Rates Oversight Unit
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers
1. HOW DO I BECOME A LICENSED PROVIDER?
If you are interested in obtaining a California license to operate a community care facility, you must first attend an orientation. For more information, please click on this link, Register for an Orientation, or you may call the regional office nearest you.
Additional Resources
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2. HOW DO I BECOME A FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE PARENT?
For information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, call toll-free at 1-800-KIDS-4-US (1-800-543-7487). You can also review Foster Parent FAQs, and County Recruitment and Training Information for orientation meetings, the application process, and current needs in your area.
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3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE AN AFDC-FC RATE?
Not all licensed facilities are eligible to receive AFDC-FC Funds. The following provider types are eligible:
- Foster Family Agency (FFA)
- Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC)
- Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP)
- Transitional Housing Program – Nonminor Dependent (THP-NMD)
- Small Family Homes do not receive a Foster Care rate but are eligible for AFDC-FC Funding.
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4. HOW DO I SUBMIT A RATE APPLICATION?
Please review the application checklists for each program type on the Foster Care Rate Setting webpage which outlines the required documentation and how to submit.
Submissions are then assigned to your perspective Rates Analyst based on County assignments. Any additional information or requests related to your submission will be managed by your assigned Rates Analyst.
Should you need further support, please reach out to the Rates Oversight Unit at FosterCA@dss.ca.gov.
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5. WHAT IS AN INNOVATIVE MODEL OF CARE (IMC) RATE?
The Innovative Model of Care (IMC) Rate is created in partnership with a County, Provider, and the Rate’s Oversight Unit, to support foster children and Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs) with complex needs unable to be met in existing Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) programs.
Types of IMC Rates:
- ISFC Plus: Enhanced Intensive Services Foster Care Plus Rate for individual child or program. This rate cannot exceed the current STRTP rate.
- The following placement types are acceptable: ISFC, FFA, THP-NMD, Small Family Home, or RFA.
- STRTP of 1, 2, 3, or 4: Enhanced STRTP model for an individual child/NMD or program.
- CCRP: An enhanced STRTP model that services youth experiencing an acute mental health crisis as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization.
Rate Categories:
- Child-Specific: This is an individualized IMC Rate assigned to a child/NMD for the length of placement with a specified provider. Once the child/NMD leaves their current placement, the rate is terminated and cannot be transferred to a new provider. The County would need to request a new IMC Rate.
- Program-Specific: This is a program rate assigned to a provider. This rate stays in effect until the County determines there is no longer a need for an Innovative Model of Care model.
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6. HOW IS AN IMC RATE FUNDED?
For youth that are Title IV-E eligible, a county will receive federal financial participation (FFP) consistent with sharing ratios established by the CDSS each Fiscal Year (FY). The county must pay the entire non-federal share of an IMC, above the existing rate structure established by CDSS.
The county may utilize grant funding received pursuant to the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program or the county allocation for Complex Care pursuant to ACL 21-119 or ACL 21-143 to pay all or a portion of the non-federal share of an IMC.
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California Necessities Index (CNI) Increase: Innovative Models of Care rates are ineligible to receive an annual CNI increase. Per ACL 22-21 (ca.gov), all IMC individualized or program rates approved under AB 2944 will not be adjusted annually to reflect the California Necessities Index. The county must pay the entire nonfederal share of any IMC program or individualized rate approved under AB 2944 that exceeds the amount of a CDSS established statewide rate, as required by WIC 11460(a)(3)(B).
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Provider Accreditation Requirements: Newly licensed providers have up to 24 months to be accredited by one of the three accrediting agencies (COA, CARF, Joint Commission). Placement with a non-accredited provider, will be ineligible to be paid Federal Financial Participation (FFP) beyond two-weeks. Please note, the two-week period is contingent upon an assessment of the Qualified Individual being conducted within 30 days of the placement.
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For more information on Accreditation requirements, please see FFPSA Accreditation (ca.gov).
