Ky.gov
Effective: 1/22/2014

4.5.8 Discontinuance of Kinship Care

Legal Authority

Introduction

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Practice Guidance

  • When a child is absent from the home of the kinship caregiver for a period of thirty (30) days or more and returns to the ​caretaker relative's home, financial assistance under the kinship care program may resume under the guidelines of redetermination and reapplication. 
  • When the child in the kinship care placement is approved for supplemental security income (SSI) and later outgrows his/her disability, financial assistance under the kinship care program may resume under the guidelines of redetermination and reapplication. 
  • To the extent that funds are available the initial finding of substantiated abuse or neglect may be used for reapplication and redetermination of eligibility for financial assistance under the kinship care program, in the following circumstances. This only applies to children who were determined eligible for the kinship care program prior to April 1, 2013: 
    • That any of the circumstances listed above in the first (1st) bulleted point have occurred; 
    • That the child is becoming ineligible for SSI; or 
    • That the child will be placed with a different caretaker relative.

Procedure

The SSW:

  1. Notifies the kinship caregiver of discontinuance from the kinship care program when the following situations occur, which would make the kinship caregiver ineligible: 
    1. The birth parent is residing with the kinship caregiver and the child; 
    2. The child is physically relocated to another placement; 
    3. The child is absent from the home of the kinship caregiver for a period of thirty (30) days or more (unless the child is absent due to medical care or school attendance); 
    4. The child is approved for supplemental security income (SSI); or 
    5. The kinship caregiver fails to pursue permanent custody of the child within specified timeframes; 
    6. A sex offender registry address check and supporting documentation confirming that a sex offender resides at the applicant's home address; 
  2. Notifies the Family Support office, to ensure that the kinship care financial assistance is discontinued after notifying the kinship caregiver of the ineligibility; 
  3. Refers the former kinship caregiver to community partners, such as the Family Support office, to explore additional support services; 
  4. In addition to following steps one (1) and two (2) above completes the following steps when there is indication that the birth parent is residing with the kinship caregiver and the child: 
    1. Assesses the home and placement situation, and documents risk on the assessment, and takes appropriate action; and
    2. Notifies the overseeing court, as necessary; 
  5. Follows SOP 4.5.2 General Guidelines for Kinship Care Consideration when it is determined that the child should be placed with another caretaker relative; 
  6. Considers a change in caretaker relatives for any of the following reasons: 
    1. Death of the kinship caregiver; 
    2. Illness or injury of the kinship caregiver, as supported by medical documentation, that inhibits adequate care of the child; or 
    3. Active military service of the kinship caregiver; 
  7. In addition to following steps one (1) and two (2) above, petitions the overseeing court to notify the court of the following items when financial assistance under the kinship care program is discontinued due to the kinship caregiver’s failure to pursue permanent relative custody of the child: 
    1. The kinship caregiver's failure to pursue permanent custody; 
    2. Continued best interests of the child; and 
    3. Discontinuance from the kinship care program; 
  8. Completes an aftercare plan with the relative and child prior to case closure if the child’s placement with the relative remains and is approved by the overseeing court.
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Documents

Revisions