The Contractor will: Review of the initial application within 7 days of receipt Conduct Criminal Background Checks Conduct a search in eWiSACWIS, KIDS and CARES Make initial contact with the relative care provider Within 14 calendar days of receiving the application, conduct a home visit with the relative care providers and gather information to: Assess the adult function of the relative care provider Verify the biological parent does not live in the same home as the relative care provider Explain the cooperation with Child Support/Medical Assistance and Good Cause Claims requirement and provide the Kinship Care Notice of Assignment Child Support and Medical Assistance form. Contact the biological parents and obtain consent Verify the relative care provider’s and child relationship and residency Conduct a Needs Assessment, a Jurisdictional Assessment and a Best Interest Determination for Each Child Determine eligibility based on the information gathered in the process. Notify the applicant of the Kinship Care Determination. Perform Annual Reassessments ensuring families remain eligible for services High School Verification Other services to be provided include: Appeal process The relative care provider can appeal the decision to deny kinship care payments or terminate them if the basis of the denial was due to a criminal conviction and/or reasoning provided in the jurisdictional, needs or best interest determinations. Denials and appeals based on failed criminal background checks are reviewed and decided by the DMCPS Contract Administrator. If an applicant or reassessed relative care provider is denied or terminated based on something other than a criminal conviction, they have an opportunity to appeal to the Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA). This denial can be based on any aspect of the analysis of the kinship care application outside of automatic denials based on the criminal conviction record. If an applicant is denied for these reasons the Contract Administrator must be notified by the contractor via a weekly email and provided the relative care provider’s name and date of birth, the child’s name and date of birth and the reason for denial. The DMCPS Kinship Director receives all DHA notices for hearings and forwards them to the Contractor. Contracted agency staff prepares for, and defends, their decision-making during appeals process with DHA. The contracted agency is responsible for submitting evidence to both the Administrative Law Judge and to the petitioner.
