12 CCR 2509-3-7.203 - PROGRAM AREA 6 - CHILDREN IN NEED OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES
The definition of Program Area 6 is located at Section 7.000.1, D (12 CCR 2509-1). Specific groups and target groups that are included within Program Area 6 are shown below.
7.203.1
CHILD WITH
ADOPTION ASSISTANCE OR RELATIVE GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE [Eff. 1/1/15]
Requirements for the Adoption Assistance Program and the Relative Guardianship Assistance Program were consolidated into their respective sections.
A. The Adoption
Assistance Program is located in Section 7.306.4 (12 CCR
2509-4).
B. Relative Guardianship Assistance is
located in Section 7.311 (12 CCR 2509-4).
7.203.2
CHILD WITH MEDICAID
ONLY SERVICES [Eff. 1/1/15]
7.203.21
Target Groups [Eff. 1/1/15]
A.
Children in foster care who have been determined Title IV-E eligible and have
moved into or out of Colorado.
B.
Children for who an adoption assistance agreement is in effect and who have
moved into or out of Colorado. See Section 7.306.4 (12 CCR
2509-4) for details regarding children with adoption
assistance.
C. Children with a
Title IV-E Relative Guardianship Assistance agreement with a payment in effect
and who have moved into or outside of Colorado.
D. Children eligible for Home and Community
Based Services or Home Health Care Services as defined in Section 8.500 of the
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's Medical Assistance rules
(10 CCR
2505-10). Children enrolled in the Home and Community
Based-Developmentally Disabled Waiver Program administered through Community
Centered Boards and the Department of Human Services, Developmental
Disabilities.
7.203.22
Intake/Assessment [Eff. 1/1/15]
For children and youth moving to Colorado, the county department shall:
A. Verify from the
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) request from the sending
state that the child or youth is eligible for IV-E foster care from the state
of origin.
B. For adopted children
and youth, include a copy of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical
Assistance (ICAMA) form and the adoption assistance agreement in the child's
file or provide a copy of the Guardianship Assistance agreement.
C. Enter information about the child or youth
into the state automated case management system and verify that a Medicaid card
has been sent to the foster care provider, the adoptive parent, or the
guardian.
D. Notify the foster care
provider, the adoptive parent, or the guardian using the SS-4 Form that the
child or youth is eligible for Medicaid only services from Colorado. In
addition, advise the provider to notify the county department if foster care is
stopped by the originating state or of any change of address. In the case of an
adopted child or youth, or those with a guardian, advise the adoptive parent or
guardian to notify the county department and the state of origin of any change
of address.
E. Verify annually from
the state of origin that the child or youth is eligible for Medicaid.
7.203.23
Procedures for
Children Eligible for Home and Community Based Services or Home Health Care
Services [Eff. 1/1/15]
A. The county
department shall open a case Home and Community Based when an application for
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) or Home Health Care Services is
completed. The county department shall provide services as required in Section
8.500 of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's Medical
Assistance rules (10 CCR 2505-10) for children in
Home and Community Based Services or Home Health Care Services
Programs.
B. The county department
shall close the case on the state automated case management system no later
than the end of the month following the month that the child begins to receive
services from the case management agency unless the child remains eligible for
services under Program Areas 4 or 5.
7.203.3
CHILDREN WHOSE DISPOSITION IS
NO LONGER REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY [Eff. 1/1/15]
The target group includes children for whom all efforts at reunification with the family are exhausted. The parent-child legal relationship may or may not be terminated.
7.203.31
Eligibility [Eff.
1/1/15]
A. A child shall be eligible
for services in this target group only if he/she has prior eligibility in
another target group and has a permanent plan other than
reunification.
B. Children in this
target group shall receive services as addressed in the placement services,
relative guardianship, legal guardianship, relinquishment, independent living,
and adoption sections of these rules. Contact requirements for these children
shall be in accordance with Section 7.001.6 (12 CCR
2509-1). These contacts shall be documented in the
state automated case management system.
7.203.32
County Department Procedures
[Eff. 1/1/15]
A. The county department
shall document in the case file all efforts at reunification for the children
in this target group.
