G) file.
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health's (DMH) 24 hour, 7 (seven) day a week hotline: Emergency psychiatric services are coordinated through ACCESS. ACCESS offers information regarding all types of mental health services available in Los Angeles County. CSWs may request a joint response with FRO by contacting ACCESS at (800) 854-7771.
The term includes physical injury or death inflicted upon a child by another person by other than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2, unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section 11165.4, or the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child, as defined in Section 11165.3, where the person responsible for the child's welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility licensed to care for children, or an administrator or employee of a public or private school or other institution or agency. 'Abuse or neglect in out-of-home care' does not include an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer.
The team is made up of former RUM (Resource Utilization Management) staff who have experience in finding placement for high risk/needs children. APT Specialist CSWs can assist Regional CSWs expedite the process in finding placement/replacement after hours and/or when all other efforts have been unsuccessful.
Renamed to Centralized Placement Program (CPP)
Active investigation means the activities of an agency in response to a report of known or suspected child abuse. For purposes of reporting information to the Child Abuse Central Index, the activities shall include, at a minimum: assessing the nature and seriousness of the known or suspected abuse; conducting interviews of the victim(s) and any known suspect(s) and witness(es) when appropriate and/or available; gathering and preserving evidence; determining whether the incident is substantiated, inconclusive, or unfounded; and preparing a report that will be retained in the files of the investigating agency.
A mandatory statewide program that provides financial support to families in order to facilitate the adoption of children who would otherwise be in long-term foster care. The intent of this program is to remove limited financial resources as a barrier to adoption.
State licensed adoption practitioners who are authorized to help the adopting family in obtaining consents from birth parents in non-relative independent adoption.
An order/decision which is contrary to a DCFS recommendation and which DCFS believes, if carried out, will jeopardize the safety of a child; and an order/decision which adversely affects the administrative and/or operational functioning of DCFS. This includes, but is not limited to, orders, which are contrary to DCFS policy and/or state or federal regulations; and/or, penalizes DCFS for the actions or inaction of a CSW and/or DCFS.
CSW is requesting a ruling on the warrant on a weekend, holiday, or during non-court hours. (Same as expedited but the matter cannot wait until the next court day for a ruling.)
The adoption of a child in which DCFS is a party to or joins in the petition for adoption. DCFS has custody of the child and approved the applicant assessment (adoption home study).
Foster care financial assistance paid on behalf of children in out-of-home placement who meet the eligibility requirements specified in applicable state and federal regulations and laws. The program is administered by DCFS.
An identified or unidentified man who: could be or claims to be the father of the child; or is claimed by the birth mother to be the child’s father; or is identified on the child’s birth certificate prior to January 1, 1997 and does not meet the definition of a presumed father.
Benefits equal to the rate that a Regional Center vendorized home receives for a child that requires the same level of care. These rates are established by the California Department of Development Services and only available for the foster care and Adoption Assistance Benefits (AAP) set prior to the establishment of the dual agency rate.
A hearing in which the court has ordered all affiliated parties to appear to address a matter before the court.
Appellate review refers to the power of a higher court to examine the decision or order of a lower court for errors. Appellate procedure consists of the rules and practices by which appellate courts review trial court judgments. Appellate review performs several functions, including: the correction of errors committed by the trial court, development of the law and precedent to be followed and anticipated in future disputes, and the pursuit of justice.
This is the term used for an agency adoption to determine AAP eligibility.
An assessment usually conducted by a child welfare of adoption agency of the suitability of a prospective adopting family prior to an adoptive placement.
A motion for rehearing or reconsideration seeking to alter or amend a judgment or order.
A family participating in DPSS CalWORKs
When a report has been made about a child alleging abuse and/or neglect and the child's sibling(s) are also at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
A foster parent, relative or nonrelative extended family member (NREFM) who has applied to adopt the child residing in his or her care. S/he is considered to be "attached" to the child because of an existing relationship.
Disease-carrying microorganisms that may be present in human blood. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Depending on the disease, they may be transmitted by direct skin contact to blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. Feces, urine, vomit, sputum, and nasal secretions may be infectious only if they also contain blood.
A redeemable certificate used as a substitute for currency. Transit companies other than the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) issue bus passes.
A permit or authorization to ride at will, without charge. Passes are valid for the current month. Transit companies other than the MTA issue bus passes.
A piece of metal used as a substitute for currency.
California's food stamp program
California Statewide Automated Welfare System. The California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) Project and Consortium is the automated welfare business process in California which has served all 58 California counties since 2023. The implementation of CalSAWS merged California’s most recent three (3) county-level consortia welfare systems and supports six (6) core programs: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) known as CalFresh in California, Medi-Cal, Foster Care, Refugee Assistance, and County Medical Services. It encompasses the following functions: eligibility determination, benefit computation, benefit delivery, case management and information management. CalSAWS replaced the LEADER Replacement System (LRS), which had replaced LEADER (Los Angeles Eligibility, Automated Determination, Evaluation, and Reporting) and sixteen (16) other legacy systems in 2016.
A system to determine if the subject of an inquiry by DCFS, law enforcement, the District Attorney or any other appropriate inquiring agency possesses a criminal record. DCFS may only request a CLETS clearance when related to child protective services issues.
California Regional Centers are nonprofit private corporations that contract with the State Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to provide or coordinate services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
CalWORKs is a welfare program that gives cash aid and services to eligible needy California families. The program serves all 58 counties in the state and is operated locally by county welfare departments. If a family has little or no cash and needs housing, food, utilities, clothing or medical care, they may be eligible to receive immediate short-term help. Families that apply and qualify for ongoing assistance receive money each month to help pay for housing, food and other necessary expenses.
The child's parent has been incarcerated, hospitalized or institutionalized and cannot arrange for the care of the child; parent's whereabouts are unknown or the custodian with whom the child has been left is unable or unwilling to provide care and support for the child.
Parent or guardian's mental illness, developmental disability or substance abuse. The child's parent or guardian is unable to provide adequate care for the child due to the.
The team is made up of former RUM (Resource Utilization Management) staff who have experience in finding placement for high risk/needs children. APT Specialist CSWs can assist Regional CSWs expedite the process in finding placement/replacement after hours and/or when all other efforts have been unsuccessful.
Previously known as the Accelerated Placement Team (APT).
The non-accidental commission of injuries against a person. In the case of a child, the term refers specifically to the non-accidental commission of injuries against the child by or allowed by a parent(s)/guardian(s) or other person(s). The term also includes emotional, physical, severe physical, and sexual abuse as defined in CDSS MPP Section 31-002(c)(9)(D).
The CACI is a system that allows Children's Social Workers to access in written form to any child abuse records of individuals through the Department of Justice (DOJ) listing names and other identifying information compiled from child abuse reports submitted to DOJ by mandated child abuse reporting agencies which maintain information regarding allegations of abuse and/or neglect. This is primarily utilized to evaluate relative and nonrelative extended family members as prospective caregivers.
California’s version of the federal health care program called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT). It provides comprehensive medical, mental health and dental diagnostic and treatment services for all Medi-Cal eligible persons aged newborn to 21 years who request them. States are required to inform the families of eligible children about CHDP; assist with referral and transportation to providers; and, follow-up to ensure that necessary diagnostic and treatment services are provided.
