PLACEMENTS
Foster Care Placement Options for Non-minors
| Option | Licensed or Approved |
Additional Supportive Services |
Monthly foster care payment |
Monthly Infant Supplement for parenting youth |
Shared Responsibility Plan for parenting youth |
Specialized Care Increment for special needs youth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relative or Non-Related Extended Family Member (NREFM) |
Approved |
No |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($ varies) |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($411/month/child) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Family Foster Home (including whole family homes & regional center homes) |
Licensed |
No |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($ varies) |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($411/month/child) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Foster Family Agency (FFA) certified home |
Licensed |
Yes |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($ varies) |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($411/month/child) |
No |
No |
| THP-Plus Foster Care (THP+FC) |
Licensed |
Yes |
Yes, THP+FC provider receives it ($2,284 - 2,871/month) |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($411/month/child) |
No |
No |
| Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) | Approved |
No |
Yes, you or payee receives it ($820/month) |
Yes, caregiver receives it ($411/month/child) |
No |
No |
| Group Home | Licensed |
Yes |
($ varies) |
($890/month/child) |
No |
No |
New limitations for Group Homes:
The California Fostering Connections to Success Act allows a youth to remain in a group home placement after age 18 and up to age 19 in order to promote educational stability. After the youth graduates from high school or an equivalent program (i.e. GED) or turns age 19, continuation in a group home is prohibited unless it is necessary due to a medical condition.
There are limited circumstances where a youth can remain in a group home after either completing high school or turning 19.
- First, if the NMD has a medical or mental health condition and remaining in that home serves as a short‐term placement until a more long‐term housing option is found.
- Second, if a youth is getting treatment services to alleviate a medical condition and qualifies for extended foster care under the removing barriers to employment participation condition, s/he can still continue in a group home under condition #5, “medical condition.”
The fact that a youth qualifies by doing an activity to remove a barrier to employment, like seeking treatment through a substance abuse program, does not mean that they cannot be eligible for group home placement after age 19 and graduation due to a medical condition. Lastly, treatment strategies at the group home should prepare the youth for independent or less restrictive living to prepare for life after exiting foster care. Even if the youth has a medical condition, remaining in a group home should be a short‐term option until a more appropriate and permanent placement can be found.