Application for Foster Care

Foster Care applications are made on behalf of children who are in need of placement outside their own homes. Child Welfare laws give the SSA and/or the JPD legal authority to place children and/or provide services or benefits for any of the following circumstances:

• The child is a dependent (court order).
• The child is living with a legal guardian.
• The child’s parent or guardian has signed a voluntary placement agreement.
• The child has been relinquished for adoption, or a petition to terminate parental rights has been granted.

The child’s SW or PO is usually the applicant on behalf of a child. While the SW/PO usually completes the “statement of facts” form, it is the Intake EW’s responsibility to document the evidence of eligibility factors, even though the forms were completed by county employees. The “County Use Only” sections of all forms must be completed before they are scanned.

An application for Foster Care is initiated by the completion of one or more of the following forms:

• “Application for Cash Aid, Food Stamps, and/or Medi-Cal/State CMSP” (SAWS 2 Plus), and/or 
• Emergency Assistance Application for Child Welfare Services” (EA 1), and/or
• “Application and Statement of Fact for Child Not Living with a Parent or Relative and for whom a Public Agency is Assuming Some Financial Responsibility” (MC 250).
  • The MC 250 is both an “application and statement of facts form” for Medi-Cal only.
  • An MC 250 must be completed for the month(s) prior to Foster Care approval to cover the child’s medical expenses. For example, when the child is in the Children’s Shelter, “a public agency is assuming some financial responsibility” and Medi-Cal is required.

Related Topics

Beginning Date of Aid (BDOA) for Foster Care