Program Instruction: 16-02
Issue Date: November 12, 2019
Effective Date: December 1, 2019, re-issued October 2, 2025
From: Kim Guay, Director
Subject: Policy Change: Emergency Relief Support Program
The purpose of the emergency relief support program is to provide time-limited financial support to relatives (excluding biological parents). A relative is defined as an individual related to another by blood, adoption, marriage, Tribal custom, or an adult family member. AS 47.10.990 defines an adult family member as a person who is 18 years of age or older who is related to the child as the child’s grandparent, aunt uncle or sibling; the child’s sibling’s legal guardian or parent; or in the case of an Indian child, an extended family member.
The payments are designed to support families, who have taken placement of kin, until they can complete the foster care licensing process or find another option to support the children in care. This program will cover any new children who are placed in an unlicensed relative’s home. This includes any placement change to an unlicensed relative provider and does not need to be a new removal. If the placement disrupts after Emergency Relief Support (ERS) has been issued to an unlicensed relative and the child later returns to that relative (under the same removal), they will not be eligible for ERS payments. As part of this program, unlicensed relatives may pursue licensure; however, those related within the 5th degree may choose to pursue benefits through Department of Public Assistance Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP), instead of licensure to receive a foster care maintenance payment for caring for a child in OCS custody.
Under this program, emergency licenses will no longer be issued to unlicensed relative providers. Families requesting monetary assistance will receive a monthly support payment in the amount of $500.00 per child, per placement provider while they are pursuing licensing or public/Tribal assistance programs for up to two months. The emergency relief support payment is to financially assist the family in purchasing food, clothing and other items in order to help maintain the placement until the family can begin receiving foster care payments or TANF/ATAP benefits. Requests for funds will not be issued while the child is placed in the relative’s home for food, diapers, or baby wipes while receiving ERS payments. If an emergency occurs at the time of placement and a child needs food, diapers, or baby wipes, a purchase authorization may be made with supervisory approval; however, any amount paid on an emergency basis will be deducted from the next emergency support payment that is issued.
Unlicensed relatives (related within the 5th degree) placements have a choice to receive funding to assist with the care of the child(ren) in their home. They may choose to apply with the Division of Public Assistance for TANF/ATAP or may apply to become a licensed foster home.
Individuals interested in TANF or ATAP will be referred to the Division of Public Assistance. While pursuing TANF/ATAP, the family will be eligible for up to two months of emergency relief support payments up to $1000 total to assist them with the child’s care.
All unlicensed relatives interested in becoming fully licensed will be referred to the Licensing Specialist who will assist them in the process of becoming a licensed foster home. While pursuing licensure, the family will be eligible for up to two months of emergency relief support payments to assist them with the child’s care.
The first $500.00 payment will be effective the first day the child is placed in the home and will be issued once PSSU has made contact with the provider. Payments for subsequent month will be issued at $500.00 at one-month interval, or until the family is licensed or TANF/ATAP benefits are issued and as long as children remain in the family’s care.
The two $500.00 monthly payments will be per child, per placement provider. If a child moves to a new unlicensed relative home in the same month a previous payment was made to another provider, the new provider will still be eligible for the full two months of ERS payments.
Requests for funds for food, diapers, and baby wipes will not be issued while the child is placed in the unlicensed relative’s home. If an emergency occurs at the time of placement and a child needs other essential items, a purchase authorization may be made with supervisory approval and will not exceed $250.00; the amount will be deducted from the next emergency support payment that is issued.
Before a child can be placed in the home of an unlicensed relative, the PSS must inform the PSS IV of the decision and complete the following as instructed in CPS manual section 2.6.1 Placements.
Completion of an APSIN, Child Protection, JOMIS, Sex Offender Registry and Court View checks on all individuals 16 and older in the home in accordance with CPS manual section 3.5.1 Background Checks for Placement Resources policy. Results will be documented in an ORCA Activity Note.
The Unlicensed Relative or Prospective Foster Home Safety Evaluation (06-9013) must be completed on any family before placement can be made. An ORCA Activity Note will be created documenting the safety evaluation and relative study is completed the form will be uploaded into ORCA.
When necessary, the PSS will obtain PSS IV approval for placement of the child. This includes when there are background checks, home safety, or fingerprint issues.
Within two days of a child being placed in an unlicensed relative’s home, the following will be completed:
The PSS will inform ORCA to have the unlicensed home provider created.
The PSS will enter the placement into ORCA.
Placement Search and Support Unit (PSSU): will contact the resource family and discuss the Emergency Relief Support Program with the family, including:
Provide resource information verbally.
Confirm the address and relationship of the provider.
The PSSU will email the ERS Team and PSS information about the new ERS provider.
Request that the family identifies the type of funding they would prefer and either:
Refer the resource family to the Division of Public Assistance if they are a relative within the 5th degree, and the family chooses to pursue TANF or ATAP.
If the provider indicates an interest in becoming licensed, the PSSU will notify Licensing who will assign a CCLS I to the provider.
The PSSU will notify the ERS Team to end payments if the family does not require further monetary support.
Within 5 days of placement, the PSSU will provide the resource family with the:
Electronic Placement Packet;
Resource Family Handbook;
Consent for Routine and Emergency Medical care (if not already provided by the PSS); and
A Guide to Child Protective Services for Relatives.
ERS Team:
Will enter a one-time payment in ORCA.
Mail formal notice of payment to the provider.
Will set up a file for each provider and calendar subsequent payments that will be due.
When the next payment is due, the PSSU will confirm that the child is in the current placement and that foster care payments have not been started. The ERS Team will:
Confirm in EIS that the family is not receiving ATAP or TANF; and
Set up a one-time payment in ORCA.
Protective Services Specialist (PSS): The PSS is responsible for case management and support to resource families. The PSS will:
Notify a child’s Tribe to assist with support for the family.
Coordinate with ORCA to create the provider in ORCA and enter the placement within 48 hours of placement.
Follow CPS manual policy 2.6.1 Placements to ensure background checks and relative home study has been completed.
Community Care Licensing Specialist I/II: Licensing will contact the provider if they would like to become licensed as outlined in PI 24-06 Relative Licensure.
ORCA Help Desk: Will create the provider in ORCA after notification from the PSS that the child has been placed. See (B)(1) in the procedure section of this program instruction.