Ky.gov
Effective: 9/4/2026

C1.9 Economic Supports and Safety Net

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Although poverty is not neglect, poverty and economic hardship increase the likelihood that a family will become involved with the child welfare system. Economic and concrete supports have been shown to reduce both reports and substantiations of maltreatment. Economic and concrete supports have also been recognized as key components of evidence-based practices (EBP) approved on the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. 

Practice Guidance

​

  • Effective ​strategies for prevention and well-being must support families’ access to economic and concrete supports, which can help families meet their basic needs and promote well-being. These include supports such as medical cards, food assistance, child care assistance, and other economic assistance. 
  • Collaboration among child welfare staff, prevention staff, and entities that assist families with accessing economic and concrete supports is necessary to reduce the need for child protective services (CPS) and promote child and family well-being.  The Division for Family Support (DFS)is a key partner in this effort. DFS administers all major federally funded public assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP), the Kentucky Works Program (KWP), and Medicaid. Families may apply for assistance in any Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) office in all one hundred and twenty  (120) counties by phone toll-free at (855) 306-8959 or online at Kentucky Benefits| kynect.
Additional Context- Program Eligibility 
  • Safety net services are part of KTAP, Kentucky’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funded services. Safety net services are short-term intervention or maintenance services for a family to help develop and maintain skills and abilities to prevent out-of-home placement for a child, or to provide monetary benefits to assist in maintaining self-sufficiency. Safety net services are provided for former K-TAP recipients who have a total income at or below two hundred (200) percent of the federal poverty level and are no longer eligible for K-TAP.  
  • Expenditures may include interventions in the following situations: 
    • Fuel shortage; 
    • Utility shutoff; 
    • Insufficient food, clothing, or housing; or 
    • Items needed to accept or continue employment. 
  • Funds may not be used for medical services, including prescriptions, dentures, eyeglasses, etc. 

Procedure

​

The SSW:
  1. Upon assignment of a safety net assessment by the FSOS, determines if a CPS or adult protective services (APS) case is already open; 
  2. Contacts the family by telephone, email, or (if the client cannot be reached by phone or email) by mail to arrange a home visit within fifteen (15) working days of the effective date of discontinuance; 
  3. Makes a home visit and follows up with a telephone contact within three (3) working days if there is no response; 
  4. Participates in any meetings or home visits and shares knowledge or insight as appropriate when invited; 
  5. Conducts an assessment using the DPP-1020 Safety Net Assessment; 
  6. Documents any correspondence or attempted correspondence on the DPP-1020 Safety Net Assessment;
  7. In addition to expenses, amount and sources of income, may also document the following in the "Assessment Information" section of the DPP-1020 Safety Net Assessment, when relevant:
    1. Reason(s) for discontinuance of utilities;  
    2. Resources that the family is using; 
    3. Resources needed; 
    4. Referrals needed to community resources; 
    5. Rights to reapply for KTAP benefits or eligibility for other benefits; 
    6. Living environment; 
    7. Observed indicators or risk factors of abuse, neglect, dependency, or exploitation; and
    8. Any identified problems. ​
  8. Assists the family in developing a plan of action and provides referrals to any community resources as appropriate if the SSW and family determine that the resources available are not adequate to keep the family safe and together; 
  9. May seek authorization for the expenditure of monetary assistance, up to a total of six hundred thirty-five dollars ($635) over four (4) months within the twelve (12) month period following discontinuance if the family’s income is at or below two hundred percent (200%) of the poverty level; 
  10. Uses the following steps, in concert with the DFS worker, to coordinate payment of any requested expenses to make sure that duplicate payments are not made: 
    1. Obtains documentation of need (e.g., disconnect notices, eviction notice, etc.) and submits it with the completed DPP-1021 Safety Net Verification Form to the FSOS; and 
    2. The SSW or FSOS submits the bills to the designated regional staff for payments to be issued;
  11. Discontinues safety net funds: 
    1. When appropriate under the limits of eligibility; or 
    2. If the DFS worker notifies the SSW, the K-TAP case is reapproved, which disqualifies the client from safety net funds eligibility; 
  12. Develops an aftercare plan with the family or opens a case for ongoing services, as appropriate; 
  13. Provides the family with a DPP-154 Protection and Permanency Service Appeal and informs the family of their right to file a service complaint; 
  14. Notifies the DFS worker of the outcome of the referral using the PAFS-628-Exchange of Information; 
  15. Completes the DPP-1022 Safety Net Report Form and submits the report to the FSOS, who approves it and submits it to the designated central office staff by the third (3rd) working day of the month.
​The designated regional staff:
  1. Instructs the SSW to make every effort to get a signed agreement from the vendor that the deposit will be returned to the local or regional office if the premises are vacated or there is a balance to be refunded when deposits are made for rent or utilities; 
  2. Instructs the SSW that if utility companies only return refunds to the client, the SSW may ask the client to return any unused portion of the deposit, but that no efforts are made to collect the refund; 
  3. Returns any unused funds received to the director of DAFM;
  4. Instructs the SSW that food, clothing, and furniture purchases may be made from vendors with the most cost-effective merchandise; 
  5. Instructs the SSW to return the itemized receipt for the region’s file so that they may each month: 
    1. Reconcile the checking account with their monthly log and 
    2. Submit to the director of the Division of Administration and Financial Management (DAFM) by the tenth (10th) of the month: 
      1. A copy of the reconciliation form; 
      2. A copy of the bank statement; 
      3. The monthly log; and 
      4. Original receipts, ensuring receipts are itemized with items purchased, price, quantity, client name, check number, total, and payee. 
  6. Requests the bank to process the voided check (e.g., a check that is not cashed by the vendor within ninety-five (95) days) and reports the void to DAFM; 
  7. Maintains all safety net services records for a minimum of five (5) years.
​The FSOS:

  1. Checks KAMES for the following information if the documents from central office are received without the corresponding PAFS-628 Exchange of Information form: 
    1. Effective date of discontinuance; 
    2. DFS worker code; and 
    3. Current address of the family; 
  2. Notifies the family support field services supervisor that the safety net referral was not received;
  3. Assigns an SSW to complete an assessment of the family’s needs upon receipt of one of the above reports of discontinuation.
Division of Prevention and Community Wellbeing (DPCW) Staff: 
 
  1. Share information about economic and concrete supports, including how those may be accessed, with families and community partners whenever relevant;
  2. Forward the safety net report to each service region and centralized intake monthly, identifying the names and addresses of welfare recipients who are being discontinued and may be eligible for Safety Net services; and 
  3. Provide consultation and technical assistance regarding the Safety Net program. ​


Documents

Revisions