B. The county
department shall ensure that the Family Services Plan contains a plan for
permanent placement with a relative, adoption, relative guardianship or legal
guardianship/permanent custody, or other planned permanent living arrangement,
as appropriate (see Section 7.301.24, N;
12 CCR
2509-4).
C. When the permanent plan is not adoption
the county department shall document in the case file why adoption is not
appropriate.
7.203.4
FOSTER YOUTH IN TRANSITION
PROGRAM
The Foster Youth in Transition Program provides developmentally appropriate, voluntary services to eligible youth and shall be available to all eligible youth. Services shall be offered using a housing first strategy to provide housing solutions to participating youth who are experiencing, or are at imminent risk of, homelessness.
7.203.41
Eligibility
An eligible youth is an individual who:
A. Is at least eighteen but less than
twenty-one years of age or such greater age of foster care eligibility as
required by federal law;
B. Has a
current dependency and neglect case pursuant to Article
3 of Title
19, C.R.S. or has had prior foster care
or kinship care involvement in at least one of the following ways:
1. The youth was in foster care, as defined
in 19-1-103, C.R.S., on or after the
youth's sixteenth birthday; or
2.
The youth was in non-certified kinship care, as defined in
19-1-103, C.R.S., on or after the
youth's sixteenth birthday and was adjudicated dependent and neglected pursuant
to Article
3 of Title
19, C.R.S; or
3. The youth turned eighteen years of age
when the youth was a named child or youth in a dependency and neglect case open
through Article
3 of Title
19, C.R.S.
C. Are engaged in, or intends to engage in,
at least one of the following, unless an exception applies or are waived by
federal law:
1. Completing secondary education
or an educational program leading to an equivalent credential;
2. Attending an institution that provides
post secondary or vocational education;
3. Working part- or full-time for at least
eighty hours per month; or
4.
Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove
barriers to employment.
5. The
requirement described in 7.203.41(C) does not apply to a youth who is incapable
of engaging in any of the activities as a result of a medical condition that is
supported by regularly updated documentation in the 90 day supervisory review;
and
D. Seeks to enter
into a voluntary services agreement, or the youth has entered into and is
substantially fulfilling the youth's obligations pursuant to a voluntary
services agreement with the appropriate county department.
7.203.42
Eligibility determinations,
appeals, and notifications upon receipt of a referral for services through the
Foster Youth in Transition Program the county shall:
A. Determine if the youth is eligible for the
Foster Youth in Transition Program within three (3) business days;
1. If the youth is eligible:
a. Within three (3) business days of
referral, provide the youth:
i. Notice of
eligibility;
ii. A description of
the program, including the voluntary nature, services available, and ongoing
eligibility requirements; and
iii.
A copy of the voluntary services agreement.
b. Within three (3) business days of a youth
opting into the Foster Youth in Transition Program:
i. Execute a voluntary services agreement in
collaboration with the youth and provide them with a copy; and then
ii. Provide written notice to the office of
the child's representative that the youth has entered into a voluntary services
agreement in the Foster Youth in Transition Program.
c. When a youth enters into a voluntary
services agreement, a case shall be opened through program area 6.
d. If an eligible youth does not opt in, the
county shall close the referral within 30 days of receipt of the
referral.
2. If the
county determines the youth is not eligible, the county shall notify the youth
within three (3) business days of receiving the referral:
a. That they are not eligible and the reasons
for that determination in developmentally appropriate language;
b. Contact information for the office of the
child's representative; and
c. A
written description of their right to appeal and contact information for the
individual or unit assigned to hear appeals at the state department.
3. The state department shall be
authorized to hear eligibility appeals and make a final determination of
eligibility based on information available in the comprehensive child welfare
information system and juvenile court records within three (3) business days of
receiving the request for appeal. The state department shall provide the youth
and their counsel an opportunity to explain why they believe they are eligible
for the program prior to making a final determination. Final determinations of
eligibility made by the state department are final agency decisions and subject
to judicial review. The state department shall make the appeal policy available
to the public.
