Division 03: Child Welfare Chapter 05: Placement
Item 017: Relative and Non-Relative Extended Family Member Caregivers
Suggested changes send to: DSS PSOA Mailbox Issued: June 13, 2014
References: ACINs I-03-03 , I-43-04 , and I-86-08 ;
ACLs 00-85 , 01-85 , 02-19 , 02-58 , 02-59 , 02-78 and 14-
Revisions in Red
21 ; Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (1997)
Senate Bill (SB) 645
,
, Chapter 949, Statutes of 1998;
Replaces Issue: February 28, 2014
SB 1064 ; Assembly Bill (AB) 1695 Amended Health and Safety Code, Section 1505; Community Care
Licensing Letter dated January 14, 2002; Division 31
MPP 31-445.3
; Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 9.5,
Article 3
Expedited Request / Initial Request / Reassessment Request
/ Add-On Request / Move Request
/ Safety
Check Request / Safety Check OA Responsibilities / Safety Check HAU SW Responsibilities / Home
Approval Application Process
/ Emergency Placements / After Hours SW Responsibilities in Emergency
Placements
/ HAU OA Responsibilities
/ HAU SW Responsibilities
/ Placement Decision Priorities /
Placement with Relative/NREFM
/ Eligibility for Funding / Resources
Preamble
Child Welfare Policy and Procedure Guides are meant to be used as tools to relay best practice and staff expectations. It is understood that specific case scenarios may not always align themselves with the stated practices and that at all times what is of paramount importance is the Safety and Well-being of the children we are charged to protect.
Policy
To ensure the safety of children in all placements, relative and non- relative extended family member
(NREFM) caregivers and their homes shall be evaluated and reassessed according to the same health and safety standards established for licensing County Foster Family Homes. Social Workers (SW) assigned to a Home Approval Unit (HAU) shall complete relative and NREFM evaluations, but final placement decisions are the responsibility of case managing social workers (CM SW).
Purpose
To establish a process for approval or denial of relative and NREFM placements, including proper documentation and funding sources.
Procedure
Types of Application Requests
Rapid Request
A Rapid Request is defined as home evaluation for Relatives/NREFM’s received directly from the
Emergency Response (ER) division to facilitate the initial placement of children with their family. This

PPG 03-05-017 is intended to be a same-day service and 24 hour follow-up is required to ensure that children are placed in Relative/NREFM care, if at all possible, so as to mitigate the trauma of removal. CM SWs outside of
ER may submit an application and request it to be expedited on a case-by-case basis to address 7-day notice situations, etc. The HAU SW shall respond within the same day of receiving an accurately completed Application.
If adults have existing or pending Criminal or Child Protective Services (CPS) history:

HAU SW will check CWS/CMS Collateral section to review whether a prior Home Approval had been completed through the exemption process.

If such a Home Approval exists, the HAU SW shall investigate whether the DSS has sent a No
Longer Interested (NLI) Notification (BCIA 8302) to DOJ in reference to any and all adults that would require an exemption. The NLI notice discontinues DSS’ notification from DOJ of any individual’s subsequent arrests/convictions. If the NLI notification(s) were sent, the request shall be downgraded to an Expedited Request. If the NLI notice(s) has not been sent the request shall continue to be processed as a Rapid Request.