Includes the intentional touching of the genitals or intimate parts or the clothing covering them, of a child, or of the perpetrator by a child, for purposes of sexual arousal or gratification. This does not include acts which are reasonably construed to be normal caretaker responsibilities, demonstrations of affection for the child, or acts performed for a valid medical purpose.
A general term for a device that can be installed in a vehicle and is designed to restrain, seat, or position children who weigh 50 pounds or less.
A group of individuals, as identified by the family, and convened by DCFS, who are engaged through a variety of team-based processes to identify the strengths and needs of the child or youth and his or her family, and to help achieve positive outcomes for safety, permanency, and well-being.
CFT Meetings are structured, guided discussions with the family, their natural supports and other team members. The meetings are designed to specifically address the family's strengths, worries that the family, agency or team members have regarding the child's safety, permanence and well-being. The family and team members develop a plan that builds on strengths, meets needs and considers the long-term views.
The term "child’s attorney" refers to the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles (CLC) attorneys as well as the Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers (LADL) attorney appointed to represent the child in dependency proceedings. In addition, the term also refers to a paralegal, social worker or any other person working for that attorney. This also includes a youth’s delinquency attorney.
A non-profit corporation whose attorneys represent children in dependency court matters.
Support staff responsible for providing required notification to the child’s attorney, as detailed in a blanket minute order issued by the Presiding Judge of the Dependency court.
Collateral contacts are individuals or agencies with information that can assist the CSW in understanding the nature and extent of the alleged child abuse/neglect and in assessing the risk to and safety of the children. Collateral Contacts include professionals working with the child or parent and have regular contact with the family. Examples include: teachers, parole officers, physicians, DPSS, DMH, therapists, hospitals, and probation.
Sexual activity involving a minor under the age of eighteen (18) in exchange for something of value (i.e., food, shelter, money). [See PEN sections 11165.1(d)(2) and PEN 236.1(c)]. Exploitation includes instances when a minor exchanges sexual acts with a “John/date” even when there is no known trafficker/pimp; Examples of CSEC: Internet-based exploitation, pornography, stripping, erotic/nude massage, escort services, private parties, interfamilial pimping, child being exploited on the streets. CSE is a form of child abuse that mandated reporters must call in to the Child Protection Hotline for each new incident/episode. This includes reporting new AND repeated incidents of CSE on open cases.
The division within the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) responsible for licensing foster care facilities, i.e., foster family homes, foster family agencies, group homes and small family homes. Additional responsibilities include investigating any reported incident of child abuse, neglect or exploitation in such facilities and/or violations of licensing standards.
Offers counseling, nutrition classes, drug education and counseling, parenting classes, pre-natal care, continuing education, pre-employment training, family planning, group outings, and aerobic and weight training classes
Questions that may confuse a young child because they reference more than one response option. For example, 'Is it right or wrong to lie?'; 'Is your shirt green or yellow?'; 'Would your mom give you candy or punish you if you told a lie?'
Lowered resistance to infection.
Concurrent Planning aims to support timely permanence for children. Safe reunification is DCFS' first priority, but in the event that this is not possible, Concurrent Planning ensures that the identification of an alternative placement plan for children who cannot safely return home is in place from the beginning. Working with a labor/management group, the department implemented changes to Concurrent Planning which support the safety and permanence for children and families from the first day they enter out-of-home care. These system changes include focusing on identifying relatives and siblings and developing 'resource families' who are committed to working toward reunification and providing legal permanence if safe reunification is not successful. Concurrent Planning also engages families and draws on their strengths and uses ongoing assessments and case planning.
An assessment document as prescribed in Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 366.21(I), 366.22(b) and 361.5(g). The CPA is initiated by the case carrying Children's Social Worker and completed by the APRD CSW when adoption home study for attached children or matching/recruitment activities for unattached children are initiated.
Adoption petition was filed by the court and stamped with the filing and the action number.
Placement of a child six years and younger in a group home prior to the Disposition Hearing due to a special need for an in-depth evaluation that can only be completed in a "congregate care" facility. The placement cannot be more than 60 days unless and extension of the placement is included in the case plan and approved by the ARA. The child’s total time spent in the placement shall not exceed more than 120 calendar days.
When a party to a lawsuit needs to postpone a matter that has been calendared for a hearing or trial, the proper procedure is to apply to the court for a continuance (postponement to a later date).
CPM is a shared model of practice developed to better integrate services and supports for children, youth and families. The model emphasizes child-centered, family-based practice to identify strengths/needs, collaborative case planning and decision making that considers the long-term view for the family, and development of a support network (team) that will continue to be available to the family even after termination of formal services. The five key practice domains include Engaging, Teaming, Assessing, Planning & Intervening and Tracking.
An officer of the court who advocates the individual needs and best interests of a child, and provides the court with written recommendations. Persons serving as CASAs are generally community volunteers who participate in a training program, after which they are appointed as an officer of the court to advocate on behalf of a child(ren). CASAs are also referred to as Child Advocates or Guardians Ad Litem (GAL).
Refers to the parent with whom the child(ren) reside(s) (i.e., the parent with physical custody or primary physical custody).
Licensed clinician who provides assistance to CSW in identifying and assessing the needs of children with special needs by ensuring that the caregiver's home meets the child's needs and that all children having special needs have those needs met in accordance with the provisions of the Katie A. settlement agreement.
A deficiency is considered any failure to comply with any provision of the Community Care Facilities Act and/or regulations adopted by DCFS or the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing Division.
Developmental delay refers to infants and toddlers having a significant difference between the expected level of development for their age and their current level of functioning. (DCFS Glossary)
A disability that originates before an individual attains age 18 years, continues or can be expected to continue, indefinitely, and constitutes a substantial disability for that individual. The term includes mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. It also includes disabling conditions found to be either closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with mental retardation, but shall not include other handicapping conditions that are solely physical in nature.
Services provided by the Regional Centers, which include diagnostic evaluation, coordination or resources such as education, health, welfare, rehabilitation and recreation for persons with developmental disabilities. Additional services include program planning, admission to and discharge from state hospitals, court-ordered evaluations and consultation to other agencies.
Involves a child who came to the United States for the purpose of adoption through the intercountry adoption process but entered foster care prior to finalization of the adoption regardless of the reason for the foster care placement. The disruption occurs after a child enters the United States under guardianship of the prospective adoptive parents or an adoption agency with a visa for the purposes of completing the adoption process domestically. The disruption must be reported even if the child's plan is reunification with the prospective adoptive parents and the stay in foster care is brief.
Family Code Section 297 defines domestic partners as two adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring.
Welfare and Institutions Code Section 18291 (a) states that 'Domestic violence' means abuse committed against an adult or minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship. Penal Code Section 13700 (b) states that "Domestic violence" means abuse committed against an adult or a minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship. For purposes of this subdivision, "cohabitant" means two unrelated adult persons living together for a substantial period of time, resulting in some permanency of relationship. Factors that may determine whether persons are cohabiting include, but are not limited to, (1) sexual relations between the parties while sharing the same living quarters, (2) sharing of income or expenses, (3) joint use or ownership of property, (4) whether the parties hold themselves out as husband and wife, (5) the continuity of the relationship, and (6) the length of the relationship.
A child who is receiving AFDC- FC, Kin-GAP or AAP benefits and is concurrently a consumer of Regional Center services.