7.203.43
Foster Youth in Transition
Program services and procedures
A.
Procedures
1. When a youth enters the Foster
Youth in Transition Program the program area is program area 6.
2. The participating youth shall have a new
case opened in the child welfare information system as follows:
a. The new case shall be opened effective
either:
i. The day the youth and county
execute the voluntary services agreement if a youth is reentering; or
ii. The day the court terminates
any existing custody order, in either a dependency and neglect case or a
juvenile delinquency case, if the youth is transitioning from an open program
area 4 or 5 child welfare case; and
b. Prior to opening a new case or creating a
new client ID, the caseworker or supervisor shall complete a search in the
comprehensive child welfare information system for any existing open cases or
clients and ensure that only one program area 4 or 5 case is open that includes
the youth as participating as a child; and
c. For youth entering the program directly
from an open case under program area 4, 5, or 6, there shall be no resulting
interruption in case management services, housing, Medicaid coverage, or in
foster care maintenance payments.
3. The county department shall ensure the
family services plan contains an updated roadmap to success as described in
7.305.2 (12 CCR 2509-04). The family services plan in Foster Youth in
Transition Program cases does not require a treatment plan or family time
sections for the youth's parents or caregivers. Updates to the family services
plan shall be entered into the comprehensive child welfare information system
within sixty (60) days of the youth entering into a voluntary services
agreement. The youth shall be provided a copy of the family services
plan.
4. When a youth is entering
the Foster Youth in Transition Program directly from another Program Area 4, 5,
or 6 case, the youth shall be given the option to continue with the county who
is currently serving the youth, or transition to the county in which the youth
self-attests to residing in at the time the youth enters the foster youth in
transition program.
5. When the
youth's residence has changed after jurisdiction has been established, county
departments shall work cooperatively to:
a.
Ensure services are provided by the appropriate county;
b. Petitions are filed in the court of the
appropriate county;
c. Take into
consideration the youth's preference. If the youth does not have a preference,
then the county shall consider the following, in no particular order or
prioritization:
i. Which county is currently
working with the youth;
ii. The
county in which the youth self-attests to reside;
iii. Indications the youth intends to stay in
the self-attested county;
iv.
Access to services, supports, and/or relationships the youth needs in order to
successfully transition to adulthood.
B. Services
Each county department shall offer, at a minimum, the following services and supports to participating youth in the transition program. All services shall be provided by the county in a manner that is consistent with the youth's developmental needs, culture, and supports the youths successful transition to adulthood.
1. Assistance with enrolling in the
appropriate category of Medicaid for which the participating youth is
eligible;
2. Assistance with
securing safe, affordable, and stable housing in the following ways:
a. The participating youth's living expenses
are fully or partially funded through foster care maintenance payments, in
addition to any other housing assistance the youth is eligible to receive. Any
expectations for the youth to contribute to the youth's own expenses must be
based upon the youth's ability to pay.
b. With the participating youth's consent,
the participating youth's housing may be in any placement approved by the
county department or the court for which the participating youth is otherwise
eligible, including a licensed host family home, as defined in Section
26-5.7-102 (3.5), C.R.S. or a
supervised independent living placement, and that is the least restrictive
option to meet the participating youth's needs; or
c. If the participating youth needs placement
in a qualified residential treatment program, then such placement must follow
all relevant procedures pursuant to section
19-1-115, C.R.S., concerning the
placement of a child or youth in a qualified residential treatment
program.
3. Case
management services, including the development of a case plan with a roadmap to
success for the participating youth, as well as assistance in the following
areas, as appropriate, and with the agreement of the participating youth:
a. Provision of appropriate community
resources and public benefits to assist the participating youth in the
transition to adulthood as documented by the roadmap to success;
b. Obtaining employment or other financial
support and enhancing financial literacy;
c. Obtaining a driver's license or other
government-issued identification card;
4. Upon request, and if services are
available, support the youth with complying with any juvenile or criminal
justice system requirements which may include referrals to assist with
expunging the participating youth's court records, as appropriate, pursuant to
section 19-1-306, C.R.S.;
5. Pursuing educational goals and applying
for financial aid, if necessary;
6.
