Ky.gov
Effective: 01/08/2026

C12.18 Credit Reports for Youth in Out-of-Home Care (OOHC)

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​All youth in care aged fourteen (14) and older are entitled to receive a consumer report yearly until discharged from out-of-home care (OOHC) and to receive assistance in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies in the report.​​

Practice Guidance

​Young adults aged eighteen (18) and over in OOHC have the right to refuse to request an annual credit report or to share a copy of the report. However, they should be advised that they may request assistance with obtaining or interpreting their credit report at any time.  

Procedure

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The SSW:
  1. ​Upon receipt of the annual credit report from the Transitional Services Branch, assists youth between the ages of fourteen (14) and seventeen (17) with interpreting results and determines any inaccuracies on the credit report;
  2. Ensures the youth receives assistance to address and resolve any inaccuracies by utilizing guidelines on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website;
  3. May collaborate with other members of the youth’s service team, such as the private child-placing (PCP) case manager or caregiver, to request the report, review with the youth, and address inaccuracies;
  4. Uploads the credit report into TWIST and documents efforts to address inaccuracies;
  5. Provides confirmation that the annual credit report has been completed during the youth’s case planning and transition planning meetings;
  6. Includes tasks for completion of the annual credit check at the time of case planning or transition planning if one has not been completed within the past year; 
  7. Ensures an annual credit report is completed online via AnnualCreditReport.com or Free Credit Scores: Check and Monitor | Intuit Credit Karma, for youth age eighteen (18) and over in the custody of the Cabinet, with consent of the youth;
  8. Advises young adults on extended commitment to list their address as 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40601 when requesting their free annual credit report;
  9. Assists youth age eighteen (18) and over with requesting a credit report utilizing paper forms if a request cannot be submitted online; 
  10. May request that central office staff assist in obtaining a credit check through the credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) for youth in the custody of the Cabinet with a documented IQ of seventy (70) or below, regardless of age;
  11. Discusses the following with the youth, regardless of age:
    1. ​The importance of obtaining and checking credit reports;
    2. How to read and interpret the report; and
    3. How to dispute any inaccuracies;
  12. ​Documents discussion and the young adult’s decision not to request an annual report for any young adult over eighteen (18) who declines to request their report;
  13. Offers assistance with interpreting the report and resolving inaccuracies to any young adult age eighteen (18) and over who elects to request their credit report independently and declines to provide a copy, and documents their decision regarding the report and efforts to offer assistance in TWIST.
The Transitional Services Branch:
  1. Works directly with the credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) to request an annual credit report for youth between the ages of fourteen (14) and seventeen (17) in the custody of the Cabinet; 
  2. Provides the results to the service region administrator (SRA) or the regional credit report email box. The SRA or regional designee will disseminate the results to the appropriate SSW;
  3. May obtain a credit check for youth with a documented IQ of seventy (70) or below through the credit bureaus, regardless of age.  ​​​


Documents

Revisions