If an exemption is not on file, the Rapid Request shall be downgraded to one of the following
Request types below.
Expedited Request
An Expedited Request is defined as a home evaluation for Relatives/NREFMs received directly from an
ER SW that does not fall within the parameters of a Rapid but needs to be addressed more timely than an “Initial” request. CM SWs outside of ER may submit an application and request it to be expedited on a case-by-case basis to address 7-day notice situations, etc. The HAU Office Assistant (OA) must schedule Live scan appointments within 24 hours if the referred individuals are not already in the office and able to be fingerprinted. The HAU SW shall respond within 3 days of receiving an accurately completed application by scheduling a home evaluation to occur no later than 5 days from date the completed application was received and assigned.
Initial Request
Initials Requests are defined as a home evaluation for Relatives/NREFMs that does not fall within the parameters of a Rapid or Expedited. The HAU OA must schedule live scan appointments within 24 hours if the referred individuals are not already in the office and able to be fingerprinted. The HAU SW shall respond within 5 days of receiving an accurately completed Application by scheduling a home evaluation to occur no later than 10 days from the date a completed application was received and assigned.
Reassessment Request
The HAU SW shall respond and complete annual reassessments of approved homes where dependent children are placed. This reassessment shall be completed prior to the anniversary date of the initial approval and shall be assigned to the HAU SW by the HAU Social Work Supervisor (SWS).
Page 2 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
Add-On Request
When an adult moves into an approved home the adult’s criminal and CPS history must be assessed.
The HAU OA must schedule live scan appointments within 24 hours if the referred individuals are not already in the office and able to be fingerprinted. The HAU SW shall respond by scheduling a home evaluation within 3 business days of being assigned an accurately completed Application.
Significant Contact/Frequent Visitor/Babysitter
Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 361.4 states a criminal records check shall be conducted for persons over 18 who may have significant contact with the child, including any person who has a familial or intimate relationship with any person living in the home.
Helpful questions to answer to establish the strength of the contact include:

Are there opportunities for the person to be alone with the child?

Does the individual stay overnight?

Does the person keep personal effects at the relative/NREFM home or use the residence as a home address?

What is the frequency and duration of the contact?
The relationship to be addressed is how much significant contact a child has with this particular home visitor. If there is little to no contact, the person does not require a Live Scan.
Health & Safety Code 1522(b)(3)(A) has exceptions to the requirement for criminal record clearances.
It states that among those who may be exempt from a criminal records check include:
“Adult friends and family of the licensed or certified foster parent, who come into the home to visit for a length of time no longer than defined by the department in regulations [the department has defined the visit to be no longer than 30 days], provided that the adult friends and family of the licensee are not left alone with the foster children.
However, the licensee acting as a reasonable and prudent parent, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 362.04 of the Welfare & Institutions Code, may allow his or her adult friends and family to provide short term care to the foster child and act as an appropriate occasional short-term babysitter for the child.
” [Short term is defined as less than 24 consecutive hours in WIC 362.04(3)].
Under this standard, a prudent parent may leave the minor in the care of an un-fingerprinted friend or family member only infrequently and for no longer than 24 hours.
Move Request
When a dependent minor is currently in placement in a Relative/NREFM home and the family moves to new residential dwelling a Move Request must be submitted to the HAU by the CM SW. The HAU OA must schedule live scans within 24 hours if the request includes adults not previously fingerprinted
(Add-on Adult Only). The HAU SW must schedule a home evaluation within 5 business days of receiving an accurately completed Application.
Page 3 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
Safety Check Request
CM SW Please Note: If a home is approved and placement has not occurred within three months of the initial approval date, a Safety check is required by HAU prior to placement. CM SW shall notify Home
Approval staff by sending an e-mail to the HSS DCFS Home Approval Unit Inbox immediately. The email must include in the subject heading “Safety Check”. The contents of the e-mail must include the case name, case number, minor’s name(s) and Relative/NREFM name.
Safety Check OA Responsibilities
OA staff that receives the request for a safety check shall pull the case file and complete updated local clearances.
OA staff must log the safety check in the Master log and assign it on a “round-robin” basis to a HAU
SW.
Safety Check HAU SW Responsibilities
HAU SW shall complete a safety check of the approved home prior to placement taking place.
HAU SW must schedule the home safety check within 5 business days of receiving the safety check request.
HAU SW must investigate to see if there have been any NLI notice submitted or any subsequent arrests received.
If none exist the HAU SW shall go to the Relative/NREFM home and complete the following documents as part of the safety check:

Review personal rights.

Complete new LIC 508 forms for every adult.