Upon request, and if services are available, referral to services for obtaining
the necessary state court findings and applying for special immigrant juvenile
status pursuant to federal law, as applicable, or applying for other
immigration relief for which the participating youth may be
qualified;
7. Obtaining copies of
health and education records;
8.
Maintaining and building relationships with individuals who are important to
the participating youth, including searching for individuals with whom the
participating youth has lost contact. These services may be offered using
family search and engagement as described in 7.304.52 (12 CCR
2509-04); and
9. Accessing information about maternal and
paternal relatives, including any siblings.
C. Court procedures when youth transition
from a Program Area 4 or 5 case into the Foster Youth in Transition Program
1. For a youth approaching their 18th
birthday who is currently in foster care, or who is in non-certified kinship
care and there is an open dependency and neglect case, the county shall partner
with the youth to support the youth in making informed decisions about what the
youth needs to emancipate successfully and whether to enter the Foster Youth in
Transition Program. The county shall partner with the youth in preparing for
the transition hearing described below:
a. The
county shall request that a transition hearing be held within 35 days of the
youth's 18th birthday pursuant to
19-3-705, C.R.S.
b. At least seven (7) days prior to the
transition hearing the county shall submit a report to the court that includes:
i. A description of the county's reasonable
efforts toward achieving the youth's permanency goals and a successful
transition to adulthood;
ii. An
affirmation that the county has provided the youth with all of the records and
documents the youth needs to successfully transition to adulthood, including
the documents required by 7.305.5, written information concerning the youth's
family history, and contact information for siblings if available and
appropriate;
iii. an affirmation
that the county has informed the youth, in a developmentally appropriate
manner, of the benefits and options available to the youth by the Foster Youth
in Transition Program as described in 7.203.4 (12 CCR
2509-3) and the voluntary nature of the
program;
iv. A statement of whether
the youth has made a preliminary decision whether to emancipate or to enter
into the Foster Youth in Transition Program and either or both of the
following:
A. If it is anticipated that the
youth will choose to emancipate, the report must include a copy of the youth's
emancipation transition plan as described in 7.305.2(F);
B. If it is anticipated that the youth will
choose to enter the Foster Youth in Transition Program, the county shall file a
petition pursuant to
19-7-307 at the same time as the
report described in this section.
D. Permanency planning
requirements described in 7.304.54 (12 CCR
2509-4) are required in all Foster Youth in Transition
cases.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
The definition of Program Area 6 is located at Section 7.000.1, D (12 CCR 2509-1). Specific groups and target groups that are included within Program Area 6 are shown below.
7.203.1 CHILD WITH ADOPTION ASSISTANCE OR RELATIVE GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE [Eff. 1/1/15]
Requirements for the Adoption Assistance Program and the Relative Guardianship Assistance Program were consolidated into their respective sections.
A. The Adoption Assistance Program is located in Section 7.306.4 (12 CCR 2509-4).
B. Relative Guardianship Assistance is located in Section 7.311 (12 CCR 2509-4).
7.203.2 CHILD WITH MEDICAID ONLY SERVICES [Eff. 1/1/15]
7.203.21 Target Groups [Eff. 1/1/15]
A. Children in foster care who have been determined Title IV-E eligible and have moved into or out of Colorado.
B. Children for who an adoption assistance agreement is in effect and who have moved into or out of Colorado. See Section 7.306.4 (12 CCR 2509-4) for details regarding children with adoption assistance.
C. Children with a Title IV-E Relative Guardianship Assistance agreement with a payment in effect and who have moved into or outside of Colorado.
D. Children eligible for Home and Community Based Services or Home Health Care Services as defined in Section 8.500 of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's Medical Assistance rules (10 CCR 2505-10). Children enrolled in the Home and Community Based-Developmentally Disabled Waiver Program administered through Community Centered Boards and the Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities.
7.203.22 Intake/Assessment [Eff. 1/1/15]
For children and youth moving to Colorado, the county department shall:
A. Verify from the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) request from the sending state that the child or youth is eligible for IV-E foster care from the state of origin.
