families first: supporting relatives raising children mfwcca conference october 9, 2008
DESCRIPTION
Families First: Supporting Relatives Raising Children MFWCCA Conference October 9, 2008. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Improving lives of grandparents, other relatives and the children they are raising.
Families First: Supporting Relatives Raising Children
MFWCCA ConferenceOctober 9, 2008
Topics
• Information/knowledge gap. • Caregiver issues about talking to the
financial and county workers• Why more caregivers don’t apply for child-
only grant• MKCA resources
MKCA’s Statewide Kinship Network• Network of Regional
Service Agencies (RSAs)• Direct service• Support groups• Education• Family activities• Information• Referral• Mentoring• Counseling • Disability advocacy
• MKCA• Coordinates statewide
kinship program• Develop programs• Advocacy• Legislative agenda• Trainings• Outreach• Collaboration• Supervision• Workshops, conferences• Education
Statewide Kinship Network
6 Northern ReservationsMN Chippewa Tribe AAAVera [email protected] Fran [email protected] 1-888-231-7886
Arc Greater Twin CitiesGrandparent ConnectionJanet [email protected] with disabilities
Metro + surrounding co.GrandFamily ConnectionLinda [email protected] [email protected]
Village Family Service KinCare CounselingTroy [email protected] counseling
Statewide Kinship NetworkNE MN RegionAEOA-ROCK ProgramTeresa Harvey1-800-662-5711218-748-7354 ext. [email protected]
NW MN RegionChild Care ResourceBonnie [email protected]
SW MN RegionChild Care ChoicesCrystal Hoernemann1-800-288-8549 [email protected]
SE MN RegionGrandparents, Parenting AgainCarma [email protected]
The Dagwood Generation: Not just a plain sandwich, but… Raising relative children, concerned about their own children, worried about elderly parents and grandparents.
Kinship Caregiver IssuesKinship Caregiver Issues• When your child can’t
parent• Fear for grandchild• Child support• Don’t rock the boat• Coping• Grief, loss, anger,
pain, resentment, stress, insecurity, attachment
• Who can I talk to?• Tired-respite• Pain• Parenting doubts• Different world• Where to get help• Stigma• Social isolation
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“Will I be judged because my child can’t parent?”
Attitudes
What Caregivers Need
• Respect• Respite• Resources
These caregivers are real-life safety nets, keeping the children they love safe and their families together when birth parents are unable to parent.
First Steps: Getting Started Raising Relatives' Children, a resource guide full of practical information and suggestions has been developed for grandparents and others raising relatives' children and children of friends.
MKCA Legal Steps Video…on sale soon.
Legal Steps provides basic information on how to get the legal authority to make decisions for a child, how to get legal custody of a child and the benefits and services available to help care for a child.
Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association Contact Information 161 St. Anthony Ave, Suite 940St. Paul, MN 55103 651-917-4640 [email protected]@mkca.org
Sharon J. DurkenExecutive Director
651-917-4642
MFIP Child Only AssistanceMFIP Child Only Assistance
Jill HillebregtJill HillebregtDHS Income Maintenance Program AdvisorDHS Income Maintenance Program Advisor
MFIP Child Only Grants:MFIP Child Only Grants: Relative Caregivers are optional assistance unit Relative Caregivers are optional assistance unit
membersmembers Relative caregivers who receive DWP or MFIP for Relative caregivers who receive DWP or MFIP for
themselves are expected to workthemselves are expected to work Children who are eligible for MFIP receive the regular Children who are eligible for MFIP receive the regular
Transitional StandardTransitional Standard Children who receive foster care or adoption Children who receive foster care or adoption
assistance are assistance are notnot eligible for MFIP eligible for MFIP
MFIP Child Only Grants:MFIP Child Only Grants: Caregiver must provide proof of Caregiver must provide proof of
relationship if there is no order of relationship if there is no order of custodycustody
Income and assets of the relative Income and assets of the relative caregiver are not counted (child caregiver are not counted (child only grant)only grant)
Only relatives who receive MFIP Only relatives who receive MFIP for themselves are eligible for for themselves are eligible for MFIP child careMFIP child care
MFIP Child Only Grants:MFIP Child Only Grants: Relatives that do not receive assistance Relatives that do not receive assistance
themselves can apply for BSF child carethemselves can apply for BSF child care Relative caregivers must cooperate with Relative caregivers must cooperate with
the Child Support Enforcement Agency the Child Support Enforcement Agency (unless there is good cause)(unless there is good cause)
Relatives who accept a child placed by Relatives who accept a child placed by the county for foster care are eligible for the county for foster care are eligible for foster care payments foster care payments
Relatives may be eligible for Relative Relatives may be eligible for Relative Custody Assistance (RCA) and MFIP at Custody Assistance (RCA) and MFIP at the same timethe same time
Minnesota’s Child Only Program*Minnesota’s Child Only Program*
*Family Self-Sufficiency and Health Care Program Statistics, August 2008
Caseload and Payment Projections
Family Composition of MFIP Child-Family Composition of MFIP Child-only Cases, December 2006*only Cases, December 2006*
5974
5005
1423
209 190
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Rel. Care SSIParent
Non-citizen
MFIP Disq OtherInelig
*Taken from the PAID report, “Characteristics of December 2006 Minnesota Family Assistance Programs: Cases and Eligible Adults.”
