1 Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program

2 Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program Initial Planning Does your state have a current Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance program? Oregons Subsidized Guardianship waiver began in 1996 Oregons Title IV-E waiver Guardianship Assistance program was approved from January 1, Does the new federal GAP eligibility rules differ from your waiver rules? Oregons waiver rules had a 12 month placement requirement How do you define relative? Should it be expanded to increase the number of eligible children?

3 Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program Definition of Relative Oregon expanded our definition of relative to include kin or fictive kin For entire Relative definition go to Oregons Administrative Rule (16) or DHS Child Welfare Manual (site below) al_1/i-e362.pdf al_1/i-e362.pdf

4 Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program Oregon has licensed relatives since 1989 Relatives receive a provisional certificate for 90 days when the initial safety considerations are met They receive a Two Year Certificate when all certification requirements are met With the implementation of the Adam Walsh Bill and a new home study process the average time to complete certification process is about 6 months Oregon is moving towards changing the length of the provisional certificate to 180 days

5 Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program Licensing Relatives The two tiered certification approach allows states to safely place a child in a relatives home Important Note: The months the home is provisionally certified does not count toward the six consecutive month criteria because the prospective guardian was not eligible to receive a Title IV-E Foster Care Maintenance payment.

6 Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program Target Population Placed in a relative foster home who demonstrates a strong commitment to the child Permanency committee has documented a compelling reason why adoption is not in the best interest of the child Sibling of a child already in a Guardianship Assistance placement

7 Oregon Contact Information Sherril Kuhns Oregon Department of Human Services Children, Adults and Families Federal Compliance Manager DHS Child Welfare Policy Website fare/ fare/