1. THP-Plus/THP+FC Monthly Conference Call
Thursday, February 13th: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

2. Agenda Welcome and introductions
Medi-Cal Enrollment for Current & Former Foster Youth
Guest presenter: Jessica Haspel, Children Now
THP+FC
Update on the number of providers
Update on the location of programs
THP-Plus
Quarterly report from the THP-Plus Participant Tracking System
THP-Plus Capacity Chart
Update on advocacy video
Sign-On Letter Regarding Relative Caregivers

3. Health Coverage for Youth in THP-Plus
Approximately
650 youth

4. Medi-Cal Enrollment for Former Foster Youth
Guest Presenter:
Jessica Haspel, Child Welfare Policy Associate
Children Now

5. Medi-Cal Enrollment for Former Foster Youth
The Affordable Care Act extended Medi-Cal to age 26 for youth who were in foster care at age 18 or older. (Effective 1/1/14)
California Dept. of Health Care Services issued Informational Letter cal/eligibility/Documents/MEDIL2014/MEDILI14-05.pdf
CWDA Desk Aid content/uploads/2014/02/FFCC-Desk-Aid-3.pdf

6. CA’s Former Foster Care Children’s (FFCC) Program: Then and Now
Former foster youth (FFY) are enrolled in the Medi-Cal coverage group for Former Foster Care Children.
Pre-ACA
FFY eligible for Medi-Cal FFCC coverage
CA Bridge Funding
FFY turning 21 between 7/1/ /31/13 maintain Medi-Cal FFCC eligibility until 26
ACA-Jan. 1, 2014
Extension takes full effect!
FFY are eligible for Medi-Cal FFCC

7. California’s instructions to counties
Counties are instructed to enroll youth who were in foster care at age 18 or older in any state.
Until the automated systems are reprogrammed eligibility workers must manually override the system to assign the appropriate aid code to former foster youth 21 or older.
No income determination conducted (eligibility is based on being in foster care on 18th birthday, age 18-26, and CA residency).
Youth who personally attest to having been in foster care at age 18 should be enrolled in Medi-Cal immediately while county verifies eligibility.

8. What’s covered for former foster youth under Medi-Cal?
Medical care
Vision exams
Substance abuse treatment
Mental health services and counseling
Dental care starting in May 2014
Coverage for youth under 21 also includes Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment services (EPSDT).

9. How do eligible youth sign up?
Best way to apply is directly through the county, in-person at the local Medi-Cal office with the MC 250A form: pdf
Children Now developed a list of contacts in each county for Medi-Cal: CountyContactList.pdf
Right now, youth are likely to experience significant barriers if they try to apply through Covered CA or online

10. Children Now’ Coveredtill26 website has tips for when youth apply
Former foster youth:
should be enrolled in the Former Foster Care Child (FFCC) coverage group
should be assigned the “4M” code
do NOT have to provide income information
do NOT have to fill out the full Medi-Cal application (just MC 250A form)
do NOT have to provide proof that they were in foster care at age 18 – the county will verify
Additionally, it may help to bring Informational Letter and to write down the CA law that expanded coverage (California Welfare and Institutions Code Section ).

11. Benefits to enrolling in the former foster youth coverage group
Youth eligible for Medi-Cal based on their former foster youth status are enrolled in Medi-Cal under the “4M” aid code.
Benefits of Coverage under the “4M” Program:
Youth are eligible for fee-for-service Medi-Cal, which means they can get care from any Medi-Cal provider.
Youth maintain coverage until age 26 (simplified redetermination process)
No income requirements = youth stay covered in Medi-Cal regardless of income changes.

12. For trainings on the new policy, contact:
Additional Resources
Children Now launched website to inform foster youth about the Medi-Cal extension:
For trainings on the new policy, contact:
Jessica Haspel, or Fatima Morales,
California Youth Connection and National Youth Network created educational video on the policy:
If youth have trouble applying for Medi-Cal they can contact the Foster Care Ombudsman: or

13. Upcoming Web seminar on Medi-Cal Extension for former foster youth
Children Now and Youth Law Center are hosting a web seminar, “Medi-Cal coverage until age 26 for former foster youth”
Thursday, February 27th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Register here:

14. THP-Plus Foster Care (THP+FC)

15. THP+FC Provider Growth
2012
2013
2014

16. Location of THP+FC Housing
Del Norte
Siskiyou
Humboldt
Location of THP+FC Housing
Shasta
Lassen
Tehama
Plumas
Mendocino
Butte
Glenn
Sonoma
Lake
Nevada
Placer
Sutter
Yolo
El Dorado
X Sacramento
Solano
Contra Costa
San Francisco
Alameda
San Joaquin
Stanislaus
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Merced
Mariposa
Fresno
Monterey
Tulare
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
X San Bernardino
Ventura
Los Angeles
Orange
Riverside
 Counties with high # of NMDs
 Counties with high # of NMDs without THP+FC
San Diego

17. THP-Plus

18. THP-Plus Participant Tracking System
Quarterly Report
Covers period of October 1 – December 31, 2013
Data on sample of 538 THP-Plus participants

19. Employment Status of THP-Plus Participants
Report ending December 31, 2013; 538 participants

20. Income Status of THP-Plus Participants
Average monthly income: $913.81
Average hourly wage: $9.28
51% report receiving at least one form of public benefit
25% report receiving another form of financial support
Report ending December 31, 2013; 538 participants