A web-based system used by the DHS Medical Hubs that tracks the health status of children in the child welfare system and facilitates provision of quality medical care. As part of a joint effort between DHS and DCFS, the E-mHub System accepts the electronic transmission of the DCFS Medical Hub Referral Form and returns appointment status alerts and completed examination forms, to DCFS via an e-mail notification. DCFS and DPH PHNs and PHN Supervisors have access rights to EmHub screens pertaining to the health care of children served at the Hubs. Completed examination forms may be accessed through the link in the email notification by using the SITE User ID (employee number) and Password (current password used by employee).
The EX Pass TAP Card/Sticker is a monthly pass good for MTA and local travel on twenty-four (24) different public transit carriers throughout the Greater Los Angeles region. No transfers are necessary between the EZ Pass TAP Card transit carriers.
Are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior. Eating disorders are divided into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating.
Often seen in families where children are forced or allowed to work under certain illegal conditions outside and inside the home. This form of exploitation prohibits children from attending school and may place them in work environments that are a threat to their general health, safety and security. Although poverty may be a prime motivation for this type of exploitation, other situations may exist.
A stipend available to supplement (not replace) ILP. To qualify for this stipend, a youth must be eligible for ILP, be 18 years of age or older, and whose financial need has been verified by YDS. Current and former foster youth, as well as, Nonminor Dependents may qualify. The stipend may provide for, but not be limited to the following independent living needs: bus passes/transportation, housing rental and utility deposits and fees, education and work-related equipment and supplies, training-related equipment and supplies, auto insurance and driver’s education.
Emancipation allows a youth to be freed from the custody and control of their parents and to have many of the rights and responsibilities of an adult. There are three ways a minor may become emancipated: Get married with parental consent and permission from the court; Join the military; Go to court and have the judge declare you emancipated.
An ex-prate temporary restraining order issued by the Superior Court following a determination by law enforcement that a child is in immediate danger of abuse by a member of a child’s family or household. An EPO may exclude any parent, guardian or member of a child’s household from the dwelling of the person having the care, custody, and control of the child. EPO allow children to remain in their home while allegations of child abuse by the restrained parties are investigated and allow the non-offending parent time to seek assistance from Family Law Court. EPO expire at the close of the second day of judicial business following the day of issuance. EPO may only be extended by application to the appropriate court. See "Ex-Prate Order," "Judicial Business Hours" and "Restraining Order."
The term 'assessment' goes beyond the concept to evaluate a child's safety and risk, and to determine whether and what services are needed to ameliorate or prevent child abuse and neglect. In order to complete a thorough family assessment, any and all safety threats (as listed on the SDM Safety Assessment) that may compromise a child's safety and well-being must be thoroughly assessed, even if those safety threats were not identified on the referral as an allegation.
The term 'investigation' encompasses the efforts of DCFS to determine if abuse or neglect has occurred, if allegations can be substantiated.
"Emotional abuse" refers to nonphysical mistreatment, the results of which may be characterized by disturbed behavior on the part of the child such as severe withdrawal, regression, bizarre behavior, hyperactivity, or dangerous acting-out behavior.
CSW has good cause to request a ruling the same day the request is submitted, and intends to serve the warrant or at least make an attempt the same day it is granted.
Forcing or coercing a child into performing functions which are beyond his/her capabilities or capacities, or into illegal or degrading acts. The term also includes sexual exploitation, economic exploitation, exploitation involving illegal activities and exploitation in the home.
When assessing families that are involved in the gang culture investigate to see if children are encouraged from a young age to value gang membership (parents may be active or retired gang members), or if someone is teaching children gang signs, dress codes and affiliations and advocating membership, if adults are supporting violent behavior and criminal activities of the children.
Exploitation exists within the family household as well. A child may be selected to perform all or the majority of such parental tasks as cleaning, cooking and caring for younger siblings, including bathing, dressing, feeding and babysitting. Frequently, the child who is singled out in this manner is substituting for a parent who is absent or unable to fulfill parental responsibilities due to the parents' substance abuse and/or physical/mental disabilities.
The Extended Foster Care program allows a foster youth to remain in foster care and continue to receive foster care payment benefits (AFDC-FC payments) and services beyond age 18, as long as the foster youth is meeting participation requirements, living in an approved or licensed facility, and meeting other eligibility requirements.
A method of bringing family members together to come up with a recommendation to the court for a safe and permanent plan for a child. If differs from the traditional child welfare case conferencing in that although the caseworker participates in an information-sharing capacity, the family and not the child welfare worker is "in charge" of the meeting and responsible to create the recommended plan. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
In January 1991 as a result of Senate Bill AB546, we established comprehensive community-based networks and services to protect children while they remain within their homes. The primary goal of the Family Preservation approach is the safety of children in their own homes and safe return of children being reunified after periods of placement into foster care. DCFS currently works with 38 Family Preservation agencies and covers most of Los Angeles County. On average, 5,000 families are served annually. The maximum length of time services can be provided is 12 months. The average stay in Family Preservation is 9 months.
Activities designed to provide time-limited foster care services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation. The child remains in temporary foster care while services are provided to reunite the family.
An on-line Structured Decision Making (SDM) tool used for identifying family strengths and needs and to assist with case planning.
The term 'first degree relative' refers to grandparents, uncles, aunts, and adult siblings.
The Foster Care Search Engine (FCSE) is a web-based system providing an interactive search mechanism using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The system is a tool used to identify vacant placement homes within Los Angeles County based on the children needs and well-being. Mapping capability allows for staff to view location of vacancies in proximity to schools, community boundaries and placement of siblings. The system interfaces with CSW/CMS Datamart database to maintain data integrity and provides a web-based data entry screen for Foster Family Agencies to provide specific data not available on CWS/CMS. The system is used by Children’s Social Workers (CSW) and by Technical Assistants (TA) who assists the workers in foster care placements.
A non-profit organization licensed by the State of California to recruit, certify, train, and provide professional support to foster parents.
Greater Avenues for Independence - CalWORKs services may include GAIN services (Welfare-to-Work Program). GAIN is mandatory for parents aided on CalWORKs, unless there is an exemption (e.g., parent has a child under a year old, temporary incapacity, participant is over age 65).
A portion of the cash aid being received by a CalWORKs participant is reduced when (s)he is not adhering to GAIN Program requirements.
Penal Code Section 11165.2(b) defines general neglect as the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred.
The unavailability of a preferred placement, after a diligent search has been conducted; or the desires of the Indian parent, child, or tribe; or the child’s special needs for a placement, which offers either proximity to a parent or a therapeutic program when no available preferred placement can meet these needs.
For the purpose of the adoption home study, procedures initiated on behalf of the applicant, at the applicant's request, to appeal the Department's decision when the adoption home study has been denied by DCFS. The Grievance Review Process pamphlet outlines the specific action taken by the Department when the applicant requests a grievance review hearing. In addition, grievance procedures are in place for foster parents who want to challenge the Department's decision in regards to their care and supervision of a child(ren). Foster parents who want to challenge decisions regarding their license must follow grievance procedures from the State Department of Social Services.
Refers to behaviors or factors that may increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS such as: sexual activities involving exposure to the blood or semen of an infected person, sharing needles used for intravenous (IV) injections, tattooing and body-piercing with infected persons, maternal transmission (i.e., from an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy, birth or breast feeding) when the infant’s parent has a history of behavior that places the parent at an increased risk of exposure to HIV, blood or blood products, transfusions or organ transplants during the period from 1978 to June of 1985, and child is a victim of sexual abuse that places them at risk of exposure to HIV.