Complete SOC 817 and identify any new adults in the home.
HAU SW shall enter a new assessment under the Relative/NREFM tab in CWS and update any new clearances.
Home Approval Application Process
CM SW Responsibilities
The CM SW requesting the Relative/NFREM to be evaluated for placement shall complete the mandatory sections of the Application for Assessment of Relative/NREFM Home (form CWS 0037).
The requesting CM SW shall e-mail the completed Relative/NFREM Home Approval application to the
HSS DCFS Home Approval Unit email inbox. The subject line of the email must specify the type of
Application Request being sent (i.e.: Initial Request, Rapid, Expedited, Annual Reassessment, Add-On
Adult, and/or Move Request).
Page 4 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
The completed Application must include the Case number, Case name, Type of Application, Task area,
CM SW Name, District and telephone number; Relative/NREFM Current address, Social Security
Number (SSN), Date of Birth (DOB), telephone number and Current Driver’s License and/or
Identification Card number for each adult listed on the Application. All non-dependent children in the
Relative/NREFM home must be listed on the completed Application.
A relative’s identification card from a foreign consulate (including a Mexican Matriculation card) or foreign passport shall be considered a valid form of identification and their information shall be entered on the CWS 0037 form.
NOTE: Applications may be initiated by other than department staff such as relatives/NREFMs, court personnel etc. When such applications are received, they are to be scanned and e-mailed within 24hours to the HSS DCFS Home Approval Unit e-mail inbox. The submitted hard-copy applications are to be routed to Home Approval, Stop #138.
Emergency Placements
Emergency Placements may be made only after California Law Enforcement Telecommunication
System (CLETS), Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) and CPS background checks have been completed, and results considered, while waiting for Live Scan results.
Prior to making an emergency placement, a SW must always discuss the case with a SWS as emergency placements are not eligible for Title IV-E funding.
An Out-Of-State Disclosure & Criminal Record Statement , form LIC 508D , must be filled out by the caregiver and kept on file with the county pending receipt of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) clearance.
After Hours SW Responsibilities in Emergency Placements
The after hours SW is responsible to request a Department of Justice (DOJ) CACI report via facsimile to
(916) 456-0351. This number is specifically for after hours, holidays and weekends. The SW must write “Emergency Rapid Placement” on top of the CACI request so that it can be processed in a timely manner. (Two hour return time for results.) Be sure to circle the Dept. fax number on the CACI request form.
The after hours SW is responsible to call the DOJ to request a Criminal Clearance and explain that he/she is attempting to complete an Emergency Placement. DOJ staff can be contacted at (916) 227-
3244. DOJ staff will process a verbal Criminal Clearance from information provided by the SW. DOJ staff will ask for the department’s main telephone number. The SW will provide them with (559) 600-
6400. The SW will be asked to provide his/her Name, Title and the number of adult subjects that clearances are required for. DOJ will only run 3 subjects at a time. If there are more than 3 adults in the home the SW will have to place another call to request the clearances on the other adults until all clearances are requested.
The after hours SW is responsible to search for CPS history in CWS/CMS and the
Megan’s Law website .
Page 5 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
If record checks clear, the after hours SW shall complete a home call with the relative/NREFM and check for the following pursuant to Title 22 regulations:

A working smoke alarm is located at or near the bedrooms (if the home does not have one, the
SW or relative/NREFM can call the Fire Department to bring one to the home).

If the minor is under 10 years of age and/or developmentally delayed, any pools are properly fenced. o The fence must be at least 5 feet high (an exception can be made if the fence does not meet the height requirement with a combination of fence and exit alarms). Wooden fences are not acceptable. Mesh fencing is acceptable if installed properly. o The gate must open away from the pool, be self closing and self latching – NO locks on pool gate. o Spas may have a sturdy lock cover instead of a fence.

Guns and ammunition are locked up separately from each other. o The guns must have a trigger lock or be locked up.

Minors/non-minor dependents (NMDs) each have their own bed. On a case by case basis, the
SW may allow them to share a large bed if needed for a few days.

