The Department of Children and Family Services administers Louisiana Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) and provides monetary assistance in the form of cash to the children living with people other than their parents. They could be their grandparents, stepparents, cousins, etc. The program ensures that the children are living with their relatives who are receiving the KCSP cash benefits. It is also not important that all the siblings receive the KCSP program’s benefits.
One must keep in mind that the program does not consider legal custody as a factor while determining the relationship of the child with the relative. Relatives of the spouses who are now divorced also fulfill the relationship requirement. Moreover, if the child is already living with a relative of their birth parent, he or she is eligible to receive the Kinship Care Subsidy Program. However, if the child is adopted, all the other relationships from his or her former family will be terminated.
Some eligibility criteria must be fulfilled to be able to receive the KCSP program benefits. The program is open for children who are 18 years old or younger and have a total monthly income of $222 or less. The qualified relative should have a Social Security Number. Moreover, the parents of the children and the relative should not be living in the same house.
The relative is required to provide medical records of immunization of each child against diseases that could be prevented through vaccination. Several resources are taken into account while determining the income eligibility of the relative including, cash, savings, stocks and bonds, real estate, mortgages, and cars.
Due to the recent pandemic, the Department of Children and Family Services has introduced new technology in their Self-Service Portal known as CAFE. This upgraded portal provides improved communication and ease of the application process to the recipients of the LaCAP, SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, and other programs. The program also provides information and resources regarding different programs as well as improves the delivery of benefits.
You can also reach the program office by calling the following number,
1-888-524-3578
You can also send your application form via secured fax at (225) 663-3164 to the state office of the Department of Children and Family Services.