340:10-22-1 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Supported Permanency Program (SPP)

(a) Scope. The TANF SPP was developed to promote permanency for a child(ren) who is in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and placed with a relative(s) residing in Oklahoma, who is a paid kinship relative foster home. The SPP is considered appropriate when the: (1) child meets age requirements described on Schedule XVII of DHS Appendix C-1, Maximum Income, Resource, and Payment Standards, or has a sibling residing in the same relative foster home who meets age requirements; (2) child(ren) in DHS custody is placed in a paid kinship foster home with a relative(s), who resides in Oklahoma and meets the specified degree of relationship,per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:10-9-1; (3) court finds that guardianship is the permanency plan for the child(ren); (4) child(ren) currently resides with the relative(s) in Oklahoma and resided with the relative(s) four of the last six months; (5) relative(s) completed all requirements to be approved as a DHS foster care home; (6) relative(s) is willing to assume legal responsibility for the child(ren); and (7) court and, when appropriate, the child(ren), are in agreement with the plan for the relative(s) to obtain legal responsibility for the child(ren). (b) Eligibility. Once the Child Welfare Services (CWS) specialist determines that a referral to the TANF SPP is appropriate,per (a)(1) of this Section and the transfer of legal responsibility is approved by the court, the CWS specialist refers the relative to apply for TANF SPP at the local county office within five-business days of the relative obtaining legal responsibility for the child(ren) using Form 04PP006E, Supported Permanency Referral. When the child(ren) is approved for the TANF SPP benefit, he or she is eligible for SoonerCare (Medicaid) and child care benefits, when appropriate. (1) The child(ren)'s income is considered the same as it is for any other TANF eligible child. (2) Food benefit eligibility is dependent on the eligibility of the household. (3) The Adult and Family Services (AFS) worker reduces the TANF SPP benefit when the child(ren) fails to meet the school attendance requirement, per OAC 340:10-13-1 or the immunization requirement, per OAC 340:10-14-1. (4) When the child(ren) leaves the home to reside elsewhere, the AFS worker closes the TANF SPP benefit for the child(ren). (5) When, following closure, the child(ren) returns to the relative's home, the child(ren) may be eligible for TANF cash assistance but not for the TANF SPP benefit.