Medicines, poisons and cleaning supplies are to be inaccessible to the minors/NMDs.

Check the home for any other possible dangers including, but not limited to: o Animals on the grounds that may pose a threat to the minor’s/NMD’s safety or health. o Unsafe and/or unhealthy conditions to the interior of the home, including any attached and detached garages. o Unsafe and/or unhealthy conditions to the exterior of the home, including front, back and side yards.

Ensure there is enough space in the home for the minors/NMDs. o Only infants under the age of 2 can share a bedroom with adults. o Only minors under the age of 5 can share a bedroom with another minor of the opposite sex.

The only exception is for a minor parent to share a bedroom with their child. o No more than 2 minors/NMDs can sleep in the same bedroom. However, depending on space, in certain circumstances a Documented Alternative Bedroom Plan (DAP) may be approved.
If the relative/NREFM home appears safe for the minors/NMDs to stay, the after hours SW may place the minor/NMD on an emergency placement . The SW will:

Have the relative/NREFM sign 2 copies of the HA-14 , Rapid Placement Advisement form.
(The form is located in DSS Portal

Reference Library

Forms A-F

Child Welfare forms

Home Approval, and is available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Lao). o The relative/NREFM keeps one copy of the HA-14 .
Page 6 of 15

PPG 03-05-017

Email the Rapid referral to the HSS DCFS Home Approval Unit Inbox for follow up by a HAU
SW the next working day. o The email shall indicate whether or not the minor/NMD was placed with the relative/NREFM.

Place the following in the HAU Rapid referral basket, located in the “L” Street building: o Rapid referral (CWS 0037). o All clearances started or completed. o A brief narrative, including whether or not the minor/NMD was placed with the relative/NREFM. o A copy of the HA-14 form.
HAU OA Responsibilities
Retrieve the Application for Assessment of Relative/NREFM Home from the HSS DCFS Home
Approval Unit email inbox. The Application shall be reviewed for completeness. If the Application is incomplete, it will be returned to the requesting SW and/or SWS to be completed and resubmitted within
24 hours. If the Application was not completed by a DSS employee, HAU clerical will contact the
Relative/NREFM to gather the missing information.
The completed Application shall be processed for assignment.
Print the email, date stamp the HAU Application and enter the Application into the HAU Master
Application tracking log, and the Clerical Tracking log. The Relative/NFREM name, the date the
Application was received and the OA’s initials shall be entered on the tracking log. Clerical will have 5 working days from the date the Application was received to complete the processing of the Application background clearances.
E-mail the submitted HAU Application to the assigned HAU SW and send a copy to the SWS.
Search the Home Approval Database, update or add data according to status of Application Request
[initial, Expedited, Add-On, Rapid, Move, Reassessment, Interstate Compact for the Protection of
Children (ICPC) or Out of County] with accurate information located on the submitted Application which includes but is not limited to: Application Date; HAU SW name; Assigned Date; Type of
Application; Task Area; Status; Relative/NREFM name, address, California Driver’s License Number
(CDL#) and SSN; Language Type; Live Scan Date; Dependent minor(s) name(s), case name and case number.
Utilize the clerical Application process checklist to ensure that all necessary steps in processing the HA
