1. 1 Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program

2. 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, 2009. 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. 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 413-070-0905(16) or DHS Child Welfare Manual (site below) http://www.dhs.state.or.us/policy/childwelfare/manu al_1/i-e362.pdf http://www.dhs.state.or.us/policy/childwelfare/manu al_1/i-e362.pdf

4. 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. 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. 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. 7 Oregon Contact Information Sherril Kuhns Oregon Department of Human Services Children, Adults and Families Federal Compliance Manager 503-945-6679 Sherril.Kuhns@state.or.us Sherril.Kuhns@state.or.us DHS Child Welfare Policy Website http://www.dhs.state.or.us/policy/childwel fare/ http://www.dhs.state.or.us/policy/childwel fare/