CalWORKs Policy - Department of Public Social Services

Child in a Group Home
A child who is in a licensed group home due to
a crisis situation (i.e., hospitalization or
incapacity of the parent, parents receiving
respite services to maintain family stability, etc.)
is considered temporarily absent for the
duration of the crisis if no Foster Care (FC) is
paid for the child and the caretaker relative
retains care and control concerning any major
health and welfare decisions.
Can an individual in a correctional facility
qualify for an exception?
There is no exception for an individual confined
in a correctional facility on the first of any month
and expected to remain for one full calendar
month. The individual is considered
permanently absent and becomes ineligible on
the first of the month. If this individual is the
only eligible child in the home, aid must be
discontinued.
See CW 44-350 Overpayments for more
information.
When a parent(s) or caretaker relative with
mental health problems is hospitalized, how
is the temporary absence evaluated?
There may be situations when a participant may
need to be hospitalized to receive treatment for
mental health and/or substance abuse
problems in order to accept or maintain
employment or participate in other GAIN
activities. When this occurs, participants may
be considered temporarily absent for the
duration of the hospital stay, even if it exceeds
the full calendar month limit. However, the
individual must continue to meet the other
determining factors of temporary absence.
These factors include:
• The individual has the intent to return
home;
• The individual has the ability to return to
the home;
• The caretaker relative continues to
exercise the primary responsibility for
care and control of the child(ren) by