Application has been completed.
Complete form 6242 ,
Fresno County Sheriff’s Clearance Request
, for each adult listed on the Home
Approval Application.
Search the Record Management System and Offender Track system. All findings will be noted on the form 6242 and the printouts will be stamped “CONTROLLED DOCUMENT, CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION DO NOT GIVE TO CLIENTS” and attached to the 6242.
Page 7 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
Search CWS/CMS for each adult listed on the Home Approval Application. All findings shall be noted on the 6242 and the printouts shall be attached.
Complete a fax cover sheet and enter the required information on the CLETS CII Rap Sheet Request form, full name, aka, DOB, CDL and SSN (CLETS cannot be performed without a SSN).
Fax the cover sheet and CII Rap Sheet Request form to the County of Fresno Sheriff’s Department, FAX number (559) 488-1899. A copy of the CII Rap Sheet Request/CLETS will be filed with the Application in the clerical binder.
Maintain a log with date the CII Rap Sheet Request/CLETS was received from the Fresno County
Sheriff’s Department.
Contact the adults listed on the Home Approval Application when the Application indicates that a live scan is needed. Schedule a live scan appointment for the referenced adults. (See PPG 03-05-003 , Live
Scan Application Process.) The designated OA shall advise the Relative/NFREM to bring a valid photo
ID and also advise that only the adults who are being live scanned are allowed in the live scan room. A
Letter of Appointment shall be sent to the Relative/NREFM for each adult that Application clearances are requested for.
If contact is not made after 3 attempts, or the telephone number provided is invalid or not provided, OA shall notify the requesting HAU SW and the Child’s SW via e-mail with a CC to the SOA and HAU
SWS.
OA will issue a Live Scan No Response Letter that shall be mailed to the Relative/NREFM address provided in the Application
Refer the Relative/NFREM to the HAU SW to verify that a live scan needs to be scheduled when the
Relative/NFREM indicates that there are other adults in the home that are not listed on the HAU
Application.
Mail BCII 8016 form and the Live Scan Appointment Reminder letter (CWS 0034) to applicants requesting to be live scanned at a site other than Fresno County DSS, due to residing out of town or county. Complete the BCII 8016 per PPG 03-05-003 , Live Scan Application Process . Provide the
Relative/NFREM with the live scan and fingerprint services hours and location information. Refer to the following website for addition information: http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.php
Indicate on the SOC 815 the date CWS/CMS search was completed, CLETS submitted and Live Scan appointment was made for each adult listed on the Application.
Provide the designated HAU SW or SWS the results from the Live Scan submission, which will include
California DOJ report, FBI Report and CACI Report.
HAU SW Responsibilities
Records and Clearances
The HAU SW shall complete a review of historical and current records for the applicant and other adults in the home prior to assessing the home.
Page 8 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
A relative’s identification card from a foreign consulate (including a Mexican Matriculation card) or foreign passport shall be considered a valid form of identification for conducting a criminal records check and fingerprint clearance check.
Criminal Record Clearance
The HAU SW is to receive the live scan fingerprinting results from the designated OA.
The HAU SW shall complete the review of:

