The system
How the system worksThe DirectoryDispatchThe LedgerAI modelsAI agentsYour installationThe appThe research libraryWhat changes for your businessUse it from your softwareEverything it can do
Messaging
iMessageWhatsApp
Ads and leads
AdsCreativeLeads
Devices
Devices
Industries
RealtorsRestaurantsHome services
Explore
How it worksPermissions and limitsCompareSet upQuestionsText me

Foster care, Kin-GAP and Adoption Assistance (California monthly payments for children in foster care, guardianship and adoption): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

California pays a monthly rate per child to foster families and relatives caring for a child in the dependency system, to relative guardians through Kin-GAP, and to adoptive parents through the Adoption Assistance Program. The basic rate from 1 July 2026 is $1,348 a month. Payments follow the court case through the county social worker; AAP starts with form AAP 1.

What foster care, Kin-GAP and Adoption Assistance are, in one paragraph

These are the monthly payments California makes for a child who has been in the juvenile dependency or probation system. A foster care payment goes to the family caring for the child while the child is in care (rule:foster_payment). Kin-GAP continues a payment to a relative who becomes the child's legal guardian when dependency ends (rule:kingap_requirements). Adoption Assistance (AAP) pays adoptive parents of a child who would otherwise stay in long-term foster care (rule:aap_rate_cap). None is a public application: each follows the court case and the county social worker. The child has Medi-Cal throughout (rule:foster_medi_cal).

$1,348
the basic monthly rate per child for a resource family, relative or Kin-GAP guardian, from 1 July 2026 (CDSS ACL 26-44, rule:basic_level_rate)

Who may qualify

Foster care. A licensed or approved home caring for a child placed by the county (rule:license). The rate depends on the child's assessed level of care:

Level of careResource family rate per month (FY 2026-27)
Basic$1,348
LOC 2$1,499
LOC 3$1,653
LOC 4$1,804
Intensive Services Foster Care$3,518

The FY 2026-27 rates include a 3.59 percent increase from 1 July 2026 (rule:cni_increase, rule:level_of_care_rates, rule:isfc_rate). A parenting or expectant youth adds an infant supplement of $932 a month (rule:infant_supplement).

Kin-GAP. A relative guardian qualifies when the child was a dependent or ward of the juvenile court, lived in the relative's approved home for at least six consecutive months, a written Kin-GAP agreement was signed before the guardianship, the court ordered the guardianship, and dependency or wardship ended (rule:kingap_requirements). The move to Kin-GAP is not automatic (rule:kingap_not_automatic). Guardianships from 1 January 2017 receive the basic rate and can receive higher levels of care; older guardianships have age-based rates in rule:kingap_older_rates.

Adoption Assistance. There is no means test: the family's income does not matter (rule:aap_no_means_test). The monthly rate is negotiated on the child's needs and may not exceed the foster care rate the child would have received (rule:aap_rate_cap). Nonrecurring adoption expenses are reimbursed up to $400 per child (rule:aap_nonrecurring).

Past 18. Kin-GAP and AAP can continue to 21 when the youth meets a participation criterion such as school or work of at least 80 hours a month (rule:kingap_to_21, rule:aap_to_21).

How to apply, and what happens after

There is no public application. Foster care payments start with placement by the county; Kin-GAP starts when the social worker completes the paperwork after the requirements are met; Adoption Assistance starts with form AAP 1 to the county adoption agency (rule:aap_request).