Average Child Only Assistance Average Child Only Assistance Payment*:Payment*:
*MFIP Trends Report, July 2007
MFIP Child Only Assistance MFIP Child Only Assistance Brochure (DHS-5561) Brochure (DHS-5561)
Jill HillebregtJill HillebregtIncome Maintenance Program AdvisorIncome Maintenance Program AdvisorInstructional Design Training Team Instructional Design Training Team MN Department of Human ServicesMN Department of Human Services
651/431-4021 or 651/431-4021 or [email protected]@state.mn.us
How Does Child Support Factor into the mix?• IV-A Determines if a referral is
necessary• Non IV-A parties can apply for
service• Full services will be provided
(except child only MA)
Services Provided
Location of absent parentsEstablishing paternitySetting a child support orderEnforcing the child support
order
What are the benefits to establishing paternity?Establishing paternity secures
a legal father for the childSocial Security BenefitsVetran’s BenefitsInheritance Rights
Questions?Contact:
Child Support Information line:
(651) 431-4199 or (800) 657-3954Cindy Steinberg, DHS CSED
218 832 3875
Foster care
Deborah Beske BrownDHS Child Safety and Permanency
Family FirstCounty Social Service Agencies
County Social ServicesAgencies engage relatives to meet thechild’s need for safety,permanency andwellbeing.
What is Foster Care? • 24 hour substitute care
• Child is placed away from the parent
• Social Service Agency has placement and care responsibilities
[MN Statute 260C.007, subd.18]
Informal arrangements between family members is not foster care.
Why are Children Placed in
Foster Care? • Child protection• Child welfare• Child's treatment
needs• Corrections
Relatives can
request foster care.
• Child protection report • County has placed the child in the home
per voluntary agreement or court order. [MN Rules, part 9560.0665, subpart 1]
Combined Application Includes a referral for social services.
Social Services can help a relative caregiver with:
• Concerns about the child’s safety
• Behavior problems • Child’s physical
disabilities • Child’s mental health
Deborah Beske BrownChild Foster Care Program Consultant
Minnesota Department of Human ServicesChild Safety and Permanency Division
phone: (651) 431- 4731e-mail: [email protected]
Relative Custody Relative Custody AssistanceAssistance
PajDaj ChangDepartment of Human ServicesChild Safety and Permanency
What is Relative Custody Assistance? Minnesota Statute 257.85
Support for relatives who accept a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of a child in foster care through state or tribal courts
Eligibility criteria for RCA Issuance (or expected issuance) of a
determination by juvenile court that a child placed in foster care cannot be returned to the home of the parent(s);
Issuance (or expected issuance) of a court order to transfer permanent legal and physical custody of a child to a relative custodian, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 260C.201, subdivision 11; and
Child is a member of a sibling group being placed together or the child has a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral disability that will require financial support.
Transfer of permanent legal and physical custody? This permanency disposition is ordered in
lieu of [prior to] TPR. Custody and guardianship are not used
interchangeably in Minnesota, though these words may mean the same thing in other states.
If a court has terminated parental rights of both parents [or the only known living or legal parent] and transferred guardianship to the commissioner, custody may no longer be transferred through a TPLPC.
TPLPC : legal implications on a child and familyBirth parent does not lose all legal
rightschild support order continuesaccess to information
Birth parent may petition court to regain custody
Legal relationship until child turns 18 Inheritance through birth family
Financial benefitsTemporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) grant, known as Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
Relative Custody AssistanceMedical Assistance
Financial benefitsMonthly Basic Maintenance
Needs PaymentAges 0-5 $247Ages 6-11 $277Ages 12-14 $307Ages 15-17 $337
Financial benefitsMonthly Supplemental Level
Payment*Level I $150Level II $275Level III $400Level IV $500
* Only available to children with a diagnosed physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral disability that requires care, supervision, and structure beyond that ordinarily provided in a family setting to children of the same age.
Important notes Relative Custody Assistance is means tested for
those relatives whose gross family income, including income of the children whom they have accepted custody, exceeds 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Relative Custody Assistance assumes that the family will apply for a MFIP child-only grant. The amount of the MFIP child-only grant is subtracted from the total maximum assistance rate of the Relative Custody Assistance payment from the county.
In addition, any income of the child (including SSI payments, veteran benefits or child support payments made on behalf of the child) is subtracted from the total maximum assistance rate of Relative Custody Assistance payment that a family receives for the child.
RCA forms on SSISAgreement SSIS 209Worksheet SSIS 210Supplemental SSIS 211Notice of Modification SSIS 212Notice of Termination SSIS 213Annual Affidavit SSIS 214
Contact
PajDaj ChangAdoption Assistance Program Advisor
Minnesota Department of Human ServicesChild Safety and Permanency Division
phone: (651) 431- 4718e-mail: [email protected]
Thank You!
Families First: Supporting Relatives Raising Children
MFWCAA October 9, 2008