ELIGIBILITY
Kinship Guardianship Assistance
Program Eligibility
FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED KIN-GAP
- For youth eligible to receive federal foster care benefits while in foster care
- Prospective guardian and child welfare agency must execute the negotiated Voluntary Placement Agreement prior to the date when the court orders the guardianship
STATE SUBSIDIZED KIN-GAP
- For non-federally-eligible youth placed by juvenile court in an approved home of a CalWORKs funded relative
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Youth must have been declared a dependent of the juvenile court
- Youth must reside with an approved relative guardian for at least 6 consecutive months or a voluntary placement agreement
- Youth must have a kinship guardianship established with that relative by juvenile court
- Youth must have his/her court case dismissed by either the dependency court or the delinquency court at the same time or subsequent to the establishment of the guardianship
- The relative guardian and the county agency (or Indian tribe) must negotiate and enter into a written, Kin-GAP agreement setting forth the amount of payment.
Kin-GAP Beyond Age 18:
| Eligible Populations | Form |
|---|---|
Youth who turned 16 before the negotiated Kin-GAP payments commenced may be eligible for extended Kin-GAP benefits beyond age 18, and up until 21 as long as the youth meets one of the five participation conditions. |
|
Youth who turned 16 after the negotiated Kin-GAP payments commenced but who are expected to complete high school or an equivalent program before they turn 19 can continue to receive Kin-GAP until they graduate or turn 19, whichever comes first. |
|
A youth, regardless of age of entry into Kin-GAP, may continue to receive Kin-GAP up until age 21 if he/she has a physical or mental disability that warrants continuing assistance beyond age 18 and up until 21. |
For more information about how AB 12 affected Kin-GAP, including information on the Kin-GAP benefit amount, refer to the AB 12 Primer section on Kin-GAP.