WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE?
Guardianship: If you would like to become a legal guardian for a child placed in your home by Sacramento County Child Protective Services, contact the child’s social worker. Probate guardianship is available to caregivers with informal placement of their relatives’ children (though there are no cash payments tied to this type of guardianship).
KinGAP is a program which creates an option for a foster child’s permanent placement with a relative, instead of adoption. The monthly payments and annual clothing allowances are the same as foster care.
If a child is receiving higher specialized care payments prior to transferring to KinGAP that increased funding will continue. To be eligible for KinGAP the following conditions must be met:
- You have been caring for the child for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to establishing guardianship.
- You have been assessed as the most appropriate permanent placement for the child.
- The child is ready and able to leave the foster care system.
- You have taken legal guardianship of the child.
(800) KIN-0047 or (800) 546-0047 will help you identify kinship support services in any California County. If a relative gets guardianship in the probate court, the relative is eligible for CalWorks instead of Kin-Gap.
If the caregiver does not qualify for foster care benefits as the child’s relative, the caregiver will likely qualify for CalWORKs benefits. Regardless of income, caregivers can receive non-needy CalWORKs benefits for the child. If caregivers are low-income, they can apply for CalWORKs benefits for themselves and the child, or add the child to a caregiver’s existing CalWORKs case.
Adoption Assistance: The Adoption Assistance Program provides benefits to families who adopt children. The benefits are usually the same as the foster care amount, including higher “specialized rates”. Benefits must be renegotiated at least every two years. You may also get help with the costs of the adoption process. The adoptive family becomes legally responsible for the child’s support.
A good resource is https://dcfas.saccounty.net/CPS/Documents/Publications/Giving%20a%20child%20a%20permanent%20home-relatives.pdf#search=Kin%20gap . This can help you learn the difference between different types of programs and determine whether guardianship, adoption, Kin Gap, or extended foster care benefits may apply in your case.