Harassment is unlawful violence, a credible threat of violence, or a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and that serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and must actually cause substantial emotional distress to the petitioner. (California Code of Civil Procedure Section 527.6 (a)(3))
An individual designated to make medical decisions on behalf of an adult if (s)he is incapable of making her/his own health care decisions. If no health care agent is appointed, when an adult has a medical emergency in which (s)he is not capable of communicating with hospital staff, the parent(s) or other relative would be asked to make decisions about medical treatment for the individual.
Passed in 2003, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is designed to give patients more control over their health information, set boundaries on the use and disclosure of health information, institute safeguards to protect privacy of health information, create accountability, civil and criminal penalties, and establish a balance between individual privacy and the public good. In cases where the law of California is more restrictive than HIPAA, the State law must be followed. Conversely, if HIPAA is more restrictive than State law, then HIPAA must be followed unless there is a legal exception.
A document that is generated on CWS/CMS that contains a summary of a child's health and education information. The caregiver keeps a current copy of the Passport, along with the health and education forms in a binder provided by DCFS. This binder shall follow the child to all placements. The Passport shall accompany the child to all medical, dental and educational appointments. The Passport binder in its entirety is given to the child upon emancipation.
A plan developed by a medical provider that assists the child/youth in developing life long practices that encourages healthy behaviors, healthy food choices and regular engagement in cardio-vascular activities.
In the context of CHDP, a child with one or more of the following conditions: A past significant medical problem or chronic illness; possible contagious disease; medication; and/or social problems (e.g., language barrier) which could conceal an unmet medical need.
The county that provides courtesy supervision for a child residing with a relative or in foster care placement whose legal jurisdiction is in another California County.
An approach to successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability to housing services without preconditions and barriers to entry such as service participation requirements.
The DCFS ICPC Unit will contact the potential host state, per existing procedures and obtain information regarding provision of services to a NMD placed in a SILP.
Shortcomings that if not corrected would have direct and immediate risk to health, safety, or personal rights of the child.
There is reasonable cause to believe that the child will experience serious bodily injury in the time it would take for the CSW to return to the office, prepare, obtain from a judge, and serve the removal order.
A report determined by the investigator conducting the investigation not to be unfounded, but the findings are inconclusive and there is insufficient evidence to determine whether child abuse or neglect, as defined in Section 11165.6, has occurred.
The adoption of a child in which neither CDSS nor an agency licensed by CDSS, such as DCFS, is a party to, or joins in, the petition for adoption.
The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act requires that a person who receives services from a regional center have an Individual Program Plan (IPP). Person-centered individual program planning assists persons with developmental disabilities and their families to build their capacities and capabilities. The planning team decides what needs to be done, by whom, when, and how, if the individual is to begin (or continue) working toward the preferred future. The document known as the Individual Program Plan (IPP) is a record of the decisions made by the planning team.
Those individuals who develop a health care plan for a child with special health care needs in a specialized foster care home or group home which shall include the child's primary care physician or other health care professional designated by the physician, any involved medical team, and the CSW and any health care professional designated to monitor the child's individualized health care plan, including, if the child is in a certified home, the registered nurse employed by or under contract with the certifying agency to supervise and monitor the child. The child's individualized health care plan team may also include, but shall not be limited to, a public health nurse, representatives from the California Children's Services Program or the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program, regional centers, the county mental health department, and where reunification is the goal, the parent or parents, if available. In addition, if the child is in a specialized foster care home, the individualized health care plan team may include the prospective specialized foster parents, who shall not participate in any team decision.
A person is considered institutionalized when (s)he has been residing in a hospital, jail, prison, homeless shelter, residential school, rehabilitation center, halfway house, out-of-home care facility, etc., for more than 90 calendar days. This does not include battered women's shelters.
ISWs are the key component when detention is being considered or when a detention has occurred. ISWs provide immediate linkage to services for families where a court detention was necessary. ISWs participate in child safety conferences shortly after detention to review for possible return of children and or to connect children and families to services immediately following detention.
The Intensive Treatment Foster Care Program (ITFC) was developed to meet the treatment needs of emotionally disturbed children who need out-of-home placement. An Intensive Treatment Foster Care agency refers to an organization licensed by the California Department of Social Services for children who have a history of emotional/behavioral disturbance, have experienced multiple placement histories; are at risk of hospitalization, and/or qualify for Rate Classification Level (RCL) 12 or higher group home placement.
One agency has custody of the child and another agency approved the applicant assessment.
A hearing that is not mandated by the Welfare and Institutions Code, but is set by the court to address specific information and/or receive a progress report on the case at hand.
The computer system tracking all dependency court schedules and proceedings. Additionally, this software system allows DCFS to print minute orders.
The intent of the Kin-GAP program is to establish a program of financial assistance for relative caregivers who have legal guardianship of a child while Dependency Court jurisdiction and the DCFS case are terminated. The rate for the Kin-GAP program will be applied uniformly statewide.
The Kinship Support Division promotes, increases, and sustains legal permanency for children, adolescents and young adults in relative and legal guardianship placement through providing education, supportive services, advocacy, mentoring, and aftercare that is accessible and meets the needs of the child, family, and community.
Physical custody of a minor 72 hours old or younger accepted by a person from a parent of the minor, who the person believes in good faith is the parent of the minor, with the specific intent and promise of effecting the safe surrender of the child.
Questions that suggest a desired answer; often these are questions that can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no.' For example: "The sky is blue, isn't it?"
Legal relief (legal remedy): the means to achieve justice in any matter in which legal rights are involved. Remedies may be ordered by the court, granted by judgment after trial or hearing, by agreement (settlement) between the person claiming harm and the person he/she believes has caused it, and by the automatic operation of law. Some remedies require that certain acts be performed or prohibited (originally called "equity"), others involve payment of money to cover loss due to injury or breach of contract, and still others require a court's declaration of the rights of the parties and an order to honor them.
Involves a child who was previously adopted from overseas (whether the full and final adoption occurred in the foreign country or domestically) but entered foster care as a result of a court terminating the parents' rights or the parents' relinquishing their rights to the child.
A child whose birth parents have had his or her parental rights terminated or whose birth parents have voluntarily given up parental rights through relinquishment.
Includes the intentional masturbation of the perpetrator's genitals in the presence of a child.
Foster family homes, small family homes, group homes, foster family agency certified homes, child care facilities.
Any medical procedure or intervention that will serve only to prolong a state of unconsciousness where there is a reasonable degree of medical authority that such state of unconsciousness is permanent, or prolong a terminal condition."
A criminal history check based upon the submission of the subjects' fingerprints to the DOJ. The inquiry may also include an inquiry of the Child Abuse Central Index and an inquiry of the FBI database, if there is an indication that the subject may have been arrested outside of California, or that the subject has been a resident of California for less than two years. The clearance will confirm the identity of the subject of the inquiry and give the subject's history of arrests and convictions.
Degree to which there are stated, shared and understood safety, well-being, and permanency outcomes and functional life goals for the child and family. The outcomes and goals should outline required protective capacities, desired behavior changes, sustainable supports, and other accomplishments necessary for the child and family to achieve and sustain adequate daily functioning and greater self-sufficiency.
