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Original Removal from the Home vs. Change in Placement
The difference between an “original removal from the home” and a “change in placement” is the conditional nature of placement where the county has responsibility for the child. As long as dependency continues, the child is placed with their relative on a temporary basis. In which case removal from this relative is considered a “change in placement.” If dependency is dismissed, the relative's home becomes the child's (new) permanent home and a subsequent removal would be considered an “original removal from the home.”
In 2000, John is removed by court order from his mother's home and placed into Foster Care. In 2001, as one in a series of Foster Care placements, John is placed with his sister. Four years later (2005), John is removed from his sister by court order and placed in another foster home. Since dependency has remained with the county, this removal is considered a “change in placement.” Federal AFDC-FC eligibility continues when John is later placed into his sister's home again.
In 2000, John is removed by court order from his mother's home and placed into Foster Care. After a series of Foster Care placements, John is placed in his sister's home. A year later, John's sister becomes his legal guardian and the dependency of the County Welfare Department (CWD) is dismissed. When legal guardianship occurs and dependency is dismissed, AFDC-FC federal eligibility is lost, AFDC-FC must be discontinued and CalWORKs eligibility explored. The sister's home now becomes John's permanent home. If John is subsequently removed from his sister's home under a new petition of abuse or neglect by the sister, and later placed back in it under that same petition, there is no AFDC-FC eligibility.
Coding Case Language
For information on coding the case language and the forms/NOA language, refer to Common Place Handbook Chapter 36 [“Special Language Access Instructions,” page 36-30.]
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