Procedures for FR (AB 429) Cases

Identified by DFCS ER Clerical

The following are procedures for setting up a Family Reunification (FR) services only case (referred to as FR-AB 429 cases) when a child is removed from the home while receiving CalWORKs assistance:

1. The Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) Social Worker (SW) receives an ER Referral from the clerk.

If CalWORKs case...	Then the SW...
Is now closed,	Assesses the client’s economic resources and vulnerabilities. If the client is interested, then the SW: Completes and gives an SCZ 1812 to the client if the client is interested to apply for benefits. Instructs the client to submit the SCZ 1812 to the Benefits intake office. If the client is not interested, then the SW: Takes no further action to refer the client.
Is OPEN and DFCS will open a case,	Receives the CalWORKs/DFCS Common Case Communication and Coordination Form (SCD/SCZ 1811) from clerical and/or from the DFCS Partnership SW Analyst. Refers the client for AB 429 by completing the SCZ 1811. Receives informational and reminder email about AB 429 from DFCS Partnership SW Analyst, if no SCD 1811 referral for potentially eligible client is submitted.

2. The DFCS-DEBS Social Services Benefits Specialist (SSBS) Liaison:
   1. Retrieves SCD/SCZ 1811.
   2. Ensures the referral meets the common case criteria.
   3. Emails the SSBS of record to open the CalWORKs case per BEnDS 2009-05.
3. The SSBS Supervisor and/or SSBS:
   1. Refers to the BEnDS 2009-05 for instructions to set up Reunification Program if there are no eligible children.
   2. Sets up a case-to-case alert six months from the FR (AB 429) case plan date within five (5) days from the time of request.

Note: If there is continued eligibility due to other children in the home, discontinue the child only. This is not a reunification case.

• Explores Medi-Cal eligibility.
• Sends email to DFCS-DEBS SSBS Liaison to inform the CalWORKs case has been set up.
• Maintains the case and does semi-annual determination if the case receives CalFresh or conducts a six-month redetermination.

4. The DFCS-DEBS SSBS Liaison:
   1. Notifies the appropriate Partnership Employment Counselor (EC) Supervisor.
   2. Notifies Partnership SW Analyst.
   3. Notifies DFCS SW.
5. The Partnership EC Supervisor:
   1. Receives notice of FR (AB 429) status.
   2. Requests for transfer of cases to Partnership EC.
   3. Reviews the case status.

If the client’s status is....	Then...
Sanction,	Changes the status to Curing Sanction. Informs the DFCS Partnership SW and the DFCS-DEBS SSBS Liaison of the sanction status.

• Requests the case from CM, if appropriate, or
• Assigns the case to the appropriate Partnership EC.

6. The Partnership EC:

• Receives original SCD 1811 from the DFCS SW that includes the recommended FR activities.
• Conducts case conference with the client and the DFCS SW, if available.
• Reviews the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) plan with the parent and identifies the plan components and services that are appropriate to incorporate into the FR (AB 429) plan.
• Sends a copy of the revised SCD 1811 to the DFCS SW if the SW is not able to attend the meeting.
• Monitors the parents’ participation in CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) activities.
• Obtains the original SCD/SCZ 1811 from the DFCS SW.
• Issues supportive services for the FR activities.
• Mails WTW 34 Notice of Action (NOA).
• Sends SCD 1811 and WTW 34 to Imaging.
• Documents on the Journal Detail page that this client is AB 429 whose FR plan is being used in lieu of the WTW Plan.
• Continues open communications with the DFCS SW regarding the client’s progress, issues, resources, etc.
• Documents on the Journal Detail page, as appropriate.

If the client...	Then...
Has agreed to an FR Plan and a WTW Plan, and later fails to participate in the WTW activities,	Does NOT initiate non-compliance nor sanction the client. Contacts the client to determine good cause. Stops the supportive services for the activit(ies) the client is no longer attending. Continues supportive services for the activities the client actually attends (DFCS activities). Communicates with the DFCS SW regarding the noncooperation.

7. The Partnership EC and DFCS SW meet with the client for purposes of case planning.
8. The DFCS SW notifies the Partnership EC of any relevant changes affecting the parents’ ability to participate in the WTW program, reunification plan services, or that reunification has occurred.
9. The DFCS-DEBS SSBS Liaison:
   1. Contacts the SSBS to let them know the reunification status.
   2. Informs the client that the SSBS will be contacting them when reunification occurs.
   3. Sends email to CCS Continuing Priority address flagged as “Urgent” to open a TMT request when reunification occurs.
10. The SSBS:
    1. Contacts the client to schedule an appointment to reestablish aid, or
    2. Discontinues the case when there is no longer a reunification plan
11. The Client:
    1. Receives notification for appointment.
    2. Completes scheduled interview with the SSBS.
12. The SSBS:
    1. Conducts interview.
    2. Gathers all necessary verification.
    3. Runs EDBC and authorizes aid.
    4. Indicates the disposition on the SCZ 1812, signs it, and forwards a copy to the DFCS-DEBS SSBS Liaison.
13. The DFCS-DEBS SSBS Liaison:
    1. Receives SCZ 1812 indicating CalWORKs is open.
    2. Ensures the Partnership EC is informed.

Identified at Orientation

The following are procedures when a client is identified as a participant in the FR-AB 429 program at the point of CWES Orientation.

1. The Engagement EC:
   1. Identifies the client as a participant of FR Program (AB 429).
   2. Proceeds with the Orientation presentation.
   3. Explains to the client that the case will be transferred to the Partnership EC, who will contact them for an appointment.
   4. Informs the Partnership EC Supervisor.
2. The Partnership EC Supervisor:
   1. Reviews the AB 429 case.
   2. Assigns case to Partnership EC.
3. The Engagement EC adds the Partnership EC to the Case Management EC scheduling roster for assignment.
4. The Partnership EC:
   1. Contacts the client for an appointment.
   2. Obtains original SCD 1811 from the DFCS SW.
   3. Follows procedures in Coordinating Case Plan.

Terminating FR-AB 429 Cases

At the termination of the FR-AB 429 case, the CWES case can take different paths:

1. If the family reunites and the DFCS SW continues to work with the family, a case flag titled “CalWORKs Common Case - FM” must be added in CalSAWS to identify the case as Family Maintenance (FM). Refer to Chewable Byte 23-03: How to Add a Case Flag for CalSAWS entries. The case remains with the Partnership EC if the case continues to meet the Common Case criteria. When the DFCS closes the FM case, the Partnership EC transfers the case to CWES Continuing CM if eligible, as the case no longer meets the Common Case criteria.
2. If the family fails to reunite, the DFCS SW closes the case. The Benefits case closes, which causes the WTW status to change to “Ineligible” and the case is sent to the Closed Case Bank.

Related Topics

Family Reunification Services Only (AB 429)

Identifying Common Cases

Integrated Common Case Plan