43-100 RESPONSIBLE RELATIVES

The code designates certain relatives who, under specified conditions, are legally liable to provide financial support or to contribute to the support of an applicant or recipient under the AFDC program and this chapter deals with the determination of responsibility of relatives in the AFDC program.

Relative responsibility should not be considered exclusively in terms of financial responsibility. Other positive factors may be found in strengthened family relationships, the contributions which relatives can make to the security of the recipient through family solidarity or through guidance and planning for the child in AFDC. These positive factors may be available from relatives who are not legally liable to provide financial support as well as those who have liability.

Responsibility rests with the county to determine not only financial responsibility of relatives in the AFDC program, but, in all programs, to develop to the maximum the potential resource of relatives in meeting social and emotional needs of the recipient.