StageWhat happensDeadlineWhat loses people the payment
ApprovalHome approval or licenseUNKNOWNPlacement before approval delays payment
RateBasic rate or level of careAt placementA high-needs child paid at the basic rate
Kin-GAPSix months in the home, agreement, guardianship order, dependency dismissedAgreement before guardianshipGuardianship ordered before the agreement
AAPAAP 1, negotiation, signed agreementBefore the adoption is finalized (rule:aap_before_finalization)Finalizing first
Past 18Proof of a participation criterionBefore the 18th birthdayNo proof at 18
AppealState hearing90 days from the notice (rule:hearing_90)Missing the window
The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
12 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""A relative or family caring for a child in the dependency or probation system learns each payment: foster care, Kin-GAP after guardianship, Adoption Assistance after adoption"
"who_acts""Caregiver / social worker"
"timeline""No deadline"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Relatives caring for a child without knowing they can be paid"
"model_role""Explain which payment matches the child's court status"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""The child's court status (dependent or ward), placement type, and the path: reunification, guardianship or adoption"
"who_acts""Model + caregiver"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Court status, placement date"
"failure_mode""Mixing up probate guardianship and juvenile-court guardianship"
"model_role""Map the court status to the program"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:resource_family_approval"
"order"3
"name""Resource family approval"
"what_happens""Home approval or licensing: home visit, background checks, training"
"who_acts""Caregiver + county"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""Home study, background checks"
"failure_mode""Placement without approval delays payment"
"model_role""Checklist of approval steps"
"automation_class""C - the home study is human"
10 keys
"id""stage:placement_rate"
"order"4
"name""Placement and rate"
"what_happens""Child placed; basic level rate or a higher level of care set through the level of care protocol"
"who_acts""County + caregiver"
"timeline""At placement"
"evidence""Level of care determination"
"failure_mode""A child with high needs paid at the basic rate"
"model_role""Compare the child's needs with LOC 2-4 and ISFC rates"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"5
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Monthly payment per child; Medi-Cal for the child"
"who_acts""County"
"timeline""Monthly"
"evidence""Payment record"
"failure_mode""Late first payment"
"model_role""Track expected payments"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:kingap_transition"
"order"6
"name""Kin-GAP transition"
"what_happens""After six consecutive months in the relative's approved home, a written agreement, the court orders guardianship and dismisses dependency"
"who_acts""Social worker + court + relative"
"timeline""Agreement signed before guardianship is established"
"evidence""Kin-GAP agreement, court order"
"failure_mode""Guardianship ordered before the agreement is signed"
"model_role""Order the steps; confirm the agreement comes first"
"automation_class""C"
10 keys
"id""stage:aap_agreement"
"order"7
"name""Adoption Assistance agreement"
"what_happens""AAP 1 request, eligibility determination, rate negotiation, signed AAP agreement"
"who_acts""Adoptive parents + county adoption agency"
"timeline""Before the adoption is finalized"
"evidence""AAP 1, AAP agreement"
"failure_mode""Finalizing the adoption before the agreement is signed"
"model_role""Hold the finalization date against the agreement date"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"8
"name""Reassess / renegotiate"
"what_happens""Level of care reassessed as needs change; AAP renegotiated on request"
"who_acts""Caregiver + county"
"timeline""Any time"
"evidence""Evidence of the child's needs"
"failure_mode""Needs grow while the rate stays the same"
"model_role""Assemble the evidence for a higher level"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:extension_21"
"order"9
"name""Extension past 18"
"what_happens""Kin-GAP or AAP continues to 21 when the youth meets a participation criterion"
"who_acts""Youth + caregiver + county"
"timeline""Before the 18th birthday"
"evidence""School enrollment, work of 80+ hours a month, or medical evidence"
"failure_mode""Payment ends at 18 for lack of proof"
"model_role""Calendar the 18th birthday; gather the proof"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"10
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""Read the notice: reason and regulation"
"who_acts""Model + caregiver"
"timeline""Immediately"
"evidence""Notice of Action"
"failure_mode""Accepting a wrong rate"
"model_role""Compare with the rate tables"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"11
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""State hearing"
"who_acts""Caregiver (advocates can represent)"
"timeline""90 days from the notice"
"evidence""Notice, evidence"
"failure_mode""Missing the window"
"model_role""Draft the request"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:exit"
"order"12
"name""Exit"
"what_happens""Payment ends at reunification, at 18 or 21, or when the caregiver no longer supports the child"
"who_acts""County"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""Case record"
"failure_mode""Overpayment after the child leaves"
"model_role""Record the change date"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

A child's foster care history opens:

References (6)

Those connections are read from the California benefits graph.

