Placement Expenses

Each county in California has the option of implementing Special Needs and Specialized Care Increments (SCIs). The rates are set by the counties through an established Specialized Care Rate (SCR plan, but must be approved by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) before implementation. Currently, 55 counties have SCR plans. Modoc, Plumas, and Sierra counties do not have SCI plans.

Note: For a list of the counties with an SCI plan in place, see https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/foster-care/specialized-care.

Santa Clara County's SCR is administered by the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) Special Funds Unit (SFU) or Placement Unit (PLMT), and payment instructions are sent to Foster Care Eligibility (FCE.

Children and youth placed in FC, Kin-GAP and the AAP are eligible for SCIs. However, only FC and KG placements are eligible for clothing and burial expenses.

Reminder: Cases funded via the ARC program may also receive Special Needs, SCIs and other specialized rates. Refer to Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Funding Option Program for more information.

For information regarding SCIs for AAP cases, refer to the Benefits section in the County of Responsibility topic.

Special Needs and SCIs for FC and Kin-GAP are paid with AFDC-FC or County Only funding (also known as Director's Exception (DE)) and may be accompanied by a Placement Expense Request (SCZ 414Z) form.

Specialized Foster Family Homes

Counties have the option of setting Specialized Rates for certain types of foster family homes. These rates are also a part of the county’s SCR plan.

Santa Clara County offers a Sibling Supplement for placements that house a sibling group of three or more siblings together. The Sibling Supplements are paid with DE funds.

Placement Expense Request (SCZ 414Z)

DFCS uses the SCZ 414Z to request and approve placement expenses that are funded by AFDC-FC or county-only funding (also known as DE funding). These requests can be approved through the Placement Unit (PLMT) or the Special Funds Unit (SFU). However, not all placement expenses will require an SCZ 414Z.

When applicable, the Social Worker (SW) will submit the SCZ 414Z to the SFU/PLMT for approval, and then the SFU/PLMT will forward the form to FCE. The tables below lists the various placement expenses that require an SCZ 414Z for payment.

AFDC-FC funded Placement Expenses Authorized by DFCS or SFU:

Handled by DFCS or SFU

Used For/Notes

Burial Expense (DFCS Dependent Child Only)	Funeral costs for FC and Kin-GAP. Requests for burial expenses will be made by the SW by submitting an SCZ 414Z to the Social Services Benefit Specialist (SSBS). The payment will be issued using the case's aid code. Refer to Burial Expense Payments for additional information.
DFCS Request - Education Travel Reimbursement (ETR) Request	For approved placements that are eligible for the Education Travel Reimbursement (ETR). Refer to Education Travel Reimbursement (ETR) for Foster Care Youths Only for additional information.
DFCS Request - Special Care Increment	For approved placements that are eligible for SCIs (Tiers I through III). This includes FC, ARC and KG. Refer to Special Care Increments (SCIs) for additional information.
DFCS Request - Special Care Increment - Out of County	For children placed in out of county placements and requesting an SCI.
DFCS Request - Special Care Increment - Kin-GAP Initial Intake	Used for converting the FC SCI to KG SCI upon initial KG application.
DFCS Request - Initial Clothing Allowance (ICA)	For approved placements that are eligible for the Initial Clothing Allowances. Refer to Clothing Allowances for additional information.

County Funded Placement Expenses Authorized by SFU:

Handled by the Special Funds Unit (SFU)

Used For/Notes

Placement Expenses Authorized by the Special Funds Unit- SSBS Issuances from All-County Funds.

Relative/NREFM home not approved,
Education Travel Reimbursement for placements not eligible for AFDC-FC funding,
SCIs and/or DARs for placements not eligible for AFDC-FC funding
Infant Supplement for placements not eligible for AFDC-FC funding.
Extending Voluntary Family Reunification (VFR) for voluntary placements that extend beyond 6 months,
Voluntary placement for days prior to the SW signing the Voluntary Placement Agreement-Placement Request (SOC 155),
Adult Board and Care for NMD, and
Other extenuating needs.

County Funded Placement Expenses Authorized by PLMT

Handled by the Placement Unit (PLMT)	Used For/Notes
Placement Expenses Authorized by the Special Funds Unit- SSBS Issuances from All-County Funds.	Bed Hold extending beyond the State/Fed funded 14 days, Enhanced Behavioral SARC Home Placement, For-Profit Regional Center Residential Program, Small Family Home (SFH), and Other extenuating needs.

Additional Placement Expenses Authorized by the Placement Unit

The table below lists Special Needs that will be handled by the Placement Unit and do not require an SCZ 414Z:

Type of Special Need

Notes

FC Sibling Supplement

Issuances will be based on the Sibling Supplement roster.
The DFCS Placement Unit emails the DEBS-FC Bureau.

FC Payment for Days Prior to Detention

The Placement Unit will email FC -Eligibility once they are aware of the placement.
All payments for Days Prior to Detention requests can be paid for up to 10 days. If the Days Prior to Detention period exceeds 10 days, DFCS will send an email authorization to the DEBS-FC Unit.

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

SOC 158A will not be provided when the youth is placed in an adult facility or any facility that is not recognized by the State of California as a foster care provider. To confirm placement, the FC SSBS must print the child’s placement history from CWS/CMS that includes the name of the non-foster care facility and include the placement history when sending the SCZ 414Z to Imaging.

When the FC SSBS is unable to confirm the facility type or the facility needs to be added to CalSAWS, refer the facility name to the FC Providers email box for clarification.