California's federal Medicaid program.
As defined by Civil Code (CIV) Section 56.05(g), is any individually identifiable information, in electronic or physical form, in possession of or derived from a provider of health care, health care service plan, pharmaceutical company, or contractor regarding a patient’s medical history, mental or physical condition, or treatment. This does not include psychotherapy notes (notes made by the therapist about a private therapy session that are kept separate from the rest of the patient’s medical record). These notes are subject to additional privacy protections and cannot be disclosed by therapists even in situations where other PHI may be disclosed.
One or more of the following exist: Previous significant medical problem or chronic illness; possible contagious disease; on medication; and/or, social problem or language barrier which could conceal an unmet medical need.
Children with special health care needs as defined by Assembly Bill 2268. These children have medical conditions and symptoms that require special procedures, may be temporarily or permanently dependent upon medical equipment and/or devices, therapies and may require ongoing medical care and assessment as determined by the child’s physician. The caregiver must have been trained to provide the specialized in-home health care to these children.
A motion for rehearing or reconsideration: seeking to alter or amend a judgment or order.
For youth whose behavior places them at risk of entry into the juvenile justice system, particularly those who are subject of a 241.1 assessment. The goal of the therapy is to improve caregiver discipline practices, enhance family relations, decrease youth association with deviant peers, increase pro-social peers, improve youth school or vocational performance, engage youth in pro-social recreational outlets, and develop a support network of extended family, neighbors, and friends to help achieve and maintain such changes. (Only available in Regional Offices in SPA 6 and 7)
A program which provides a comprehensive, multi-level intervention to children and youth in the child welfare system. MTFC is an evidence-based practice (EBP). MTFC Program provides each youth with short-term treatment (average 6-12 months) in specialized foster home environment where child/youth is the only foster child and has the following: own bedroom, an individual therapist, a skills trainer, attend public school, foster parents trained in the MTFC model, permanent caregivers receive behavior training and family therapy before and after the youth is returned to their home, a program supervisor that coordinates all care and is available 24/7.
The cornerstone of and entry point to the Protective Services Child Health (PSCH) system and the focal point for a community-based Provider Network. The KDMC Hub will provide timely, comprehensive medical, developmental and psychological assessments, as well as on-site preventive health services to children in out-of-home care. In addition, the Hub will assist in the development of a comprehensive child health plan for each child, provide referrals for follow-up care and conduct provider outreach. (DCFS Glossary, from "Hub Services: King/Drew Medical Center (KDMC)")
Any team of three or more people trained in the prevention, identification, management or treatment of child abuse or neglect cases and qualified to provide a broad range of services related to child abuse or neglect. The team may include a CalWORKs case manager, whose primary responsibility is to provide cross program case planning and coordination of CalWORKs child welfare services of those mutual cases or families that may be eligible for CalWORKs services and that, with the informed written consent of the family, receive cross program case planning and coordination.
A near fatality is a severe injury or condition caused by abuse or neglect that results in the child receiving critical care for at least 24 hours following admission to a critical care unit.
The failure to provide a person with necessary care and protection. In the case of a child, the term refers to the failure of a parent(s)/guardian(s) or caretaker(s) to provide the care and protection necessary for the child's healthy growth and development. Neglect occurs when children are physically or psychologically endangered. The term includes both severe and general neglect as defined by Penal Code Section 11165.2 and medically neglected infants as described in 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1340.15(b).
A network (also known as a support network, support system, or social support system) refers to an extended group of family, friends, neighbors, professionals, and/or cultural, religious, or other communities that provide support for -- and meet a wide range of needs for -- a parent/caregiver and/or the child/ren (including tribal ICWA programs, Indian organizations, and/or family members, which can include non-related tribal members). The network may consist of individuals or organizations (e.g., religious organizations, community organizations, professional providers) who care about the child/ren or family and who provide or share concrete support (e.g., financial help, transportation, babysitting) or emotional support (e.g., listening, advice).
Children who first, or initially, enter the child welfare system and are placed in out-of-home care under a WIC 300 petition. (This definition includes children in an open case under a Court FM or VFM case plan who are subsequently removed from their biological parents and placed in out-of-home care).
A hearing in which the affiliated parties are not required to appear in order for the court to proceed with the matter at hand.
Non-Child Welfare Department module within CWS/CMS used to enter non-court cases such as Kin-GAP. It contains placement and payment information, the Legal Guardian’s information and case notes. The Probation Department also enters information in the Non-CWD module for cases supervised by their department.
A relative other than the child's birth or adoptive parents.
A person appointed by the Superior Court pursuant to the provisions of the Probate Code or appointed by the Dependency Court pursuant to the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code, who does not meet the definition of a 'Related Legal Guardian.'
A hospital, jail, prison, homeless shelter, residential school, rehabilitation center, halfway house, out-of-home care facility, etc. where the individual has lived for more than 90 calendar days. This does not include battered women's shelters.
A current dependent child or ward of the juvenile court, or a nonminor under the transition jurisdiction of the juvenile court, who: has attained 18 years of age while under an order of foster care placement by the juvenile court; is in foster care under the placement and care responsibility of the county welfare department, county probation department, Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization; is participating in a transitional independent living case. Defined by WIC 11400(v).
A nonrelative extended family member is defined as an adult caregiver who has an established familial relationship with a relative of the child or a familial or mentoring relationship with the child. The county welfare department must verify the existence of a relationship through interviews with the parent and child or with one or more third parties.
Includes any sexual contact between the genitals or anal opening of one person and the mouth or tongue of another person.
also known as intravenous feeding, is a method of getting nutrition into the body through the veins. While it is most commonly referred to as total parenteral nutrition (TPN), some patients need to get only certain types of nutrients intravenously.
DPSS term for person receiving services.
This is a six-week, 33-hour program that prepares resource families (foster and adoptive) for the new roles and parenting skills they will need if they adopt. A program of mutual preparation and selection which uses the teamwork approach between foster and adoptive parents and the agency to prepare foster and adoptive parents for theexperience of parenting children with special needs, such as those supervised by DCFS. The program incorporates self-assessment, mutual decision-making and experiential preparation for foster and adoptive planning to help parents decide if their expectations and abilities match the realities of foster and adoptive parenthood.
An economic loss or expense resulting from an injury or death to a victim of crime that has not been and will not be reimbursed from any other source. This is related to compensation from being a Victim of Crime.
Includes any intrusion by one person into the genitals or anal opening of another person, including the use of any object, except for acts performed for a valid medical purpose.
Includes any of the following options: the child returns home, the court approves adoption, legal guardianship, permanent plan living arrangement with a relative/non-relative extended family member, or the child's case is closed.
The services provided to achieve legal permanence for a child when efforts to reunify have failed until the court terminates FR. These services include identifying permanency alternatives, e.g., adoption, legal guardianship, tribal customary adoption and planned permanent living arrangement. Depending on the identified plan, the following activities may be provided: inform parents about adoptive planning and relinquishment, locate potential relative caregivers and provide them with information about permanent plans (e.g., adoption, legal guardianship) and refer the caregiver to the Adoption Division for an adoptive home study, etc.
