Permanency Guide - Los Angeles County Department of Children ...

COMPARISON OF LEGAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
RELATED TO ADOPTION, LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP AND PLANNED PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT
FACTOR
3
LEGAL
RELATIONSHIP
4.
LEGAL
PERMANENCE
ADOPTION
[Adoption Assistance
Program (AAP) Funded]
Adoptive parent(s) commit to a
permanent, lifelong relationship and
the child becomes theirs in all
respects. The legal relationship is
the same as a child born to them. 46
Adoption is a lifelong, legally
binding relationship and provides
the highest level of legal
permanence. The adoptive
parent(s) become the legal parents.
Birth parents rights are terminated
and birth parents cannot reclaim
the child. 47
RELATIVE
GUARDIANSHIP
(supported by Enhanced Kin-
GAP)
Kin-Gap guardianship suspends most
of the legal rights of the birth parents.
The guardian(s) have parental
responsibility for care, custody, control
and conduct of the child.
Kin-Gap guardianship provides
permanence; however, it is not as
legally secure as adoption. The Court
can terminate the guardianship, and
birth parents, (whose rights are not
terminated), can petition the Court to
terminate the guardianship, or the
Legal Guardian may ask the Court to
dismiss the guardianship. The
Guardian has authority to allow birth
parents to be involved in decision
making. Legal guardianship generally
ends at age 18 but may be extended.
19 if the youth is still in high school and
will likely graduate or get a GED by
their 19 th birthday. Kin-Gap may
continue to age 21 if the youth has a
mental or physical disability that
warrants continuation regardless of the
age of the child when the guardianship
was ordered. As of 01/01/12 the a
former dependant child or ward of the
juvenile court who turned 16 prior to
entering Kin-Gap can receive funding to
age 19; as of 01/01/13, up to age 20
LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP
NON-RELATIVE/
RELATIVE
GUARDIANSHIP
(supported by foster care funds)
Guardianship suspends many of the
legal right of the birth parents. The
guardian(s) have parental responsibility
for care, custody, control and conduct
of the child.
Guardianship provides permanence;
however, it is not as legally secure as
adoption. The Court may terminate the
guardianship, birth parents,(whose
rights are not terminated), can petition
the Court to terminate the guardianship,
or the Legal Guardian may ask the
Court to dismiss the guardianship. The
Legal Guardian has authority to allow
birth parents to be involved in decisions
regarding the child. Legal guardianship
ends at age 18 or may be extended to
19 if the youth is still in high school and
will likely graduate or get a GED by
their 19 th birthday. As of 01/01/12
youth 18 and over are eligible for
support up to age 19; as of 01/01/13,
up to age 20 and as of 01/01/14 up to
age as long as the youth signs an
agreement, is eligible for AFDC-FC
funding and meets the conditions of
section 11403 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code. Funding to age 21 is
contingent on legislature.
PLANNED PERMANENT
LIVING ARRANGEMENT
(Long Term Foster Care)
While foster parents and relative caregivers
provide food, housing and nurturance to a
child, the Juvenile Court has legal jurisdiction
and DCFS is responsible for case
management and supervision of the child in
the home.
Foster care is meant to be temporary; it does
not provide legal permanence. Court can
continue jurisdiction up to age 21. The birth
parents may maintain rights and can
challenge continuing need for custody in
Court. DCFS can remove the child from the
caregiver’s home or the caregiver can request
the child’s removal. Birth parents rights are
generally not terminated and they may
request the child’s return. As of 01/01/12
youth 18 and over are eligible for support up
to age 19; as of 01/01/13, up to age 20 and as
of 01/01/14 up to age 21 consistent with
transitional Independent Living case plan and
as long as the youth signs an agreement
meets, is eligible for AFDC-FC funding and
the conditions of section 11403 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code. Funding to age 21 is
contingent on legislature. DCFS will make
continuing efforts to find a more permanency
plan. Until 2012 foster care payments may
continue to age 19 if the child is attending
high school and will either graduate or get a
GED by their 19 th birthday and continues to
reside with the legal guardian. . 24a DCFS will