Resource Family Approval Program (RFA)

The RFA program, according to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 16519.5, requires the implementation of a unified, family-friendly, and child-centered resource family approval process. This approval process replaces the previous SOC 800 form series for licensing foster family homes (FFH, approving relatives and non-relative extended family members (NREFM and approving adoptive families by combining elements of all the processes into a single approval standard. Statewide implementation of RFA began on January 1, 2017. The RFA program is available to caregivers supervised by DFCS and JPD, including Voluntary Placements.

Effective June 30, 2020, all homes approved under the SOC 800 series have either been converted to RFA or had previous license revoked.

The RFA process may take an excess of 90 days for the full certification. AFDC-FC funding cannot be paid until the home is fully approved. The interim payment process while pending RFA approval is referred to as “gap-fill.” At the initial removal emergency assistance (EA emergency caregiver (EC), and/or county funding may be used to “gap-fill” payments until the home is fully approved.

County funding will be used for continuing court-dependent or voluntary placements where the change of placement is from a non-relative or facility to a temporary relative RFA home.

Definitions

Capacity means the number of children and NMDs for whom a Resource Family is approved to provide care and supervision.

NREFM is an adult who has an established familial relationship with a relative of a child or a familial or mentoring relationship with a child as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code section 362.7.
Temp 309d means a placement of a child or NMD, for an emergency or compelling reason, with a relative or non-relative extended family member before Resource Family Approval per WIC 309d.
Resource Family (RF) means an individual or family that a county determines to have successfully met the application and assessment criteria necessary for providing care for a child or non-minor dependent who is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, or otherwise in the care of a county child welfare agency or probation department.
Resource Family Approval or approval means that an applicant or Resource Family successfully meets the Home Environment Assessment and Permanency Assessment standards adopted according to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 16519.5.

Initial and Temporary 309(d) Placements

A child or NMD may be placed with a relative or NREFM, on an emergency basis or for a compelling reason, prior to RFA. The Social Worker/Probation Officer is required to complete an assessment of the caregiver and the home prior to placement of the child or NMD.

SOC 158A

The “Foster Child’s Data Record and AFDC-FC Certification” form for temp 309(d) placements will display the following:

Line G.3 will include the appropriate code for the relationship to the child.
Line I.1 Facility Type will be 6914 (Resource Family Home) regardless if the placement is a relative or NREFM.
Line O.1 Rationale Description will indicate “Temp 309(d) - RH” (for relative home) or “Temp 309(d) - NR” (for NREFM).

EA or EC funding may be authorized for placements where the caregiver is not fully approved, refer to FC Handbook Chapter 21.

A “Resource Family Approval Certificate” form (RFA 05A) will be issued when the temporary 309d placement home receives RFA and a new SOC 158A will also be provided. The Rational Description (on Line O, item 1) will indicate the “RFA approval” and the date of approval.

Resource Family Approval Certificate

When the RFA home is fully approved, a “Resource Family Approval Certificate” form (RFA 05A) will be issued to validate eligibility to receive AFDC-FC funding. The certificates are located in the EW Tools folder at “S:\Sharelib-DFCS\EW Tools\RFA Certificates.”

The certificate shall contain the following:

The name of the County
The name(s) of the Resource Family
The date of approval
The capacity for which the Resource Family is approved.

Foster Child’s Data Record and AFDC-FC Certification Form (SOC 158A)

Relative Home

When a relative home is fully approved under the RFA program, the SOC 158A will include the following changes to validate a fully approved RFA home:

Line G 1 will include RFA – RH.
Line I.1 Facility Type will be 6914 (Resource Family Home).
Line I.3 License Number will be “999###RFA.
Line O.1 Rationale Description will indicate “RFA Approval” with the approval date.

Note: The State may change the Licensing Numbering as the RFA program expands.

NREFM Home

When a NREFM home is fully approved under the RFA program the SOC 158A will include the following changes to validate a fully approved RFA home:

Line G 1 will include RFA – NR.
Line I.1 Facility Type will be 6914 (Resource Family Home).
Line I.3 License Number will be “999###RFA
Line O.1 Rationale Description will indicate “RFA Approval” with the approval date.”

Foster Family Home

When a FFH is fully approved under the RFA program the SOC 158A will include the following changes to validate a fully approved RFA home:

Line G 1 will include RFA.
Line I.1 Facility Type will be 6914 (Resource Family Home) .
Line I.3 License Number will be “999###RFA.
Line O.1 Rationale Description will indicate “RFA Approval” with the approval date.

Resource Family Approval Update

While the RFA 05A does not expire, updates are required every two years (biennial basis). The best practice is for the update process to begin no sooner than 60 calendar days before the approval anniversary date and shall be completed no later than 30 calendar days after that date.

Note: Payment to the RF shall not be delayed or terminated solely due to the late completion of the biennial update. AFDC-FC funding will be used to continue payments.

DFCS has revised the RFA 05A to include checkboxes to indicate the reason for the update to the RFA. These forms are located in the shared drive S:\Sharelib-DFCS\EW Tools\RFA Certificates\RFA Annual or Update Certificates.

Significant changes may occur during the foster care placement which prompt an update to the RFA.

These situations include, but are not limited to, the following:

A move to a new location
A request to care for additional children or NMDs
A change in the number of people residing in the home
A change in marital status
A change in the physical or mental health of a child or NMD.

Note: Within 30 calendar days of being notified that a RF has moved, the county must update the RFA and issue a RFA 05A with the ‘relocation’ reason box checked. After 30 days EWs should follow-up with the SW/PO to ensure the Update has been saved to the EW Tools folder. If the document has not been generated, the EW will begin the Escalation Process. Approval of the RF remains in full effect pending the outcome of the update.

Payments and Rates

Rates paid for RFA homes are the same rates paid for current FC placements. When a child is placed in a Temp RFA home, Emergency Assistance or Emergency Caregiver funding may be used.