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Child Care Scholarship Policy Manual 91
2.11.11 KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP (KIN GAP)
Child care will be given for a full 12 months (52) weeks in order to support the family when there is a child who is transitioning out of foster care into a Subsidized Legal Guardianship arrangement with a kin or fictive kin caregiver, also known as Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (KinGAP) arrangement. This applies only to children who were in the custody of SC Department of Social Services. This funding is limited to one year.
Eligibility Criteria: • Child has been placed with a licensed kinship guardian for a period of no less than six months and a court has granted that kinship caregiver subsidized legal guardianship, and there is no longer an open/active foster care case. • The kinship guardian must provide proof of court order granting legal guardianship. • The child care application should be in the name of the legal kinship guardian. • The guardian does not have to be working, in school, or in training. • The guardian does not have to be income eligible. • The child needing care must be under the age of 13 or have a verified special need which may allow for services from the ages of 13-19. • There is no copay for this category. • If the family’s income is above the maximum entrance amount (but under the exit amount), the income entered into the database will be entered at a dollar less than the maximum 85% SMI. • If the client is not working and has no income, income should be entered as $0. • One time - 12 months of care (52 weeks) of age-appropriate care will be given following approval. • The family must choose an enrolled ABC Quality provider. • There is no copayment for this category, but parents are responsible for paying the difference in what the Child Care Scholarship Program pays and what the child provider charges.
Process: • Qualifying kinship guardians may request a child care application by emailing FosterChildCare@dss.sc.gov. • Kinship legal guardian must provide a copy of the court order granting legal guardianship.