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If the provider has not meet Accreditation requirements, please see CFL 22/23-57 (ca.gov) for information on a how the county can submit a General Fund (GF) reimbursement for Federal Financial Participation (FFP)
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7. WHAT IS COVERED IN AN IMC RATE?
Innovative Model of Care rates are Foster Care maintenance payments. Establishing an IMC rate varies on multiple factors, including but not limited to: The program type and location of the child’s placement, the age of the child, any specialized care which may be authorized for the child, including staffing and supervision needs for the child, and/or any special needs the child may have.
Payments are intended to help cover the costs of the child’s:
- Food
- Clothing
- Personal needs
- Transportation
- Entertainment
- Shelter needs
- Supervision/parenting needs
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8. ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS:
Accreditation is a review to determine if programs/services meet defined standard of quality in health and human services.
An organization seeking accreditation undergoes an in-depth review of the organization’s business model, infrastructure, quality of care and operations. There is a positive correlation between accreditation and improving the quality of care, services, and programs. The accreditation process also provides an independent qualified transparent endorsement that the organization conforms to specific service standards as set forth in the Federal and State regulations.
To meet the accreditation requirement of FFPSA, beginning October 1, 2021, any new or change of placement into a non-accredited STRTP or Community Treatment Facility (CTF) will be ineligible to be paid with FFP beyond two-weeks. Please note, the two-week period is contingent upon an assessment of the Qualified Individual being conducted within 30 days of the placement.
For more information regarding the accreditation requirement please see the CDSS Accreditation Memo. To verify a provider’s accreditation status, please see the STRTP Accreditation Tracker (updated weekly) below.
To submit accreditation status, please complete the Accreditation Status Form and return the form along with proof of accreditation, to the STRTP Accreditation e-mail box: STRTPAccreditationStatus@dss.ca.gov
CDSS will accept accreditation from the following agencies:
Additional Resources
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9. KIN GAP RESOURCES:
Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (KIN-GAP)
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Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) – Kin-GAP is a cash aid program that supports eligible relative caregivers in California who are unable or unwilling to adopt but instead become legal guardians as the permanency option for exiting the child welfare system. Kin-GAP was established effective January 1, 2000, for children whose California Juvenile Court dependency is terminated in favor of guardianship with the relative caregiver.
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Effective October 1, 2006, the Kin-GAP program was made available to children whose California Juvenile Court wardship under Probation is terminated in favor of guardianship with the relative caregiver. Kin-GAP provides both cash aid and Medi-Cal benefits to eligible children. Kin-GAP payments are income to the child, not to the caregiver.
For information or questions regarding Kinship Guardianship Assistance, please contact the Foster Caregiver and Policy Support Unit at CaregiversForYouth@dss.ca.gov.
To obtain in person or online assistance for Kinship Caregivers or Previous and Current Foster Youth, please visit: California Kinship Navigator.
Kin-Gap FAQs (ca.gov)
Additional Information:
For more information, please refer to the following All County Letters (ACLs):
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10. RESOURCE FAMILY APPROVAL (RFA):
The Resource Family Approval (RFA) Program is a family-friendly and child-centered caregiver approval process that combines elements of foster parent licensing, relative approval, and approvals for adoption and guardianship. It replaces these separate processes with a single, unified approach.
RFA offers the following benefits:
- Streamlines the process and eliminates duplication of existing procedures.
- Unifies approval standards for all caregivers, regardless of the child's case plan.
- Includes a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, home environment check, and training for all families, including relatives.
- Prepares families to better meet the needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system.
- Allows seamless transition to permanency.
For more information, please visit the Resource Family Approval Program (ca.gov) website.
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11. SMALL FAMILY HOMES:
Most regional center placements are licensed to accept foster youth. If the placement is not licensed to accept foster youth, then foster care funding cannot be used. Vendorized placements are typically licensed as Small Family Homes (SFH) or Group Homes. "Vendorized" means the regional center has vetted the placement for regional center consumers and the regional center sets the facility's rate in the form of a rate letter. Following FFPSA, group homes are no longer eligible for foster care funding even in a vendorized placement.
