California To Implement New Foster Care Level-Of-Care Maintenance Rates In February 2018

On November 3, 2017, the California Department of Social Services (DSS) informed the counties that implementation of a new foster-care maintenance rate structure, based on the child’s level-of-need rather than age alone, would take place February 1, 2018. DSS had intended to launch the new rates earlier, but is delaying to allow more time for counties to train their child welfare workforce and establish clear procedures regarding the appropriate use of the level-of-care (LOC) Protocol. The LOC Protocol helps to facilitate a rate determination based on caregiver actions applied to support child/youth needs . . .