Communication to Foster Care Eligibility with SOC 158A 

The Juvenile Probation Department (JPD will communicate information to the Eligibility Worker (EW with a Foster Child’s Data Record and AFDC-FC Certification (SOC 158A) form. The purpose of this form is to inform the EW that the minor in custody must be activated or discontinued from either Foster Care (FC) and Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal only. The following status indicators are used by JPD to communicate their request:

  • Open
  • Stop
  • Reopen
  • Change
  • RV
  • Final Stop
  • Transfer Out.

Documents sent with the JPD request must be Imaged to the FC case. Communication is initiated by JPD and certain situations require a response returned to JPD with a SOC 158A. In those instances JPD will provide a second copy of the SOC 158A.

Open

A request with an “Open” status indicates a minor is in a placement and in need of FC and Medi-Cal benefits. There will be an indicator on the top of the SOC 158A. The EW must ensure that all the necessary information to open the case is received.

Forms and Documents

  • SOC 158A (2 copies, one is to be returned to JPD with the 14-digit County ID.  The County ID is needed for Initial SOC 158A by JPD)
  • Statement of Facts Supporting Eligibility for AFDC-Foster Care (FC 2)
  • Application for CalFresh, Cash Aid and/or Medi-Cal (SAWS 2 Plus)
  • Placement Expense Request (SCZ 414Z), refer to the tables listed in the Placement Expenses topic to determine if an SCZ 414Z is required.
  • Birth Certificate
  • Social Security Card
  • Permanently Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) documents (for cases with undocumented children) Refer to PRUCOL for FC Children
  • RH/FH/PIP Disposition Minute Order
  • Current Court Report
  • Case Plan
  • Latest Petition (with latest Minute Order)
  • Petition that removed minor from home (along with Detention, if there is no attached Detention, the date of placement Dispo is the detention date).

Stop

A request with a “Stop” status indicates that a minor is not in a placement, but is still under JPD’s responsibility.  The minor may need Medi-Cal only.  There will be an indicator on the top of the SOC 158A stating “STOP - Keep Medi-Cal Open, Placement Order Still in Effect.”

Forms

  • SOC 158A (2 copies, one is to be returned to JPD)

If there is a Reinvestigation (RRR) due on the case, JPD will include the additional forms to assist in the completion of the RRR.

Additional Forms

  • FC 2
  • Status Review/Permanency Plan
  • PRUCOL documents (for cases with undocumented children).

If the minor is returning to the home on a “home trial” basis, JPD will include the home trial worksheet with the new home address, phone number and health insurance information, if any. The EW will set up a Medi-Cal only case.

Reopen

A request with a “Reopen” status indicates that a minor is back in a placement (same episode) and in need of FC and Medi-Cal. There will be an indicator on the top of the SOC 158A stating “REOPEN.”

Forms

  • SOC 158A (2 copies, one is to be returned to JPD)
  • FC 2
  • SAWS 1.

If there is a RRR due on the case, JPD will include the additional forms to assist in the completion of the RRR.

Additional Forms

  • Status Review/Permanency Plan
  • PRUCOL documents (for cases with undocumented children) [Refer to PRUCOL for FC Children].

Change

A request with a “Change” status indicates that a change has occurred and the minor needs FC and Medi-Cal. There will be an indicator on the top of the SOC 158A stating “CHANGE.” There are two situations which will receive a change status: a placement change to a different house within the same Group Home (GH), or a placement in a new GH.

Forms

  • SOC 158A (2 copies, one is to be returned to JPD) only, if moved to a different house within the same GH.

Additional forms if the minor is changing to another group home:

  • FC 2
  • SAWS 2 Plus.

If there is a RRR due on the case, JPD will include the additional forms to assist in the completion of the RRR.

Additional Forms

  • Status Review/Permanency Plan
  • PRUCOL documents (for cases with undocumented children) Refer to PRUCOL for FC Children. 

RV

A request with an “RV” status indicates a redetermination has been completed. The minor needs continued FC and Medi-Cal. There will be an indicator on the top of the SOC 158A stating “RV.”

Note: JPD sends the RV status every 6 months, but the EW will only need to process once a year.

Forms

  • SOC 158A (2 copies, one is to be returned to JPD)
  • FC 2
  • Status Review/Permanency Plan
  • PRUCOL documents (for cases with undocumented children) [Refer to PRUCOL for FC Children].

Final Stop

A request from JPD with a “Dismissal, Vacated, or CDCR/DJJ” status indicates that a minor is no longer in a placement and FC must be discontinued. A notice of action (NOA) for the FC discontinuance must be returned to JPD. There will be an indicator on the top of the SOC 158A stating one of the three specific reasons. The impact to Medi-Cal varies based on the reason stated and is explained in the following chart.

Status Description Impact to Medi-Cal

Dismissal

 Minor has been dismissed, case no longer open  CEC or FFY eligible depending on age
Vacated Minor is still a ward of the court but no longer a placement minor (may be at the Ranch or Juvenile Hall) No Medi-Cal eligibility
CDCR/DJJ Minor is going to be incarcerated at California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, formerly known as California Youth Authority (CYA) No Medi-Cal eligibility

Forms

  • SOC 158A (2 copies, one is to be returned to JPD along with copy of Discontinuance NOA)
  • Minute Order.

Transfer Out

A request with a “Transfer Out” status indicates that a minor is no longer a ward of Santa Clara County and services are being transferred to another county’s jurisdiction. This is not a common status. There will be an indicator on the top of the SOC 158A stating “Transfer Out.”

Forms

  • SOC 158A (2 copies, one is to be returned to JPD)
  • FC 2
  • Status Review/Permanency Plan.

Related Topics

Juvenile Probation Department (JPD)