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B031"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 7 items
"B061"
"B051"
"B011"
"B018"
"B060"
"B021"
"B023"
"related_programs" 7 keys
"B061""Extended Foster Care (AB 12) + Chafee grants"
"B051""Foster Youth Tax Credit (CA)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"B018""California Children's Services (CCS)"
"B060""Subsidized child care: CalWORKs Stages 1-3 + Alternative Payment (CAPP)"
"B021""CalWORKs (California TANF)"
"B023""SSI + California SSP"
"triggered_by_events"
"shares_facts_with" 2 keys
"person.identity.date_of_birth" 5 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B013"
"B023"
"B063"
"education.enrollment.status" 3 items
"B001"
"B056"
"B057"

Official addresses

  • The program, from the state: CDSS Foster Care
  • Kin-GAP: CDSS Kinship Guardianship Assistance; Foster Caregiver Policy and Support Unit, 744 P Street, MS 8-13-78, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 651-7465, CaregiversForYouth@dss.ca.gov
  • Adoption Assistance: CDSS AAP; Adoption Services Branch, 744 P Street, MS 8-12-521, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 651-8089, AAP@dss.ca.gov
  • FY 2026-27 rates: ACL 26-44
  • State hearings: CDSS hearing requests, (800) 743-8525; California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division, P.O. Box 944243, Mail Station 9-17-442, Sacramento, California 94244-2430
Related pages
Beside
Extended Foster Care (AB 12) and the Chafee Grant (support to age 21 and college money to age 26 for foster youth): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextFoster Youth Tax Credit (CA) (cash back on the California return for former foster youth aged 18 to 25): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSubsidized child care in California (CalWORKs Stages One, Two and Three and Alternative Payment vouchers): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalWORKs (California cash aid for families with children): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSSI and California SSP (monthly cash for people 65 or older, blind or disabled with very low income): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (18)
  1. Foster Care — California Department of Social Services“Foster parents receive a monthly payment to feed, clothe, and meet the material needs of the children placed in their care.”
  2. Foster Care: medical coverage — California Department of Social Services“Medical and dental coverage is provided through the Medi-Cal program.”
  3. Foster Care: license — California Department of Social Services“A license is required to operate a foster home.”
  4. Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) — California Department of Social Services“The transition from foster care or wardship to Kin-GAP is not automatic.”
  5. Kin-GAP requirements: court — California Department of Social Services“The child is a dependent or ward of the juvenile court.”
  6. Kin-GAP requirements: six months in the home — California Department of Social Services“for at least six consecutive months while under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court”
  7. Kin-GAP requirements: dependency ends — California Department of Social Services“Dependency or wardship is terminated.”
  8. Extended Kin-GAP — California Department of Social Services“may be eligible for extended Kin-GAP until the age of 21 if they meet one of the following five participation criteria:”
  9. Extended Kin-GAP: employment — California Department of Social Services“The youth is employed for at least 80 hours per month.”
  10. Adoption Assistance Program: timing — California Department of Social Services“must be completed prior to the adoption finalization”
  11. Adoption Assistance Program: request form — California Department of Social Services“prospective adoptive parents must submit the AAP 1”
  12. Adoption Assistance Program: no means test — California Department of Social Services“The use of a means test for AAP eligibility and determination of the monthly negotiated AAP rate is prohibited.”
  13. Adoption Assistance Program: rate ceiling — California Department of Social Services“The rate may not exceed the rate the child would have received had they remained in foster care.”
  14. Adoption Assistance Program: nonrecurring expenses — California Department of Social Services“Reimbursement of Nonrecurring Adoption Expenses (up to $400 per child, per adoption).”
  15. Adoption Assistance Program: age 21 — California Department of Social Services“If eligible, AAP benefits may continue to age 21 years.”
  16. Adoption Assistance Program: renegotiation — California Department of Social Services“AAP agreements may be renegotiated at any time”
  17. ACL 26-44: California Necessities Index rate increases for out-of-home placement rates, FY 2026-27 — California Department of Social Services“BASIC LEVEL RATE: $1,348”
  18. State Hearing Requests — California Department of Social Services“you have 90 days to request a state hearing.”