42-766 CAL-LEARN CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

(a) The educational services necessary to earn a high school diploma or its equivalent.

(b) Health and social services, including, but not limited to those designed to:

(1) Reduce the incidence of maternal and child morbidity and mortality, including the incidence of low birth weight infants;

(2) Enhance the teen parent's parenting skills;

(3) Facilitate an effective ongoing relationship between the teen parent, the noncustodial parent and the child where it is in the best interest of the child and the teen parent; and

(4) Assess the suitability of the teen parent's living situation including, but not limited to, the physical and emotional health and safety of the teen parent and child.

.12 Standards for Case Managers

.121 Case managers shall possess an expertise in the education, training and other social and health service needs of teen parents, as well as the local programs that provide these services.

(a) Training shall be provided to case managers to develop and update the required expertise.

.122 Case managers shall have sufficient time consistent with the AFLP Standards incorporated under Section 42-766.133(a) to provide the needed case management services to teen parents.

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.13 Provision of Case Management Services

.131 Adolescent Family Life Program (AFLP) Contracting Requirement

Except as provided in Section 42-766.132, the CWD shall contract with an existing AFLP provider for case management services.

.132 Exceptions to Contracting With AFLP

The CWD may contract with other public or nonprofit agencies or school districts for all or part of case management services or may provide all or part of case management services directly only when one of the following conditions exist:

(a) AFLP services are not available; or

(b) AFLP services are not cost-effective; or

(c) The CWD has an existing teen parent program operating under an approved CalWORKs County Plan.

.133 Requirements When Not Contracting With AFLP

When case management services are provided by the CWD or by an agency which is not administering an AFLP, the following conditions shall be met:

(a) The services shall conform as determined by CDHS to the standards of the "California Department of Health Services, Maternal and Child Health, Adolescent Family Life Program Standards, March 1, 1993, and Cal-Learn Addendum, January 26, 1994," which are hereby incorporated by reference; and

(b) The Cal-Learn County Plan as specified in Section 42-767 shall include justification for not contracting with the AFLP under Section 42-767.121(a); and

(c) The services shall be designed with the cooperation of the local county health agency.

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.2 Case Manager

General responsibilities for the case manager shall include the following:

.21 Provide referrals to appropriate community services needed to assist the teen parent to continue in or return to school.

.22 Monitor each teen parent through monthly contacts with the teen parent, collateral and/or service providers to determine the effectiveness of service provision. Assess progress toward case plan goals and make the necessary changes to improve the teen parent's program.

.23 Act as a counselor, colleague, and role model so that each teen parent has someone to trust and to turn to for advice, guidance and ideas.

.24 Ensure that each teen parent understands the program requirements and consequences of not making adequate or satisfactory progress.

.25 Identify the need for and method of providing supportive services under Section 42-765.

.26 Develop a case plan under Section 42-766.3 to assist the teen parent to graduate from high school or its equivalent.

.27 Provide program exemption, program deferral, good cause, bonus and sanction determinations or recommendations.

.271 Case managers who are not CWD employees shall provide the CWD with a recommendation and supporting documentation.

.272 CWDs shall make the appropriate determination.

.28 Make reasonable efforts to reach teen parents who are not making adequate progress.

.3 Case Plan

The case manager shall develop a case plan. The case plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

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.31 Planned intervals of contacts and visits between the case manager and the teen parent, and the head of the AU, as appropriate.

.311 At a minimum, the intervals shall include monthly contacts and quarterly case plan reviews with the teen parent.

.32 A description of the teen parent's school program.

.322 For a teen parent not enrolled in and/or attending school, the date the teen parent shall be expected to be enrolled in and attending school shall be documented.

.33 A report card submittal schedule containing no more than four calendar dates per 12-month period on which the teen parent shall be required to submit a report card to the case manager.

.331 Teen parents in school programs which routinely issue 4 or less report cards in a 12-month period shall be required to submit the number of report cards issued.