CLETS (California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System)

CACI (Child Abuse Central Index)

CA DOJ (California Department of Justice),

FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation),

CWS/CMS and local records check with the Fresno County
Sheriff’s RMS/Offender Track system.

The HAU SW shall search COFACS for any upcoming court hearings for applicant.

The HAU SW shall search court archives for court orders and dispositions on court matters regarding the applicant.

The HAU SW shall obtain police reports for convictions and arrests.
Criminal Exemptions
Exemptions are required for criminal record convictions.
The HAU SW consults criminal background check guidelines provided by the State and follows all procedures based on Foster Family Home regulations Title 22 Division 6 Chapter 9.5 Article 3. Refer to the following website to access the guidelines: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/ffh3.pdf
and Evaluator Manual Background Check Procedures. Refer to the following website to access the manual: http://www.ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/BACKGROUNDCHECKPROCEDURES.pdf
Note: The HAU Program Manager (PM) can authorize simplified exemptions. The DSS Director or
Deputy Director has the authority to grant all other types of exemptions. (See PPG 03-05-021 , Criminal
Records Exemptions.
) Approved Exemptions only apply to the home, and are not an agreement to placement. Final placement decisions are that of the CM SW and their SWS.
Child Protective Services History
The HAU SW reviews CACI and CPS clearances. Local CPS clearances are completed through
CWS/CMS.
If there is a CPS record on anyone in the home, the HAU SW shall do an independent investigation and determine if this prior record is sufficient cause for deciding that the home would not be appropriate for an approval.
The HAU SW shall review LIC 508D , Out-Of-State Disclosure and Criminal Record Statement and the
LIC 198B , Out-Of-State Child Abuse/Neglect Report Request forms.
Page 9 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
Other Child Abuse Checks
The HAU SW must check the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry of any state in which a prospective relative, NREFM, or any other adult residing in the home has resided in the past five years, if that state maintains a registry.
A listing of State Child Abuse Registries is available which contains updated information regarding contacts, procedures and forms required for each state. To view a current list, go to http://www.ccld.ca.gov
then click the Adam Walsh link.
If a child abuse registry does not exist for the State, the HAU SW shall contact the Law Enforcement agency and the child welfare agency in the county where the relative or NREFM lived.
The HAU SW shall implement the Expanded Background Checks of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 .
Confidentiality
The HAU SW shall file the Criminal Clearances and the CACI checks in the HAU file/case and cannot be shown to the applicant or others in the home. These documents remain confidential and are not discoverable to juvenile court.
Based on State regulations, only specific information about Relative/NFREM applicants may be shared verbally with the court officer.
Caregiver Qualifications (see Title 22, Division 6, chapter 9.5, section 89317)
The HAU SW shall visit the applicant’s home to conduct an on-site inspection and do the following:

Assess the prospective caregiver’s ability and desire to meet the child’s specific needs and to participate in planning for the child.

Verify that the home has no safety defects that could pose a hazard to the child and complete the
Checklist of Health and Safety Standards for Approval of Family Caregiver Home, SOC817 .

Observe any children in the home and narrate their observations in compliance with PPG 03-01-
001 , Mandatory Face to Face Contacts/Documentation Timeframes .
The HAU SW shall complete an assessment of the caregiver by completing the following:

Complete the SOC 818 , Relative or Non-Relative Extended Family Member Caregiver
Assessment .
 Secure the caregiver’s initials, signature, and date in the agreement section and file the
Assessment form in the HAU case file.
 Ensure that applicants have been oriented and trained in the child welfare system and caregiver’s roles and responsibilities. Provide a copy of the Foster Family Home regulations Title 22
Division 6 Chapter 9.5 Article 3. Refer to the following website to access the regulations: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/ffh3.pdf
Page 10 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
The HAU SW shall verify that the caregiver understands the responsibility for ensuring that each child being placed is accorded appropriate personal rights.

A copy of the
Child’s Personal Rights
, LIC 613B must be provided and explained to the caregiver in accordance with Article 3 Caregiver Standards, section 89372 so that the caregiver can comply.

At the time of on-site inspection, one copy of the
Child’s Personal Rights
must be signed by the caregiver(s), dated and left with the caregiver for reference. A second copy is to be signed and dated by the caregiver(s) and placed in the HAU case file per the filing guide. The signature of the caregiver is essential to verify the receipt of a copy of the Child’s Personal Rights and to indicate agreement to ensure the child is provided these rights.

The HAU SW shall use the State of California Family Checklist of Health and Safety Standards for Approval of Caregiver Home , SOC 817 . The HAU SW shall complete the checklist to determine the appropriateness of placement. There are only a few requirements found in Article
3 that can be waived. These requirements are found on page one of the SOC 817.

