Implementation process for Michigan’s new Guardianship Assistance Act gearing up
DHS has issued an L-letter to its county directors, district managers and child welfare urban field operations director, outlining the process for implementing Michigan PA 260 of 2008, which allows for the development of a guardianship assistance program. Through this program, DHS may provide assistance payments to applicants who become permanent guardians of foster children. On October 7, 2008, federal PL 110-351, the “Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act†was enacted and includes provisions for the federally-funded relative guardianship assistance program. On December 24, 2008, the Administration for Children and Families provided initial program instructions to the states.
The L-letter points out an important difference between the Michigan Guardianship Assistance Program and the federal program, and that is funding. The federal relative guardianship assistance program provides title IV-E funding for payments to qualified licensed relative foster care providers. In contrast, the Michigan program will be state funded and was capped at $4.6 million, allowing only 450 guardianships in total. The federal program does not have restrictions on the number of guardianships that can be funded.
The Michigan Guardianship Assistance Program combines the federal and state funding and policy into a single program. The program will become operational by April 30, 2009.
The L-letter provides information on the basic process to begin to assess foster care placements where guardianship may be an appropriate permanency goal. Detailed policy will be provided within 30 days of receipt of this letter.
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