What public benefits is a foster child with disabilities eligible for?

In California, Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) includes higher rates to help accommodate therapies, services, and additional resources.

Children in foster care with documented disabilities already receiving AFDC-FC may also qualify for additional financial assistance and services through their local Regional Center under what is called a dual agency rate. Resource parents have the right to apply for an intake assessment for Regional Center services if they believe their child meets eligibility criteria. Resource families should contact their local Regional Center and the child's assigned social worker to begin the application process as soon as they have a clear sense of their child’s disability and needs.

All children in foster care in California are immediately eligible for Medi-Cal when they enter the foster system and begin living with a resource family. This means that all services, treatments, and medications will be covered at no cost to the resource family fostering the child. Resource parents can access the child’s Health Passport, which should contain information on their medical and educational history, such as medications they have previously been prescribed, their healthcare providers, and services they receive at school.

While resource families are the child’s day-to-day caregivers, they do not have final say on a child’s medical rights. Final say will always go to the biological parent unless the court determines otherwise.

For more information, see our full article about fostering and adopting children with disabilities in California.