B. For adopted children and youth, include a copy of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) form and the adoption assistance agreement in the child's file or provide a copy of the Guardianship Assistance agreement.
C. Enter information about the child or youth into the state automated case management system and verify that a Medicaid card has been sent to the foster care provider, the adoptive parent, or the guardian.
D. Notify the foster care provider, the adoptive parent, or the guardian using the SS-4 Form that the child or youth is eligible for Medicaid only services from Colorado. In addition, advise the provider to notify the county department if foster care is stopped by the originating state or of any change of address. In the case of an adopted child or youth, or those with a guardian, advise the adoptive parent or guardian to notify the county department and the state of origin of any change of address.
E. Verify annually from the state of origin that the child or youth is eligible for Medicaid.
7.203.23 Procedures for Children Eligible for Home and Community Based Services or Home Health Care Services [Eff. 1/1/15]
A. The county department shall open a case Home and Community Based when an application for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) or Home Health Care Services is completed. The county department shall provide services as required in Section 8.500 of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's Medical Assistance rules (10 CCR 2505-10) for children in Home and Community Based Services or Home Health Care Services Programs.
B. The county department shall close the case on the state automated case management system no later than the end of the month following the month that the child begins to receive services from the case management agency unless the child remains eligible for services under Program Areas 4 or 5.
7.203.3 CHILDREN WHOSE DISPOSITION IS NO LONGER REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY [Eff. 1/1/15]
The target group includes children for whom all efforts at reunification with the family are exhausted. The parent-child legal relationship may or may not be terminated.
7.203.31 Eligibility [Eff. 1/1/15]
A. A child shall be eligible for services in this target group only if he/she has prior eligibility in another target group and has a permanent plan other than reunification.
B. Children in this target group shall receive services as addressed in the placement services, relative guardianship, legal guardianship, relinquishment, independent living, and adoption sections of these rules. Contact requirements for these children shall be in accordance with Section 7.001.6 (12 CCR 2509-1). These contacts shall be documented in the state automated case management system.
7.203.32 County Department Procedures [Eff. 1/1/15]
A. The county department shall document in the case file all efforts at reunification for the children in this target group.
B. The county department shall ensure that the Family Services Plan contains a plan for permanent placement with a relative, adoption, relative guardianship or legal guardianship/permanent custody, or other planned permanent living arrangement, as appropriate (see Section 7.301.24, N; 12 CCR 2509-4).
C. When the permanent plan is not adoption the county department shall document in the case file why adoption is not appropriate.
7.203.4 FOSTER YOUTH IN TRANSITION PROGRAM
The Foster Youth in Transition Program provides developmentally appropriate, voluntary services to eligible youth and shall be available to all eligible youth. Services shall be offered using a housing first strategy to provide housing solutions to participating youth who are experiencing, or are at imminent risk of, homelessness.
7.203.41 Eligibility
An eligible youth is an individual who:
A. Is at least eighteen but less than twenty-one years of age or such greater age of foster care eligibility as required by federal law;
B. Has a current dependency and neglect case pursuant to Article 3 of Title 19, C.R.S. or has had prior foster care or kinship care involvement in at least one of the following ways:
1. The youth was in foster care, as defined in 19-1-103, C.R.S., on or after the youth's sixteenth birthday; or
2. The youth was in non-certified kinship care, as defined in 19-1-103, C.R.S., on or after the youth's sixteenth birthday and was adjudicated dependent and neglected pursuant to Article 3 of Title 19, C.R.S; or
3. The youth turned eighteen years of age when the youth was a named child or youth in a dependency and neglect case open through Article 3 of Title 19, C.R.S.
C. Are engaged in, or intends to engage in, at least one of the following, unless an exception applies or are waived by federal law:
1. Completing secondary education or an educational program leading to an equivalent credential;
2. Attending an institution that provides post secondary or vocational education;
3. Working part- or full-time for at least eighty hours per month; or
4. Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment.