For home based foster care (Typically Resource Families and SFHs), there are some options:
- If a youth is a dual agency child/NMD (a consumer of regional center services and recipient of AFDC-FC, AAP, Kin-GAP, or ARC payments) AND the home is vendorized by a regional center, foster care funds can be used up to the STRTP rate equivalent amount (currently $16,328). Funds exceeding the STRTP rate equivalent amount will be paid with county funds.
- If the youth is not a dual agency child/NMD OR if the resource home is not vendorized, the amount claimed to foster care funding will be limited to the LOCP, ISFC rate (plus applicable Specialized Care Increment), or Dual Agency rate (plus applicable Dual Agency Supplement).
Note: Counties often refer to certain placements as "regional center placement" even though the placement isn't vendorized, as the regional center recommends the placement. Whether the placement is vendorized or not, it's important to understand the difference. For some placements, "extra costs" may apply as outlined in the placement agreement. Please be aware that funding for foster care is limited to the regional center's specified rate, as indicated in the regional center vendor rate letter.
Please see Vendorization & Rates Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.
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12. WHAT IS VENDORIZATION?
The following information is intended for those who provide, or want to provide, services to persons with developmental disabilities through California's statewide system of 21 locally based regional centers.
Service providers must be vendored by a regional center before they can provide and be reimbursed for services. "Vendorization" is the term used to describe the entire approval process involved in preparing to provide services to regional center consumers. While this process often involves obtaining licenses or approvals from other State and local agencies prior to becoming a vendor, the main point of contact is the local regional center. The application process starts there, and they will be your guide throughout the entire process.
Vendorization Process Overview
Vendorization is the process for identification, selection, and utilization of service providers based on the qualifications and other requirements necessary in order to provide the services. The vendorization process allows regional centers to verify, prior to the provision of services to consumers, that an applicant meets all of the requirements and standards specified in regulations. Applicants who meet the specified requirements and standards are assigned a service code and a unique vendor identification number.
Service providers are vendored by the regional center in whose catchment area the service is located, known as the vendoring regional center. The vendoring regional center is responsible for ensuring that the applicant meets licensing and Title 17 requirements for vendorization, determining the appropriate vendor category for the service to be provided, and approving or disapproving vendorization based upon their review of the documentation submitted by the applicant.
To become a vendor:
- Complete:
- Enclose the documentation specified in Title 17, Section 54310
- Once a potential service provider has obtained all necessary licenses, submitted the completed DS 1890 application and DS 1891 forms and all necessary documentation to the vendoring regional center (The regional center has 45 days to approve or disapprove vendorization.)
- Once vendored, the service provider may be utilized by other regional centers, known as "user" or "utilizing" regional centers, as well as the vendoring regional center. NOTE: The vendor identification number assigned by the vendoring regional center must be used by all regional centers purchasing the vendored service.
Although a regional center must vendor an applicant who meets all the requirements for the service to be provided, vendorization in no way obligates that regional center to purchase service from that vendor.
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13. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A DUAL AGENCY RATE?
The dual agency rate is intended for home-based placements that are not vendorized.
Children and Non-Minor Dependents who are eligible to receive Regional Center services and are recipients of either Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (Kin-GAP), Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) payments, or Aide to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC), including children living with Non-Related Legal Guardians (NRLG), are referred to as "children and NMDs who are dually served."
Children who are dually served and placed by the county placing agency in a non-vendorized, home-based setting that is licensed/approved by CDSS, county, Foster Family Agency, or tribally approved homes are eligible to receive the dual agency rate.
Children who are dually served may be eligible for the supplement to the dual agency rate. CDSS provides periodic adjusted schedules of rates, the latest of which can be found in All County Letter (ACL) 23-65.
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14. WHO ARE STAKEHOLDERS:
Stakeholder is an individual or group with a vested interest in the outcome of an organization’s actions. Stakeholders can be external or internal and often review or make recommendations for improvement or change.
The Department collaborates with stakeholders primarily via periodic stakeholder meetings, which the Department facilitates.