A written alternative plan must be completed for any requirement that is waived. The HAU SW shall document the necessity and appropriateness of the alternate plan and demonstrate that the plan shall not pose a danger to the health or safety of any child in the home. This alternate plan must be written and attached to the SOC 817.
Approval Documents
Prior to issuing the Relative/Mentor Home Placement Notification (HA-P) form and Home Approval-6
(HA-6) form, the agency must ensure the caregiver and home meet all standards in California. (See WIC
362.7
and Code of Regulations, Title 22 Division 6, Chapter 9.5, Article 3 Caregiver Standards .) A decision to approve a home must be made by the HAU SW and HAU SWS.
When a home is approved, there are several documents that must be completed ( SOC 815 , SOC 817 &
SOC 818 ). The Approval of Family Caregiver Home , SOC 815 must be completed by the HAU SW. A supervisor’s signature is required.
The HAU SW shall retain a copy of these forms in the HAU case file.
The HAU SW e-mails attachments HA6 and HA-P to the CM SW advising of approval. A denial, withdrawal or clos ure of the Family Caregiver Home would only require the HA-6 be sent to the CM
SW.
Denials
When a criminal exemption cannot be granted after being evaluated thru the chain of command, and/or there is substantiated history of abuse and/or neglect, the Relative/NREFM Application shall be denied.
The HAU SW shall provide the relative with written notice of the reason(s) for the denial and of their right to a grievance review through the Home Assessment Denial Notice (form CWS 009- available in
English, Spanish, Hmong and Lao).
Page 11 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
Placement Decision Priorities
CM SW Responsibilities
CM SWs shall give first consideration for a child’s placement to a non-custodial parent.
Second consideration shall be given to relatives such as grandparents, uncles, aunts or siblings and should be considered next for placement. Each of the relatives expressing interest in placement must be assessed.
Third priority consideration shall be given to NFREM who shall also be assessed. A NREFM is defined as “any adult caregiver who has an established familial or mentoring relationship with the child.” This prior relationship shall be verified by “interviews with the parent and child or with one or more third parties. The parties may include relatives of the child, teachers, medical professionals, clergy, neighbors, and family friends.” (See WIC 362.7)
SWs shall follow the mandated Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) procedures if the child is of Indian ancestry. Placement decisions shall be based on the best interests of the child; approval of a home does not guarantee placement.
The CM SW is required to assess the Relative/NREFM as follows:

Ability to provide care and supervision appropriate to the needs of children to be placed, including the ability to communicate with the children;

Knowledge of and ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations;

Ability to maintain, or supervise the maintenance of, financial and other records; and

Ability to direct the work of others when applicable.
Placement with Relative/NREFM
CM SW Responsibilities
When the CM SW chooses to place with an approved relative, the CM SW shall do the following:

End the current placement in CWS/CMS using the corresponding date of placement for the child and provide HAU SW with the placement date.

Generate a placement ending SOC158A and send to Eligibility Worker (EW).

Complete the lower half of the HA-P advising date of placement and e-mail attachments to the
HAU SW.

Advise relatives and NREFMs, upon placement that they are to complete the mandatory Relative
Orientation training within 30 days of the placement date. The CM SW shall provide relatives with the dates, times, and location of scheduled Relative Orientation. Relative Orientation will be scheduled every Wednesday from 9am-12pm at the Mosqueda Center 4670 E Butler Ave,
Fresno, CA 93702.

When placing a child under the age of 3 years with Relatives/NREFMs, the CM SW shall inform the Relatives/NREFMs that they are mandated to complete the Safe Sleep and Abusive Head
Trauma courses within 30 days of the placement date or as soon as the next class is available.
Page 12 of 15

PPG 03-05-017

The CM SW shall provide Relatives/NREFMs with the Foster Kinship Education program contact information for locations, dates and times of classes.

Ensure that any subsequent case plan includes a description of any alternate plan required for placement of a child with any relative or NREFM while the child is in that particular placement.