Permanency Planning Conferences (PPCs) are modeled after TDM meetings to ensure that a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, family members and caregivers meet regularly to focus on the urgent permanency needs of youth. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
In the context of adoption, substantially correct information regarding a prospective adoptive parent. This shall include, but is not limited to, the following: full legal name; age; religion; race or ethnicity; length of current marriage and number of previous marriages; employment; whether other children or adults reside in the home; whether there are other children who do not reside in the home and the child support obligation for these children and any failure to meet these obligations; any health conditions curtailing normal daily activities or reducing normal life expectancies; any convictions for crimes other than minor traffic violations; any removal of children due to child abuse or neglect; and, general area of residence, or upon request, address.
Pertinent collateral contacts are individuals or agencies with information that can assist the CSW in understanding the nature and extent of the alleged child abuse/neglect and in assessing the risk to and safety of the children. Collateral Contacts include professionals working with the child or parent and have regular contact with the family. Examples include: teachers, parole officers, physicians, DPSS, DMH, therapists, hospitals, and probation.
Non-accidental bodily injury that has been or is being willfully inflicted on a child. It includes willful harming or injuring of a child or endangering of the person or health of a child defined as a situation where any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered.
Shortcomings that without correction would become a risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of the child. The child can be placed in the home pending completion of the CAP. TANF/CalWORKs is the funding source possibly available to the caregiver until the CAP is completed and eligibility for federal Foster Care funding is determined.
A meeting of attorneys and parties held for the purpose of reaching a negotiated settlement involving joint solutions.
A PPT is held for any pregnant or parenting teen under the Department’s supervision (as well as potential and recent fathers) as a youth-centered approach in order to identify and discuss issues related to pregnancy and early stages of child-rearing as well as breaking intergenerational cycles. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
Provides for 12 months in a residential program and a 12-month outpatient transitional services program.
i.e., more likely than not
A man is presumed to be the biological father of a child if: He has signed a voluntary declaration of paternity (VDP) or, after January 1, 1997 is identified on the child’s birth certificate; He and the mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated; Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s birth mother have attempted to marry each other and the child was born during the attempted marriage or within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation; After the child’s birth, he and the child’s birth mother have married or attempted to marry and either with his consent he is named on the child’s birth certificate or he is obligated to pay child support; He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his birth child; Anyone whom a court has found to be a presumed or legal father (this includes family court, dependency court, and judgments for child support services);Other men who tried to marry the mother or thought they had married the mother (even if it turns out that they did not), and even if after the birth may qualify as a presumed father. Consult County Counsel.
As it pertains to the allegations in a child welfare case, the petition must include enough facts that if later proven, will cause a child to be declared a dependent of the court.
Reasonable cause or a reasonable ground for belief in certain alleged facts (more than a hunch, but less than absolute certainty).
As defined by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), is health (including mental health) information created or maintained by a health care provider that identifies or can be used to identify a specific individual. PHI relates to an individual’s health, health care or payment for care – in the past, present or future.
Medications used as tools for producing certain chemical and physiological effects in the central nervous system. They are usually classified according to the types of disorders they are primarily used to treat.
A pro bono law office serving low-income children, adults, and families. Through its Children's Rights Project, Public Counsel assists children in civil legal matters such as guardianship, adoption, special education, government benefits, emancipation, teen parenting issues, immigration, mental health services, access to education and transitional services upon emancipation from foster care.
Referral Address Verification System
Includes any penetration however slight, of the vagina or anal opening of one person by the penis of another person, whether or not there is the emission of semen.
An intervention, informed by a Housing First approach, that connects families and individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability to assistance that may include the use of time-limited financial assistance and targeted supportive services.
The law requires child welfare agencies to make reasonable efforts to provide services that will help families remedy the conditions that brought the child and family into the child welfare system. It is based upon a standard of reasonableness, which is a subjective test of what a reasonable person would do in the individual circumstance, taking all factors into account. This includes conducting a Due Diligence search to locate parents whose whereabouts are unknown.
When it is objectively reasonable for a person to entertain a suspicion, based upon facts that could cause a reasonable person in a like position, drawing when appropriate, on his or her training, to suspect child abuse or neglect.
The standard characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the child's health, safety, and best interest.
The DCFS office that is responsible for providing services to the child, youth, dependent, or nonminor dependent. Usually, the office where the child's CSW is located.
Court will rule on the request by 5:00 p.m. the day after the request is filed with the court.
An adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words, 'great,' 'great-great' or 'grand' or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution. A former stepparent is considered a relative only if the child is federally eligible.
For the purpose of placement and foster care payments: An adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words, "great," "great-great" or "grand" or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution.
The action of a parent in which he or she surrenders custody, control and any responsibility for the care and support of the child. Currently, only an Adoption social worker or the court is qualified to process a relinquishment.
The RMP is a family centered, multi-departmental, integrated approach to identifying, coordinating and linking appropriate resources/services to meet the needs of children currently in, or at risk of a RCL 6 through 14 placement. Additional information can be found at www.lacdcfs.org/katieA/RMP/. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
Families that have a foster care license and an approved family assessment that meets the State’s adoption standards. They are dually prepared to provide foster care and support family reunification; but, should reunification not occur, they are approved to provide an adoptive home for a child.
An order issued by the court, which enjoins a person from engaging in a specified behavior or activity, limits the distance a person may approach a specific location and/or person, or excludes a person from a specific dwelling or place of business. See "Emergency Protective Order."
For children aged three or older at the time of initial removal, services are to be provided from the dispositional hearing until the 366.21(f) hearing, unless the child is returned home. For children under the age of three, services are to be provided until the 366.21(e) hearing, unless the child is returned home.
The Review Agent conducts the Grievance Review Hearing. In accordance with CDSS Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) 31-020.511-.513, the Review Agent is a staff or other person not involved in the complaint; neither a co-worker nor a person directly in the chain of supervision of any of the persons involved in the complaint unless the Agent is the Director or Chief Deputy of the county; knowledgeable of the field and capable of objectively reviewing the complaint. The Review Agent for Los Angeles County, DCFS is the Manager, Appeals Section.
Supplemental Security Income. This program pays monthly benefits to blind or disabled children/youth who have limited income and resources. It is administered by Social Security.
Specialized Supportive Services - CalWORKs participants eligible to receive GAIN services may be eligible to receive Specialized Supportive Services (e.g., mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence assessment and treatment services) and transportation, child care and other ancillary expenses.
The D-Rate is the rate paid on behalf of hard-to-place children with severe and persistent emotional and/or behavioral problems. This rate can be paid for eligible children placed in the following types of out-of-home care facilities if they have been certified for the D-Rate: foster family homes, non-related legal guardian homes, nonrelative extended family member homes, foster care-eligible relative (Youakim) homes, and small family homes which are not vendorized by Regional Center but are licensed for mentally disordered/emotionally disturbed children.
The school that the foster child attended when permanently housed (prior to detention) or the school in which the foster child was last enrolled. If the school the child attended when permanently housed is different than from the school the child was last enrolled, or if there is some other school that the foster child attended with which he/she is connected (and attended within the immediately preceding 15 months) the local educational agency foster child education liaison, in consultation and agreement with the foster child and their Educational Rights Holder, can determine which school should be the child's school-of-origin.