The Department collaborates with stakeholders primarily via periodic stakeholder meetings, which the Department facilitates.
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17. LEVEL OF CARE PROTOCOL (LOCP):
How are monthly foster care rates determined on behalf of children/nonminor dependents (NMDs) living in home based foster care?
Foster care rates for home based foster care are determined by the LOCP All County Letter (ACL 21-17E, ACL 21-17).
What is the LOCP?
The LOCP is a strength-based rate methodology containing multiple questions in five core domains scored on a weighted point system designed to identify the services and supports a Resource Parent (RP)/Tribally Approved Home (TAH) provides to a child/Non-Minor Dependent (NMD). The LOCP score corresponds to the level of care rate amount the RP receives on behalf of a child/NMD per month in return for providing care and supervision while in their care. Welfare and Institution Code [WIC § 11460 (a)] If the child/NMD is placed in a resource family (RF) home that is affiliated with a Foster Family Agency (FFA), the rate includes an additional amount paid to the FFA to fund supports and services. The LOCP Matrix can be found in the State form SOC 501.
The LOCP is used to determine the monthly rates for children/NMDs living with legal guardians where the guardianship was established in Juvenile Court and children/NMD’s receiving Kinship Guardian Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP). The LOCP is also used to determine Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) monthly payments (ACL 21-17E [guardianship]; ACL 21-54 [adoption].)
Information gathered to fill out the LOCP questions focus on the needs of the child/NMD and may come from a variety of perspectives and sources including the RPs, Education Records, Medical Records, Mental Health Records, the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment, Regional Center Reports, Child, and Family Team (CFT) meetings, the Case Plan, Court Orders, and/or other assessment tools.
What are the five (5) core domains that are evaluated in the LOCP?
The child’s care and supervision needs will be identified based on the following five (5) core domains:
- 1: PHYSICAL
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Daily Living Needs Domain
- 2: BEHAVIORAL/EMOTIONAL
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Resilience
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Emotional Well-Being
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Pro-Social Behavior
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Healthy Relationships Domain
- 3: EDUCATIONAL Student achievement
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Educational excellence o Equal access to services
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Distance and virtual learning Domain
- 4: HEALTH
Healthcare
- Access for special needs Domain
- 5: PERMANENCY/FAMILY SERVICES
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Visitation
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Communication
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Development and maintenance of supportive connections with members of their families
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Belonging, identity, and connection to culture
For Additional LOCP Questions, please see ACIN I-73-23 (ca.gov) for Level of Care Rate Determination Protocol Frequently Asked Questions.
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18. WHAT IS A STATIC RATE?
The Static Rate are funds temporarily assessed and are provided to the caregiver for extra funding / support when providing the additional care and supervision a placement needs to be secured or stabilized.
The static rate is the equivalent of the ISFC rate and can be found in the most recent ACL 23-65. The caregiver would receive the ISFC RF Rate, and the remaining amount is for Administrative Duties and Social Services and Supports.
The placing agency may initially pay an ISFC rate up to 60-days, for a child/youth who meets one or more of the static criteria. The care needs as presented based on the static criteria behavioral identifiers or situations that must have occurred within the preceding 12 months. The initial 60-day placement may be extended an additional 60-days upon local county manager approval. The approval of an additional 60-day option should only be exercised when no other appropriate and safe Home-Based Family Care (HBFC) placements can be found.
Additional Static Rate Criteria can be found on ACL 22-13 (ca.gov).
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19. INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM FOR FOSTER CARE YOUTH?
The Independent Living Program was authorized by the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-169). The ILP provides training, services, and benefits to assist current and former foster youth in achieving self-sufficiency prior to, and after leaving, the foster care system. In California, each county has the flexibility to design services to meet a wide range of individual needs and circumstances, and to coordinate services with other Federal and State agencies engaged in similar activities.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Youth are eligible for ILP services from age 16 to the day before their 21st birthday, provided one of the following criteria is met:
- The youth was/is in foster care at any time from their 16th to their 19th birthday.
