Severely Emotionally Disturbed (SED) Program

Effective July 1, 2011, the SED program is no longer a placement option for youths placed in Foster Care. This information is provided for historical purposes only.

The SED program was enacted to ensure maximum utilization of resources available to provide payments on behalf of any seriously disturbed child who has been placed in out-of-home care (Group Home) to receive an appropriate public education and related services. SED program responsibilities were shared by the DOE, DMH and the CDSS.

Child Placed Out of County

When a Foster Care child is placed in another California county, we issue the special needs/specialized rates which are authorized by that county (the host county). The host county is the county where the child’s placement residence is located. While the Level of Care (LOC) rates are the same in every California county, the special needs/specialized rates vary from county to county. A list of all California county allowances has been compiled and is located in the EW Tools folder in the shared (S) drive.

Note: Refer to the Special Needs and Specialized Rates chapter for information on which placement types are eligible for these rates.

Director’s Exception

When all possibilities have been exhausted and there is no other Foster Care funding, a DE may be requested by the Social Worker on the form “Special Funds Request” (SCZ 414). DEs are 100% county funded. The DE requires the signature and approval from the Director of the DFCS. The DE is normally granted for a period of 6 months but DFCS policy allows for flexibility and it may be issued for a maximum of 1 year.

State Supplemental Clothing Allowance

[W&IC 11461]

Effective July 1, 2011, the State of California has terminated funding to the $100 state clothing allowance supplement.

Trial Home Visit

A trial home visit is intended to be a short term option in preparation for returning the child home permanently. A trial home visit may not exceed six months in duration, unless a court orders a longer trial home visit. If a trial home visit extends beyond six months and has not been authorized by the court, or exceeds the time period the court has deemed appropriate, and the child is subsequently returned to foster care, that placement must then be considered a new placement and title IV-E eligibility must be newly established. Under these circumstances, the judicial determinations regarding contrary to the welfare and reasonable efforts to prevent removal are required.

Documentation Required for Payment