.332 When a teen parent fails to participate in the development of the case plan, the case manager shall establish a report card submittal schedule containing four dates within the 12-month period.

.333 The date for submission of report cards shall be 10 working days from the date the report card is issued by the school.

.334 For purposes of bonuses and sanctions under Section 42-769, the requirement to submit a report card shall not begin until the teen parent has been required to participate in the Cal-Learn Program for 90 calendar days.

(a) The 90-day period begins the first day of the month after one of the following conditions are met.

(1) The date the teen parent attended orientation.

(2) The date the teen parent and head of the AU were sent program notification under Section 42-764.23.

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HANDBOOK BEGINS HERE

(b) Example: Sara was notified of the requirements to participate in the Cal-Learn Program during orientation in September. She receives a report card in January. She is required to submit this report card to her case manager.

(c) Example: Maryanne did not attend orientation and was subsequently sent a notice of the Cal-Learn Program requirements in March. She receives a report card in May. She is not required to turn in this report card. She subsequently received a report card in November, which she is required to submit.

HANDBOOK ENDS HERE

(d) When a break in participation of less than 90 days occurs during the 90-day participation period, the days of the break shall not be counted as part of the 90-day participation period.

(1) A break in participation shall be a break-in-aid or a Cal-Learn exemption.

.34 Supportive services to be provided to the teen parent.

.35 Documentation of referrals to or provision of services to the teen parent including those in Section 42-766.111.

.351 The documentation shall include whether the referred service was provided to the teen and the outcome of service provision.

.4 Report Card Submittal Schedule Notification and Case Plan Update

.41 The teen parent's report card submittal schedule under Section 42-766.33 shall be sent to the teen parent and the head of the AU within 30 days from either the date the teen parent attended orientation or the date the teen parent and the head of the AU were sent program notification under Section 42-764.23.

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.42 Following a teen parent's deferral or break in participation of less than 90 days, the case manager shall review and update the teen parent's report card submittal schedule.

.421 The schedule shall be sent to the teen parent and the head of the AU within 10 working days from the date the case manager was informed by the CWD that the teen parent's break or deferral ended.

.43 The case manager shall review and update the case plan as necessary, but no less than every three months.

.5 Exemption and Deferral Determination

.51 If it has not been determined prior to the development of the case plan or if the teen parent's circumstances change, the case manager shall determine if the teen parent shall be exempt under Section 42-763.2 or deferred under Section 42-763.3 from the Cal-Learn Program.

.52 When a case manager who is not a CWD employee finds that a teen parent should be exempt or deferred, the case manager shall make a recommendation to the CWD and provide substantiating documentation.

.521 The CWD shall review the case manager's documentation and recommendation to determine if the teen parent shall be exempt or deferred.

.6 Determination of School Progress

Case managers shall determine if report cards are submitted as required in the teen parent's report card submittal schedule under Section 42-766.33 and shall review report cards to determine school progress for the purposes of a bonus or sanction.

.61 Case Manager Is Not A CWD Employee

To initiate a bonus or sanction, the case manager shall provide the CWD with the recommendation and the documentation, including the report card, which substantiates the recommended action.

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.62 Report Card Determination of Adequate and Satisfactory Progress

For the purpose of determining adequate and satisfactory progress for report cards under Section 42-766.33, adequate progress shall mean maintaining a grade point average of at least 1.0 and satisfactory progress shall mean maintaining a grade point average of 2.0 and above on a scale where A equals 4.0 points and F equals 0 points.

.621 Report Cards Containing Letter Grades

When a report card containing letter grades is provided without that report's grade point average or individual letter grade point values, the report card's grade point average shall be computed by giving each grade a point value as specified below:

(a) A+, A, A- equal 4.0

B+, B, B- equal 3.0

C+, C, C- equal 2.0

D+, D, D- equal 1.0

F, Incomplete equal O

.622 Report Cards Without Letter Grades

When report cards do not contain letter grades, or the school providing letter grades has an alternative method of determining adequate and satisfactory progress, satisfactory and adequate progress shall be determined by the school's regular assessment of periodic progress.

