LAC 67:III.5541. Court-Appointed Special Advocates

A. The department shall enter into an agreement with the Supreme Court of Louisiana to provide services to needy children identified as abused or neglected who are at risk of being placed in foster care or, are already in foster care. Community advocates provide information gathering and reporting, determination of and advocacy for the children's best interests, and case monitoring to provide for the safe and stable maintenance of the children in their own homes or the return of children to their own homes or the homes of a relative. B. The services meet TANF goal 1, to provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives by ensuring that the time children spend in foster care is minimized, and TANF goal three, to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies by providing the child with support and guidance and with encouragement and empowerment to be successful in becoming a responsible decision maker. C. Eligibility for services is limited to needy families, that is, one in which any member receives a Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) grant, Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) grant, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) services, title IV-E, Medicaid, Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) benefits, supplemental security income (SSI), free or reduced school lunch, or who has earned income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. A family consists of minor children residing with custodial parents, or caretaker relatives of minor children. D. Services are considered non-assistance by the department.