5. The requirement described in 7.203.41(C) does not apply to a youth who is incapable of engaging in any of the activities as a result of a medical condition that is supported by regularly updated documentation in the 90 day supervisory review; and
D. Seeks to enter into a voluntary services agreement, or the youth has entered into and is substantially fulfilling the youth's obligations pursuant to a voluntary services agreement with the appropriate county department.
7.203.42 Eligibility determinations, appeals, and notifications upon receipt of a referral for services through the Foster Youth in Transition Program the county shall:
A. Determine if the youth is eligible for the Foster Youth in Transition Program within three (3) business days;
1. If the youth is eligible:
a. Within three (3) business days of referral, provide the youth:
i. Notice of eligibility;
ii. A description of the program, including the voluntary nature, services available, and ongoing eligibility requirements; and
iii. A copy of the voluntary services agreement.
b. Within three (3) business days of a youth opting into the Foster Youth in Transition Program:
i. Execute a voluntary services agreement in collaboration with the youth and provide them with a copy; and then
ii. Provide written notice to the office of the child's representative that the youth has entered into a voluntary services agreement in the Foster Youth in Transition Program.
c. When a youth enters into a voluntary services agreement, a case shall be opened through program area 6.
d. If an eligible youth does not opt in, the county shall close the referral within 30 days of receipt of the referral.
2. If the county determines the youth is not eligible, the county shall notify the youth within three (3) business days of receiving the referral:
a. That they are not eligible and the reasons for that determination in developmentally appropriate language;
b. Contact information for the office of the child's representative; and
c. A written description of their right to appeal and contact information for the individual or unit assigned to hear appeals at the state department.
3. The state department shall be authorized to hear eligibility appeals and make a final determination of eligibility based on information available in the comprehensive child welfare information system and juvenile court records within three (3) business days of receiving the request for appeal. The state department shall provide the youth and their counsel an opportunity to explain why they believe they are eligible for the program prior to making a final determination. Final determinations of eligibility made by the state department are final agency decisions and subject to judicial review. The state department shall make the appeal policy available to the public.
7.203.43 Foster Youth in Transition Program services and procedures
A. Procedures
1. When a youth enters the Foster Youth in Transition Program the program area is program area 6.
2. The participating youth shall have a new case opened in the child welfare information system as follows:
a. The new case shall be opened effective either:
i. The day the youth and county execute the voluntary services agreement if a youth is reentering; or
ii. The day the court terminates any existing custody order, in either a dependency and neglect case or a juvenile delinquency case, if the youth is transitioning from an open program area 4 or 5 child welfare case; and
b. Prior to opening a new case or creating a new client ID, the caseworker or supervisor shall complete a search in the comprehensive child welfare information system for any existing open cases or clients and ensure that only one program area 4 or 5 case is open that includes the youth as participating as a child; and
c. For youth entering the program directly from an open case under program area 4, 5, or 6, there shall be no resulting interruption in case management services, housing, Medicaid coverage, or in foster care maintenance payments.
3. The county department shall ensure the family services plan contains an updated roadmap to success as described in 7.305.2 (12 CCR 2509-04). The family services plan in Foster Youth in Transition Program cases does not require a treatment plan or family time sections for the youth's parents or caregivers. Updates to the family services plan shall be entered into the comprehensive child welfare information system within sixty (60) days of the youth entering into a voluntary services agreement. The youth shall be provided a copy of the family services plan.
4. When a youth is entering the Foster Youth in Transition Program directly from another Program Area 4, 5, or 6 case, the youth shall be given the option to continue with the county who is currently serving the youth, or transition to the county in which the youth self-attests to residing in at the time the youth enters the foster youth in transition program.
5. When the youth's residence has changed after jurisdiction has been established, county departments shall work cooperatively to:
a. Ensure services are provided by the appropriate county;
b. Petitions are filed in the court of the appropriate county;
c. Take into consideration the youth's preference. If the youth does not have a preference, then the county shall consider the following, in no particular order or prioritization:
i. Which county is currently working with the youth;
ii. The county in which the youth self-attests to reside;
iii. Indications the youth intends to stay in the self-attested county;
iv. Access to services, supports, and/or relationships the youth needs in order to successfully transition to adulthood.