Is defined as being able to meet one’s basic needs for food, shelter, income, and overall functioning. It is complementary to the goal of permanency, as individuals typically function better when they are surrounded by loving and caring adults. However, if one’s safety net were to be removed, self-sufficient adults would still be able to survive. In order for youth to become thriving, self-sufficient adults, they need to acquire solid assets and skills, early on, in key areas and outcome areas, such as, permanency/housing; education; social and emotional well-being; career/workforce readiness; health and medication. These four outcome areas lay the foundation for a successful transition into adulthood. To develop properly, they must be addressed and nurtured early on, at the first point of contact. Having continuous high expectations for success in these four areas is critical if youth are to have the support they need to achieve self sufficiency.
Reasonable cause to believe that the child has a need for medical care for a serious medical condition; or is in danger of physical or sexual abuse; or the physical environment poses a threat to the child's health or safety.
Penal Code Section 11165.2(a) defines severe neglect as the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to protect the child from severe malnutrition or medically diagnosed nonorganic failure to thrive. "Severe neglect" also means those situations of neglect where any person having the care or custody of a child willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered, as proscribed by Penal Code 11165.3, including the intentional failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. Child abandonment would come under this section.
Includes any single act of abuse which causes physical trauma of sufficient severity that, if left untreated, would cause permanent physical disfigurement, permanent physical disability, or death; any single act of sexual abuse which causes significant bleeding, deep bruising, or significant external or internal swelling; or repeated acts of physical abuse, each of which causes bleeding, deep bruising, significant external or internal swelling, bone fracture, or unconsciousness.
The victimization of a child by sexual activities, including, but not limited to, those activities defined in Penal Code Section 11165.1(a)(b)(c). See "sexual assault" and "sexual exploitation."
Conduct in violation of laws pertaining to: Section 261 (rape), 264.1 (rape in concert), 285 (incest), 286 (sodomy), subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 288 (lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age), 288a (oral copulation), 289 (penetration of a genital or anal opening by a foreign object), or 647a (child molestation). If there are no indicators of abuse, “sexual assault” does not include voluntary sodomy, voluntary oral copulation, or voluntary sexual penetration unless the conduct is between a person 21 years of age or older and a minor under 16 years of age.
Conduct involving matter depicting a minor engaged in obscene acts in violation of Section 311.2 (preparing, selling, or distributing obscene matter) or subdivision (a) of Section 311.4 (employment of minor to perform obscene acts). Any person who knowingly promotes, aids or assists, employs, uses, persuades, induces or coerces a child, or any person responsible for a child's welfare who knowingly permits or encourages a child to engage in, or assist others to engage in, prostitution or a live performance involving obscene sexual conduct or to either pose or model alone or with others for the purpose of preparing a film, photograph, negative, slide, drawing, painting or other pictorial depiction involving obscene sexual conduct. 'Person responsible for a child's welfare' means a parent, guardian, foster parent, or a licensed administrator, or employee of a public or private residential home, residential school, or other residential institution. Any person who depicts a child in, or who knowingly develops, duplicates, prints, or exchanges, any film, photograph, video tape, negative, or slide in which a child is engaged in an act of obscene, sexual conduct, except for those activities by law enforcement and prosecution agencies and other persons described in subdivisions (c) and (e) of Section 311.3.'
Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV and AIDS, are transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact as well as though direct person-to-person contact with blood or body fluids that contain the infection.
A sibling is defined as a child related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
The determination of what is considered 'significant contact' by an individual with a child will be determined by the ASFA Division in consultation with County Counsel and regional staff.
Any residential facility in the licensee's family residence, which provides 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children who have mental disorders or developmental or physical disabilities and who require special care and supervision as a result of their disabilities. WIC 11400(e)
Assembly Bill 2268, defines children with special health care needs as those children who are either temporarily or permanently dependent upon medical equipment or in need of other specific kinds of specialized in-home health care, as determined by the child’s physician. See "medically fragile."
Definition for Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), a child whose adoption, without financial assistance, would be unlikely due to one or more of the following factors: age (three years or older),ethnic background, race, color or language, mental, physical, emotional or medical handicap, adverse parental background, membership in a sibling group which should remain intact. In the context of protective services childcare, a child who is mentally or physically incapable of caring for him/herself, as verified by a physician or a licensed or certified psychologist, and requires separate accommodations to be provided with basic childcare. In the context of dependency court, a special needs child is one who has had three or more placements during a 12-month period and has a diagnosis or history of one or more of the following: conduct disorder with aggressive tendencies or antisocial behavior; attention deficit disorder treated by psychotropic drugs; self-destructive or suicidal behavior; use of psychotropic drugs; developmental disability; fire setting; manifestation of psychotic symptoms; somatizing or chronic depression or social isolation; severe sexual acting-out behavior and/or; substance abuse.
A rate paid in addition to the basic care rate for the care of children/youth with special needs.
Any of the following foster homes where the foster parents reside in the home and have been trained to provide specialized in-home health care to foster children: 1) Licensed foster family homes; 2) small family homes or; 3) certified family homes that have accepted placement of a child with special health care needs who is under the supervision and monitoring of a registered nurse employed by, or on contract with, the certifying agency, and who is either of the following: a) a dependent of the court under WIC 300 or; b) developmentally disabled and receiving services and case management from a regional center.
Includes, but is not limited to, those services identified by the child's primary physician as appropriately administered in the home of any of the following: 1) A foster parent trained by health care professionals where the child is being placed in, or is currently in, a specialized foster care home; 2) Group home staff trained by health care professionals pursuant to the discharge plan of the facility releasing the child where the child was placed in the home as of Nov. 1, 1993, and who is currently in the home; 3) a health care professional, where the child is placed in a group home after November 1, 1993. WIC 17710(h)
The act of temporarily stopping a judicial proceeding through the order of a court.
Assesses the child's present danger and the interventions currently needed to protect the child. Assesses whether any children are likely to be in immediate danger of serious harm/maltreatment and determines what interventions should be initiated or maintained to provide appropriate protection.
A thirty (30) day pass good for MTA travel only. Students must have an appropriate MTA ID Card to obtain the pass. Student Cardholders are provided with a Student TAP Card each month. There is no charge for the Card itself. Students can pick-up a photo-less Metro Student Dare ID Card (K-8 or 9-12) at participating schools or one of the four Metro Customer Centers.
Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Services are available to determine whether parents or caregivers’ abilities are impaired by the use of alcohol and drugs; if parents/caregivers need to be referred for alcohol/substance abuse treatment, and to monitor progress in treatment. Test results are used as part of the evaluation process to determine if children can remain safely in the home of their parents and caregivers, or if children can be safely returned to the care of their parents and caregivers.
A report determined by the investigator conducting the investigation to constitute child abuse or neglect, as defined in Section 11165.6, based upon evidence that makes it more likely than not that child abuse or neglect, as defined, occurred.
SILP is a supervised and approved placement that is part of the Extended Foster Care program. SILP is a flexible and the least restrictive placement setting. It can include: an apartment (alone or with roommates); shared living situations; room and board arrangements; room rented from a landlord, friend or relative, or former caregiver; or college dorms.
CWS/CMS services component for nonminor dependents (NMD) under which the required Extended Foster Care (EFC) participation criteria must be indicated.
