Background checks for roommates in SILPs

Q:  If a non-minor dependent is going to be living with other young adults in a roommate situation as a Supervised Independent Living Placement, do the roommates need to undergo a criminal background check?

A:  No, it is not required that SILP roommates have background checks.  Only the non-minor dependent themselves can ask potential roommates for the results of a background check.  Case managers should advise youth about how to select appropriate roommates and let them know about how they can obtain information about potential roommates such as utilizing the Meagan’s Law website (ACL 11-77, page 11).  For a guide on helping youth to select roommates click HERE.

Re-entering foster care and the 5 participation conditions

Q:  If a non-minor wants to re-enter foster care, do they need to be meeting one of the five participation conditions (e.g. working or going to school) in order to re-enter?

A:  No. The initial meeting with a social worker temporarily satisfies the participation requirement until the TILP is completed.

According to ACL 12-12 (page 7), the young adult must agree to meet the participation conditions listed in ACL 11-61 and have a Transition Independent Living Plan (TILP) that documents which of the participation conditions the NMD will be participating in. A county has 60 days from the resumption of jurisdiction to complete the case plan and TILP with the NMD and the initial meeting with a social worker temporarily satisfies the participation requirement until the TILP is completed.

Nurse Family Partnership program: a resource for parenting non-minor dependents

Q:  I participated in JBF’s web seminar last week on the needs of parenting youth in foster care. There was information presented about the Nurse Family Partnership program, which the presenters said improves prenatal health and outcomes for mothers.  Where can I learn more about this program and find an agency in my county?

A: The Nurse Family Partnership is an evidence-based program that has demonstrated benefits for both the child and the mother. Given the high incidence of parenting youth in extended foster care, making timely referrals to the Nurse Family Partnership is an important resource for non-minor dependents who are pregnant. To learn more about the Nurse Family Partnership and to locate an implementing agency, follow this LINK.

SILP health and safety inspections

Q: For a Supervised Independent Living Placement, what areas of the physical environment must be assessed? For instance, do roommates bedrooms need to be looked at if the non-minor dependent will not be spending any significant amount of time in that area? 

A: Payment is tied to eligible physical placement.  Eligible physical placement is based on the completion of the SILP Healthy and Safety Checklist and the Supervised Independent Living Plan (SILP) Approval and Placement Agreement.  Please note that number 1 on the checklist states “bedroom/sleeping area used by the youth”.  Thorough completion of these two documents is all that is needed to meet payment eligibility and SW/PO should follow these documents when completing their inspection.

THP-Plus Foster Care implementation

Q: The Administration’s realignment trailer bill on was released last Friday and it appears to give county child welfare agencies the option as to whether to implement THP-Plus and THP-Plus Foster Care. Was THP-Plus Foster Care an option under AB 12 or was it required? How will this ultimately be determined?

A: Yes, language in the Administration’s trailer bill provides counties with the discretion to use funding provided for THP-Plus and THP-Plus Foster Care for other purposes (page 79). This is a change in the policy adopted by the California State Legislature in AB 12, which required counties to establish THP-Plus Foster Care as a placement option for non-minor dependents. The decision as to whether THP-Plus Foster Care is optional or required will be determined by the Legislature and the Administration as part of the passage of the Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget package.