B. Services
Each county department shall offer, at a minimum, the following services and supports to participating youth in the transition program. All services shall be provided by the county in a manner that is consistent with the youth's developmental needs, culture, and supports the youths successful transition to adulthood.
1. Assistance with enrolling in the appropriate category of Medicaid for which the participating youth is eligible;
2. Assistance with securing safe, affordable, and stable housing in the following ways:
a. The participating youth's living expenses are fully or partially funded through foster care maintenance payments, in addition to any other housing assistance the youth is eligible to receive. Any expectations for the youth to contribute to the youth's own expenses must be based upon the youth's ability to pay.
b. With the participating youth's consent, the participating youth's housing may be in any placement approved by the county department or the court for which the participating youth is otherwise eligible, including a licensed host family home, as defined in Section 26-5.7-102 (3.5), C.R.S. or a supervised independent living placement, and that is the least restrictive option to meet the participating youth's needs; or
c. If the participating youth needs placement in a qualified residential treatment program, then such placement must follow all relevant procedures pursuant to section 19-1-115, C.R.S., concerning the placement of a child or youth in a qualified residential treatment program.
3. Case management services, including the development of a case plan with a roadmap to success for the participating youth, as well as assistance in the following areas, as appropriate, and with the agreement of the participating youth:
a. Provision of appropriate community resources and public benefits to assist the participating youth in the transition to adulthood as documented by the roadmap to success;
b. Obtaining employment or other financial support and enhancing financial literacy;
c. Obtaining a driver's license or other government-issued identification card;
4. Upon request, and if services are available, support the youth with complying with any juvenile or criminal justice system requirements which may include referrals to assist with expunging the participating youth's court records, as appropriate, pursuant to section 19-1-306, C.R.S.;
5. Pursuing educational goals and applying for financial aid, if necessary;
6. Upon request, and if services are available, referral to services for obtaining the necessary state court findings and applying for special immigrant juvenile status pursuant to federal law, as applicable, or applying for other immigration relief for which the participating youth may be qualified;
7. Obtaining copies of health and education records;
8. Maintaining and building relationships with individuals who are important to the participating youth, including searching for individuals with whom the participating youth has lost contact. These services may be offered using family search and engagement as described in 7.304.52 (12 CCR 2509-04); and
9. Accessing information about maternal and paternal relatives, including any siblings.
C. Court procedures when youth transition from a Program Area 4 or 5 case into the Foster Youth in Transition Program
1. For a youth approaching their 18th birthday who is currently in foster care, or who is in non-certified kinship care and there is an open dependency and neglect case, the county shall partner with the youth to support the youth in making informed decisions about what the youth needs to emancipate successfully and whether to enter the Foster Youth in Transition Program. The county shall partner with the youth in preparing for the transition hearing described below:
a. The county shall request that a transition hearing be held within 35 days of the youth's 18th birthday pursuant to 19-3-705, C.R.S.
b. At least seven (7) days prior to the transition hearing the county shall submit a report to the court that includes:
i. A description of the county's reasonable efforts toward achieving the youth's permanency goals and a successful transition to adulthood;
ii. An affirmation that the county has provided the youth with all of the records and documents the youth needs to successfully transition to adulthood, including the documents required by 7.305.5, written information concerning the youth's family history, and contact information for siblings if available and appropriate;
iii. an affirmation that the county has informed the youth, in a developmentally appropriate manner, of the benefits and options available to the youth by the Foster Youth in Transition Program as described in 7.203.4 (12 CCR 2509-3) and the voluntary nature of the program;
iv. A statement of whether the youth has made a preliminary decision whether to emancipate or to enter into the Foster Youth in Transition Program and either or both of the following:
A. If it is anticipated that the youth will choose to emancipate, the report must include a copy of the youth's emancipation transition plan as described in 7.305.2(F);
B. If it is anticipated that the youth will choose to enter the Foster Youth in Transition Program, the county shall file a petition pursuant to 19-7-307 at the same time as the report described in this section.
D. Permanency planning requirements described in 7.304.54 (12 CCR 2509-4) are required in all Foster Youth in Transition cases.