SOC refers to a continuum of care for children and their families, which meets their mental, emotional, and behavioral needs. The program focuses on treatment for children and youth who are at risk of placement in either a group home or a more restrictive setting. An Inter- Agency Screening Committee comprised of representatives from DCFS, Department of Mental Health, the Probation Department, Special Education Local Planning Area, and local school districts, screens these type of cases. Services may include intensive in-home treatment, in-home support services, daily living skills, mental health services, crisis intervention, respite care, parent training, school intervention and therapeutic foster homes.
Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
The Transit Access Pass (TAP) Card is a monthly pass good for MTA travel only.
A process utilizing a multidisciplinary assessment and team approach in working with children and their families. Includes community-based social workers and other child and family service providers that assist the family in identifying local supports that could help reduce stresses and improve family life. Parents play a key role in identifying their needs and the supports that would be most helpful in addressing them. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
The removal of a child from the home of a parent or legal guardian and placement or facilitation of placement of the child in the home of a non-offending parent, relative, foster caregiver; group home or institutional setting.Temporary custody also includes: placing hospital holds on children; situations in which the CSW interrupts an established Family Law Court custody or visitation orders when the CSW believes that if the order is carried out, the child would be placed in immediate risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation and the child is allowed to remain in the home of the non-offending parent; situations in which DCFS requests that law enforcement remove a child from the home of his or her parent/legal guardian and the CSW places the child with a relative or unrelated caregiver; and situations in which the child is living with a relative or an unrelated caregiver and all of the following conditions exist: child’s parent is asking for the child to be returned home, CSW believes that the return of the child to his or her parent would place the child at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation, CSW does not allow the child to be returned to his or her parent; and, the child remains in the home of the relative or is placed in out-of-home care.
When a child is declared free from the care custody and control of his or her birth parents by court action.
A free legal services organization focused solely on protecting the rights of impoverished, abused and neglected children in Los Angeles County – children in foster care, children with educational disabilities, children who need healthcare or public benefits, and children in need of legal guardianship or adoption.
For the purposes of assigning Dependency Investigation tasks, a traditional residence is a house, an apartment, room(s) in a shared house or apartment, or another residence not included under the definition of non-traditional residence.
Hearing held by the receiving county court to determine if the case transfer request will be accepted.
Hearing held by the sending county court to determine the appropriateness of the transfer request. The court may order a case transferred to a different county during the Transfer-Out Hearing.
A home that has been licensed or approved by an Indian child’s tribe or a tribal organization designated by the Indian child’s tribe, for foster or adoptive placements of an Indian child using standards established by the tribe.
In the context of adoption, a person who has applied to adopt a child but has not been matched with an available child, and is therefore considered "unattached" to a particular child. An applicant for adoption who is not already linked with a specific child to adopt.
In the context of adoption, a child for whom adoption is the identified permanent plan but for whom no prospective adoptive parent has been identified.
A report determined by the investigator conducting the investigation to be false, inherently improbably, to involve an accidental injury, or not constituting child abuse or neglect as defined in Section 11165.6.
An aggressive, standardized approach to infection control which treats all human blood and certain body fluids as if they were known to contain blood-borne pathogens.The extension of blood and body fluid precautions to all patients. Under universal precautions, blood and certain body fluids of all patients are considered potentially infectious for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens. (CDC)
Authorities, e.g. CSWs, law enforcement, etc, have reasonable evidence that a parent is abusive, cannot provide love and support to the child, or will in some significant way interfere with the examination.
The provision of non-court, time-limited protective services to families whose children are in potential danger of abuse, neglect, or exploitation when the children can safely remain in the home with DCFS services. In order to receive VFM services, the family must be willing to accept them and participate in corrective efforts to ensure that the child's protective needs are met. There is a six-month time limit for this service.
The foster care placement of a child by or with the participation of DCFS acting on behalf of CDSS, after the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the child have requested the assistance of DCFS and signed a voluntary placement agreement form.
A legal document filed by DCFS in juvenile dependency court alleging that a child is described under Welfare and Institution Code (WIC) 300.
A hearing will be held no later than 120 days from the date of the Permanency Review Hearing. The purpose of a WIC Section 366.26 hearing is to identify and implement a permanent plan for a dependent child of the court. The court will then make findings and orders in the following order of preference: permanently terminate the rights of the parent or parents and order that the child be placed for adoption; or, without permanently terminating parental rights, identify adoption as the goal and order that efforts be made to locate an appropriate adoptive family for the child within a period not to exceed 180 days; or, appoint a legal guardian and issue letters of guardianship; or, order that the child be placed in long-term foster care, subject to the periodic review of the court under WIC 366.3.
A request to submit a report to the court when a hearing is not calendared, but the matter requires immediate court attention. Walk-on hearings may be appearance or non-appearance matters.
The Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section that describes abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other endangerment situations and conditions whereby a child may be removed from the care and custody of parents or legal guardians and declared a dependent of the court under DCFS supervision.
W-Homes provide foster care to dependent teen parents and their non-dependent children, while assisting the teen parent’s to develop the skills they will need to provide a safe, stable and permanent home for their children. This is not a new licensing category. A W-Home can be a family home, approved relative caregiver or non-relative extended family member’s (NREFM) home, or the home of a non-related legal guardian whose guardianship was established pursuant to WIC Section 366.26 or 360.
A situation where any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered.
These include concerns the family, team members or DCFS have related to the safety of the children/youth. The worries help the team identify what is important to ensure a safe and secure future for the children/youth.
Wraparound is a multi-agency initiative. The Wraparound approach is a family-centered, strengths-based, needs-driven planning and service delivery process. It advocates for family-professional partnership to ensure family voice, choice and ownership. Wraparound children and family teams benefits children by working with the family to ensure Permanency. Wraparound is funded through Title IV-E funds. The average length of involvement with the program is 8 months. The primary focus of the program is to keep children out of residential placements and maintain them safely in their family and community.
The practice of using flipchart pads and markers to write all brainstormed team responses to the agenda items during the CFT meeting. Examples of what is charted include: Family goal, non-negotiables, strengths, worries, needs and the plan for "what could go wrong".
Refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for boys and men or girls and women. These influence the ways that people act, interact, and feel about themselves. Gender is different from Sex in that Sex is assigned at birth.
an internal understanding of one’s own gender (e.g. a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else). Therefore, a transgender person’s gender identity does not match the sex assigned to him or her at birth.
Ideas on what possible needs may be driving a person's behavior.
Matters related to the safety and well-being of the child(ren)/youth that cannot be changed at the present time (e.g. children cannot be supervised by anyone under the influence). Non-negotiables are focused on the "now" and should give the team ideas about the limits to planning and clarity on what cannot be compromised.
A continuous learning process in which you think about your practice, and consciously analyze your decision-making. It is an important tool in developing insight based on professional experiences, drawing on theory and relating it to practice.
A continuous process by which the "right people" for the child, youth and family have formed a CFT that meets, talks and plans together. The CFT has the skills, family knowledge and abilities, necessary to define the strengths and needs of the child and family, in order to organize effective services specific to their needs.
A need is what drives a behavior and what makes a behavior functional for the person. The child and/or youth's needs should be the focus of the teaming process to ensure their safety and well-being. Recognizing the individual and family needs is central to the family-engagement and planning process.
Degree to which the focus child(ren), parents (including the non-custodial parent), family members, and caregivers are active ongoing participants (e.g. having a significant role, voice, choice and influence) in shaping decisions made about child and family strengths and needs, goals, supports and services.