.623 For the purposes of this section, only grades contained on the submitted report card shall be used for grade point average determination. Cumulative grade point averages shall not be used.

.63 Report Cards Submitted as Required

When the teen parent submits the report card as required, the case manager shall take the following action:

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.631 Satisfactory Progress

Initiate the $100 bonus for the AU when the report card reflects satisfactory progress under Section 42-766.62.

(a) The case manager shall initiate a bonus as soon as administratively possible, but no later than 5 working days from the date:

(1) The report card was submitted as required on the report card submittal schedule; or

(2) It has been determined that the teen parent had good cause for late report card submittal under Section 42-766.641; or

(3) The case manager received a completed grade or at the end of the time period identified under Section 42-766.65.

(b) The $100 bonus shall not be initiated when the teen parent will receive the $500 bonus under Section 42-766.8 for the same report card period.

.632 Adequate Progress

Notify the head of the teen parent's AU that the report card reflects adequate progress and that no grant adjustment shall be made when the report card reflects adequate progress under Section 42-766.62.

.633 Failure to Demonstrate Adequate Progress

Make reasonable efforts as specified in Section 42-766.7 when the report card does not reflect that the teen parent is demonstrating adequate progress under Section 42-766.62.

(a) If a good cause determination is not requested within the 10-day reasonable efforts period, the case manager shall initiate the $100 sanction.

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(b) If a good cause determination is requested within the 10-day reasonable effort period, the case manager shall make a good cause determination.

(1) If good cause is found, the case manager shall not initiate the $100 sanction.

(2) If good cause is not found, the case manager shall initiate the $100 sanction.

.64 Report Cards Not Submitted as Required

When a teen parent fails to submit a report card as required, the case manager shall make reasonable efforts under Section 42-766.7.

.641 Good Cause Found for Late Submittal

If the teen parent submits the report card within the 10-day reasonable effort period, and it is determined that there was good cause for late submittal, the case manager shall treat the report card as having been submitted as required under Section 42-766.63.

.642 Good Cause Not Found for Late Submittal

If the report card is submitted within the 10-day reasonable effort period, as provided in Section 42-766.7, but good cause for late submittal is not found, the sanction shall be reduced to $50 when:

(a) The report card reflects adequate progress or better, or

(b) The teen parent showed good cause for a report card which did not reflect adequate progress.

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HANDBOOK BEGINS HERE

(1) Example: A teen parent submits a report card within the ten-day reasonable effort period. The case manager determines that the teen parent did not have good cause for the late submittal. If the report card reflects satisfactory progress or if the teen parent can demonstrate good cause for a report card that does not reflect satisfactory progress, the sanction is reduced to $50.

HANDBOOK ENDS HERE

.643 Report Card Not Submitted

The case manager shall initiate the $100 sanction under Section 42-769.2 when the teen parent does not turn in the required report card by the end of the 10-day reasonable effort period.

.65 Report Cards Containing Incomplete Grades

When a teen parent submits a report card containing an incomplete grade(s) which could affect the eligibility of a bonus or sanction, the CWD shall follow the procedure under either Sections 42-766.651 or .652. The option chosen shall be established countywide.

.651 A bonus or sanction shall not be initiated until after 45 calendar days from the date the incomplete report card was received by the case manager. A completed grade(s) may be submitted during the time period established by the teen parent's school for completing grades.

(a) Adequate and satisfactory progress shall be determined using the grades received by the end of the 45-day period beginning on the date the case manager received the report card containing the incomplete grade(s).

(b) The teen parent's eligibility of a bonus or sanction shall be determined again when a completed grade is submitted after this 45-day period, but within the time period established by the teen parent's school for completing grades.

