RFA is a family-friendly and child-centered caregiver approval process through the Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) Department, formerly Child Welfare Services, that combines elements of the former (pre-January 2017) foster parent licensing, relative approval, and approvals for adoption and guardianship processes and replaces those processes. RFA:
- Is streamlined and eliminates the duplication of existing processes.
- Unifies approval standards for all caregivers, regardless of the child’s case plan.
- Includes a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, home environment check, and training for all families, including relatives.
- Prepares families to better meet the needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system.
- Allows seamless transition to permanency.
Emergency RFA: Emergency RFA procedures must be followed if the child(ren) is/are placed in the home before the home is ready to be approved. An emergency placement can be made with a relative or nonrelative extended family member (NREFM) when:
- a child must initially be removed from the home, or
- at any time when a child is in out-of-home care, and
- a child needs a new placement, and
- a relative or NREFM requests placement of the child, and
- the placement with the relative or NREFM is determined to be in the best interests of the child
Foster Family Agency (FFA): FFAs are private, non-profit charitable organizations who partner with CFWB to find loving homes for children placed in foster care. Each FFA is unique in the age range of children they serve and the supportive services they provide. Each FFA is contracted by the County of San Diego and licensed by the California Department of Social Services Community Licensing Division.
Polinsky Children's Center (PCC) is a 10-day temporary shelter care facility for children who cannot remain with their family of origin due to abuse/neglect and for children experiencing a change of placement.
Visiting Youth: When visiting a youth detained at PCC, the CASA needs to bring their Court order and a picture ID. If the clerical staff have concerns, the CASA should ask that they reach out to the duty SW at PCC to confirm they are able to visit. That person (who is physically at PCC) can then go into their electronic system (which the clerical staff do not have access to) to verify that the CASA is appointed.
East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF): For more information on visiting youth detained at EMJDF, please visit the Juvenile Justice page and review the guide on "Working with Crossover Youth."
The STRTP, formerly licensed group home (LGH), is intended for youth whose behavioral and therapeutic needs are not able to be met in a home-based family setting, even with the provision of supportive services, and who require the level of supervision and clinical interventions provided by the STRTP facility.
The STRTP is one of the highest level of placements available for children and youth in care.
SPA can serve up to 80 youth, ages 12-17, as well as Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs). The program also accepts sibling groups in order to help maintain familial attachments and support family preservation. The program provides a stable educational setting that offers foster youth the opportunity to remain in one placement while completing high school. Residential staff and house parents serve as surrogate parents who mentor and tutor students, teach age-appropriate independent living skills, create opportunities to explore new interests, encourage participation in sports and recreation, assist in the exploration of career and job opportunities, and promote family living skills. Youth are surrounded with supportive adults, including program staff, house parents, on site social workers, teachers, and grandparent mentors.
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