Once the Department of Social Services has assumed custody of a child, placement of the child with a relative of fictive kin caregiver must first be explored unless it has been determined that this placement is not in the best interest of the child. Relative placements and fictive kin caregivers have the option to become a licensed foster care provider upon completion of the DSS licensed foster care licensing procedures. Children in foster care and licensed foster families when eligible receive financial supports such as; foster care board payments, quarterly clothing allowances, and allowances for non-routine school expenses, Medicaid, Supplemental Social Security if the child is eligible, child care, and child support payments to child if …show more content…
Non-licensed relatives also are able to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, if income eligible and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), granted they are a blood relative who is able to prove with documentation proof of their relationship to the child. Although TANF is a federally funded program it each states is able to decide how these funds are used. With the large push for relative placement of children in foster care, there is a large discrepancy in financial and supportive services offered. Currently there are no plans to make changes to the TANF guideline to include the addition of non-relative placements for children in foster care that would enable them to apply for these benefits. Having a supportive child welfare system and economic services system that works together to support relative and fictive kin placements is important and could result in less children in foster