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(c) The case manager shall treat the report card as having been submitted as required under Section 42-766.63.

.652 A bonus or sanction shall not be initiated until after the time period established by the school the teen parent is attending for completing grades.

(a) Adequate and satisfactory progress shall be determined using the grades received by the end of the school's allowable time period and the case manager shall treat the report card as having been submitted as required under Section 42-766.63.

.653 Within 5 working days from the date the case manager received the incomplete report card under Sections 42-766.651 or .652, the case manager shall send a notice to the teen parent and the head of the AU explaining the CWD's procedure for submitting a completed grade and the consequences of not submitting a completed grade.

.66 Notification of Failure to Participate

If good cause is not found for failure or refusal to comply with program requirements on the part of the teen parent, the case manager shall inform the teen parent and the head of the AU of the consequences of not participating and provide the teen parent with the telephone number and address of the local welfare rights organization or legal aid society should the teen parent need further assistance.

.67 Conclusion of Cal-Learn Participation

.671 A teen parent shall not participate in the Cal-Learn Program after the end of the month in which the teen parent turns 19 years old or, if a voluntary participant, turns 20 years old.

(a) When the teen parent qualifies for a $100 or $500 bonus or a sanction before the end of the month in which the teen parent turns 19 years old or, if a voluntary participant, turns 20 years old and the action was not initiated before the end of that month, the case manager shall initiate the bonus or sanction after the end of that month.

(b) The case manager shall not initiate a bonus or sanction for a report card period that ends after the month the teen parent turns 19 years old or, if a voluntary participant, turns 20 years old.

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(c) When a teen parent ends participation due to turning 19 years old or, if a voluntary participant, turns 20 years old, or when the teen parent earns a high school diploma or its equivalent, the case manager shall notify the teen parent that the teen parent is no longer in the Cal-Learn Program.

.672 When it is known to the case manager that a teen parent is approaching the end of participation in the Cal-Learn Program, the case manager shall assist the teen parent in transitioning to independent living or to participation in CalWORKs welfare-to-work activities.

.7 Reasonable Efforts

When a teen parent fails to make adequate progress, either by submitting a report card reflecting less than adequate progress or by not submitting a report card as required, within 10 working days from the date the teen parent failed to make adequate progress the case manager shall:

.71 Send a notice to the teen parent of the consequences of not making adequate progress.

.72 Make reasonable efforts to reach the teen parent (and the head of the AU, if appropriate) who is in danger of continuing to fail in school or to not attend school.

.73 Make reasonable efforts to secure a face-to-face meeting with the teen parent.

.74 For the purposes of this section, performance of any one of the following shall constitute reasonable efforts:

.741 A telephone call to the teen parent;

.742 Personal contact with the teen parent;

.743 Written notification with an appointment date shall constitute reasonable efforts if the case manager does not have contact with the teen parent by telephone or by an attempt to have personal contact.

.75 Begin a good cause determination as specified under Sections 42-768.2 and .3 when a teen parent requests a good cause determination.

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.76 Document in the case file all efforts made to reach the teen parent and arrange a face-to-face meeting under Sections 42-766.72 and .73.

.8 Teen Parent Graduates from High School

The case manager shall receive documentation submitted indicating graduation from high school or its equivalent.

.81 When graduation is verified with the school the case manager shall initiate the $500 bonus under Section 42-769.1.

.811 The case manager shall initiate the bonus as soon as administratively possible, but not more than five working days from the date the case manager received the graduation documentation from the teen parent.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 10533 and 10544, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Sections 11320, 11331.5(a), (b) and (c); 11331.7; 11332; 11332.5(a), (a)(1), (a)(3) and (a)(4), (b) and (c); 11333(a), (b) and (b)(1); 11333.7, (a), (b)(1), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g); 11334 and 11334.2, Welfare and Institutions Code; 45 CFR 250.10(c); and 45 CFR 250.40(a).