21. Educational Status of THP-Plus Participants
Report ending December 31, 2013; 538 participants

22. Of those enrolled (38%) in school, what degree are they pursuing?
Report ending December 31, 2013; 538 participants

23. Status of Parenting, Insurance, Permanent Connections and Criminal Justice Involvement
21% of participants are custodial parents
71% report having health insurance
92% report a permanent connection with an adult
6% of participants have been incarcerated or detained in adult criminal justice system since entering THP-Plus
6% of participants have had an adult misdemeanor or felony conviction since entering THP-Plus
Report ending December 31, 2013; 538 participants

24. Changes from 6 months prior, quarter ending 6/30/13
EMPLOYMENT & INCOME
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Decrease in percentage reported they were employed
48%
46%
Increase in reported hourly wage
$9.22
$9.28
Increase in reported average monthly income
$895.55
$913.81
Decrease in percentage reported receipt of public benefits
55%
51%
Increase in percentage reported receipt of other financial support
19%
25%

25. Changes from 6 months prior, quarter ending 6/30/13
EDUCATION
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Increase in percentage reporting being enrolled in school
35%
38%
Increase in percentage reported having graduated from high school
76%
78%
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Decrease in percentage reported they were custodial parents
23%
21%
Decrease in percentage reported they had health insurance
74%
71%

26. THP-Plus Capacity Chart
28 providers report open beds
10 providers report waiting lists
Total of 120 open beds & 70 youth in need of housing
THP-Plus Capacity Chart lists providers with open THP-Plus slots, and providers with waiting lists.
Also lists contact info so providers can coordinate with one another about referrals.

27. Clarifications from CDSS Legal: February 2014
The California Department of Social Services has provided the following clarifications regarding accepting out-of-county youth into THP-Plus:
Eligible youth may participate in a THP-Plus program in any county with an approved THP-Plus plan.
Any county with an approved plan may elect to accept a youth from another county into their program.

28. thp-plus capacity chart
OPEN BEDS
WAIT LISTS
County
Organization
# Open Beds
Updated
Alameda
Beyond Emancipation 10
1/14/2014
Fred Finch Youth Center 3
1/9/2014
Contra Costa
Contra Costa Co. HSD - Homeless Continuum of Care
1 female bed, 1 gender neutral bed
12/19/2013
El Dorado
Tahoe Turning Point 9
1/23/2014
Humboldt
Redwood Community Action Agency 5
1/17/2014
Los Angeles
Rosemary Children's Services 1
12/17/2013
St. Anne's
Marin
Alternative Family Services
12/18/2013
Monterey
Peacock Acres
Napa
Progress Foundation 2
Orange
Aspiranet 7
New Alternatives
Placer
Whole Person Learning
Riverside 4
12/20/2013
County
Organization
# Open Beds
Updated
San Bernardino
Aspiranet 6
12/20/2013
San Diego
San Diego Youth Services 2
12/18/2013
South Bay Community Services 7
YMCA of San Diego County 1
12/17/2013
San Francisco
Edgewood Center for Children and Families
3 slots for youth with host families
2/6/2014
First Place for Youth
1/20/2014
Larkin Street Youth Services
Will have open beds in March
1/28/2014
The Salvation Army 8
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo
Family Care Network 10
San Mateo
Star Vista 5
1/14/2014
Sutter
Children's Hope FFA
12/19/2013
Yolo
Yolo County DESS
Yuba
County
Organization
# on Waitlist
Updated
Alameda
Abode Services 8
12/19/2013
Butte
Youth and Family Programs 2
12/18/2013
Youth for Change
1-2
12/17/2013
Imperial
Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program 10
Los Angeles
C.H.A.I.N. Reaction, Inc. 4
12/21/2013
Richstone Family Center 29
San Gabriel Children's Services 5
12/30/2013
Santa Clara
Bill Wilson Center
unknown
Sonoma
TLC Child and Family Services 7
1/9/2014
Ventura
Ventura County Child and Family Services

29. THP-Plus Capacity Chart
THP-Plus Capacity Chart available at
If you are a THP-Plus provider and have not reported your current bed status to JBF, visit

30. THp-Plus Advocacy Video
John Burton Foundation is developing a 2-3 min. video on THP-Plus:
Who does THP-Plus serve?
What does THP-Plus provide?
Why is THP-Plus necessary?
Where would former foster and probation youth be without THP-Plus?
In early March JBF will disseminate to providers for their own advocacy use

31. Sign-on Letter to California State Legislature Regarding Relative Caregivers

32. Sign-on letter to State Legislature RE: Relative Caregivers
Under current foster care funding rules:
A relative caregiver receives a foster care benefit only if the child is federally-eligible.
If not federally-eligible, relative caregiver applies for state welfare benefit (CalWORKs).
If non-federally-eligible child is placed in non-relative foster home or group home, however, they will receive state foster care benefits.

33. Why Does this matter?
By denying relative caregivers foster care benefits, we are placing children into deep poverty  the CalWORKs grant for a single child is equal to just 37% of poverty level!

34. Inequity in monthly rates
Relative Foster Parent
Non-Relative Foster Parent
Federally-Eligible 15-Year Old
$820/month
Non-Federally-Eligible 15-Year Old
$351/month
Non-Federally-Eligible 15-Year Old Who is a Regional Center Client
$2,162/month
Non-Federally-Eligible Sibling Set of 3 (ages 15, 16 & 17)
$714/month
$2,460/month

35. Sign-on to the letter!
Sign onto a letter to the California State Legislature asking them to change this arbitrary and irrational foster care funding rule that places many foster children living with relatives into deep poverty.
To sign-on, follow this link to enter your organization’s contact information. (Individuals can sign on as well).
Deadline to sign on to the letter is TUESDAY, FEB. 18th!
For more information about this issue, contact Angie Schwartz at