- The youth was placed in out-of-home care by a tribe or tribal organization between their 16th and 19th birthdays.
- The youth is a former dependent who entered a kinship guardianship at any age and is receiving/received Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payments (Kin-GAP) between the ages of 16 and 18.
- The youth is a former dependent who entered a Non-Related Legal Guardianship (NRLG) after attaining age 8 and is receiving/received permanent placement services.
WHAT ARE THE SERVICES OFFERED?
Some of the services provided through ILP include:
- Daily living skills
- Money management
- Decision making
- Building self-esteem
- Financial assistance with college or vocational schools
- Educational Resources
- Housing (Transitional Housing)
- Employment
HOW TO ACCESS SERVICES?
The youth’s social worker or probation officer will refer foster youth to the county ILP Coordinator. Former foster youth can contact the child welfare office/probation department in the county they are residing in or the county they exited foster care from.
To find your local ILP coordinator or probation officer please contact the TAY Policy Unit at TAYPolicy@dss.ca.gov.
For more information: Contact Your County
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21. WHAT IS THE RATE METHODOLOGY USED TO DETERMINE FOSTER CARE RATES?
Foster Care payments vary with the type and location of the child’s placement, the age of the child, any specialized care which may be authorized for the child, and/or any special needs the child may have.
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22. HOW DO I REPORT AN ISSUE WITH MY FOSTER CARE PAYMENT?
If you disagree with an action taken by the County, the Department of Health Care Services or with an eligibility determination made by Covered California, you have 90 days to request a state hearing. After 90 days, you must prove you had a good reason for the late request.
How to Request a Hearing or an Expedited Hearing by Phone:
Call the State Hearings Division toll free (800) 743-8525
Note: County Resource Family Home (RFH) providers do not possess state hearing rights and should contact their Foster Family Agency to resolve their Foster Care payment issue.
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24. CAN CHILD-SPECIFIC FUNDING BE USED TO PAY FOR THE PLACEMENT COSTS OF A GROUP HOME?
Child-Specific funding can be used to pay for the placement costs of a group home ONLY if the group home has been vendorized for Regional Center placements.
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25. DOES AN ISFC PROGRAM HAVE A WAIVER FOR THE MASTER’S LEVEL STAFF REQUIREMENT?
Please reach out to Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) to confirm what equivalent education/experience level is required in lieu of a master’s degree or if this is available. Additionally, it would need to be confirmed by CCLD, if educational waivers may be granted on an individual basis.
For more information on CCLs and how to get in touch, please visit their website: Community Care Licensing.
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26. WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ABOUT PLACING CHILDREN WITH A PARENT WHO IS IN A LICENSED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY?
Effective April 1, 2021, an AFDC-FC maintenance payment is available to facilities who meet the criteria outlined in ACL 21-103 and is available for children who are placed with their parent in a licensed residential family-based substance abuse treatment facility under a Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA). For the placement to be eligible for a foster care maintenance payment, the Title IV0E placing agency must have legal placement and care responsibility of the child, and the parent will have physical custody of the child for the length of the VPA. The new placement type creates an opportunity for the child to remain with their parent while the parent is undergoing substance abuse treatment. The intention is to prevent children from entering traditional foster care and other out of home placement setting, while maintaining safety.
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27. WHAT KIND OF NOTICE IS NECESSARY FOR THE REMOVAL OF AN ISFC PLACEMENT?
The removal of a child from an ISFC placement necessitates a written notice of at least 14 days, as mandated by California state law. For further details, refer to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 16010.7.
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28. WHAT HAPPENS TO FOSTER CHILDREN WHEN THEY TURN 18?
In California, foster care benefits don’t end at 18. When you turn 18, you have new options for supportive housing, financial assistance, and more, up to the age of 21. Find out more on Youth Page (ca.gov).
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29. EMERGENCY CAREGIVER (EC) FUNDING:
Please see All County Letter 19-24 for Frequently Asked Questions related to Emergency Caregiver funding prior to Resource Family Approval and who to contact for further inquiries.
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