Voluntary Placement

Voluntary Placement Overview

A “Voluntary Placement”“Voluntary Placement” is another “authority” for Foster Care. It is an out-of-home placement of the child by our agency when the parents or guardians have requested assistance and have signed a voluntary placement agreement. Voluntary placements have no court dependency. These placements are limited to 180 days for the federal AFDC-FC Voluntary Placement program and six months for the state AFDC-FC program.

Voluntary Placement is considered an authority for FC, therefore undocumented children, who are voluntarily placed, are eligible provided that all other eligibility requirements have been met. These youth are eligible for a state funded Foster Care payment.

Child/Medical Support Referrals

Family Code 17552, EAS 43-105, MPP 31-503

All parents are required by law to contribute to the support of their children. This requirement continues if the child is voluntarily placed outside of the home and receives financial assistance from the county. In this case, reimbursement is collected from the parents by the Local Child Support Agency (LCSA). Applicant parent(s) MUST agree to cooperate with child support as a condition of placement by completing the CW 2.1 NA and CW 2.1Q for each parent. Social Workers may make assessments to determine whether the parents should be referred to the LCSA based on the child’s best interest. The assessment result will be indicated in the “Child Support - Good Cause Claim for Noncooperation” form (CW 51). Refer to Child and Medical Support Overview for more information.

Types of Voluntary Placements

Intervention

The family situation is in a crisis state such that it is considered to be in the best interest of the youth AND the parents to have a separation.
“Status offender” youth(s) are often placed in Bill Wilson in a 30-day program that includes individual as well as family counseling. This is an attempt to keep the youth from becoming a delinquent. The parents complete the application process on the youth’s behalf, and the Local Child Support Agency will pursue the parents for reimbursement through child support.
Sometimes the parent(s) situation is unstable, due to illness, incarceration, substance abuse, etc. In order for the child to have a stable environment, the youth is placed in Foster Care. The plan is to reunify in the future.

Hospitalization/Treatment

The youth requires hospitalization or treatment that far exceeds the ability of the parents to provide it. These placements can begin as voluntaries and may, after 6 months, change to dependent status.

Relinquishment/Termination of Parental Rights

Relinquishment or termination of parental rights is another basis for foster care placement.

“Relinquishment” means that a youth has legally been given up for adoption by one or both parents to a licensed adoption agency.
“Termination of parental rights” is when the court has granted termination of parental rights due to abuse or neglect, or because the parent(s) is unable to care for the child. The child is then “freed” for adoption.

“Termination of parental rights” or “Freed Child” are interchangeable terms used to refer to both situations.

Voluntary Placement Agreement (Federal and State AFDC-FC)

Voluntary Placement Agreement (SOC 155)

The following voluntary placement agreement requirements must be verified by the FC EW prior to approval of or continuance of AFDC-FC benefits:

The SOC 155 must be signed by both the parent(s)/legal guardian and the county representative (usually the Social Worker).
Verify the date on which the SOC 155 was signed in order to insure the Foster Care payment is not made more than 180 days for federal AFDC-FC or six (6) months for State AFDC-FC.

AFDC-FC Payments

Foster Care payment begins on the date all AFDC-FC requirements are met. This includes the home approval which can be assessed based on WIC 361.4 as voluntary placements are exempt from the Resource Family Approval requirement.

FEDERAL FOSTER CARE: If the child(ren) is not returned home within 180 days of the child’s placement, then child must be either a dependent of the court or a finding must be made by the court to continue funding.

STATE FOSTER CARE: If the child(ren) is not returned home with six (6) months of the child’s placement, then the child must be a dependent of the court in order to continue funding.