The CM SW must indicate the status of the approval/re-approval process in the court reports.
The CM SW shall indicate in the court reports whether the relative/NREFM home continues to meet approval standards.
HAU Responsibilities
When placements have been made in approved relative/NREFM homes, the approval must be reassessed annually (REAP) from the date of approval.
On the first working day of each month (REAP notification month), the Foster Care Supervising Office
Assistant (SOA) will email the SOC 815 Master Log to the HAU SWS. The HAU SWS will review the listing of REAPs due, assign to a HAU SW and update the column designated for this purpose. On or about the 15 th
of the month, the HAU SWS will email the updated SOC 815 log to the Foster Care SOA.
The Foster Care SOA will update the master SOC 815 log and then email a link of the updated log to
Foster Care Social Services Program Supervisor (SSPS) and EW staff so that they can update their individual SOC 815 logs with the assigned HAU SW for each REAP.
The HAU SW shall reassess the caregiver using the same procedure as the initial assessment, with the exception of completing and reviewing a Live Scan.
The HAU SW shall create SOC 815, SOC 817, and SOC 818 in the Client Management section of
CWS/CMS.
The HAU OA shall enter the placement in CWS/CMS and generate the approval documents in
CWS/CMS; creating a new SOC158A and SOC815 and provide copies of SOC documents to HAU
SWS for review and signatures.
The HAU SWS shall route completed and approved SOC documents to eligibility after review of SOC documents with the HAU SW and SWS signatures provided. Copies of these documents are retained in the HAU case files.
The HAU SW shall document actions taken in a brief narrative in the Contact section of CWS/CMS for the child(ren).

If any dependents are observed in the relative/NREFM home while the HAU SW is there, the
HAU SW will document their observations in the Contact section of CWS/CMS in compliance with PPG 03-01-001 , Mandatory Face to Face Contacts/Documentation Timeframes .

If the HAU SW observes any abuse or neglect in the relative/NREFM home, they shall do the following: o If the child(ren) is/are in immediate danger, the HAU SW shall call law enforcement and/or the DSS Careline prior to leaving the home.
Page 13 of 15

PPG 03-05-017 o If the children are not in immediate danger the HAU SW shall report the alleged abuse and/or neglect by completing the Off-Line Intake Screening Form and send the form via facsimile (FAX) to 559-266-2463. o Email the assigned SW and Social Work Supervisor (SWS) to inform them of the allegations. o Complete and send out an Incident Report , being sure to cc the assigned SW and SWS.
Caregiver Failure to Comply
Occasionally, caregivers fail to comply with re-approval requirements. Under ordinary circumstances, caregivers are given two weeks to comply with the regulatory requirements.
The HAU SW will advise the caregivers in writing of the need to complete the requirement and the repercussions of not doing so. The caregivers will be given an additional two weeks to complete the requirement.
If the caregivers have not completed the requirement by the end of the additional two week period, the
HAU SW will return the reassessment referral to the assigned SW to assess the appropriateness of the placement.
The CM SW should conduct a teaming meeting with the caregiver, the HAU SW, the parent(s), the child(ren), and any other applicable family member(s) and service provider(s). The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether the placement should continue by looking at such issues as safety, advise the caregivers of their responsibility, determine if there are any services to assist the caregivers so as to maintain the placement, and/or investigate the possibility of other placements.
If the decision is to terminate the placement, the HAU SW will provide the caregivers with written notice of the reason(s) for the denial and of their right to a grievance review.
Eligibility for Funding
State law (AB1695) adds the classification of approved NREFM and persons with a verifiable preexisting relationship to the child to the “approval” category for placement and either State or Federal
AFDC-FC payments, depending on the child’s eligibility.
Since relatives or NREFM are approved according to the same standards as a licensed home, caregivers are paid the same AFDC-FC rate paid to relatives, guardians and foster parents (if the child is eligible).
A new placement in a relative or NREFM home cannot be funded until the assigned EW has received the Approval Form (SOC 815).
Resources
LIC 508D Criminal Record Statement:
English - http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/forms/english/LIC508.pdf
Spanish - http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/Forms/Spanish/LIC508DSP.pdf
License Approval Standards-Regulations 89317-89388, Article 3, http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/getinfo/pdf/ffh3.PDF
Page 14 of 15

PPG 03-05-017
Evaluator Manual Link http://ccl.dss.cahwnet.gov/PG395.htm
CWS/CMS Buddy for Creating the SOC 815, 817, 818 (Attachment 3 is accessible on the network via
5641 “H” Drive 
“Pub” folder

“Buddies” folder

“Sections”

“Placement Management”

“How to Create Relative/Non-Relative Mentor Placement.”)
Page 15 of 15