When Relatives Care for Children
Sometimes children are placed in the care of relatives because they cannot stay at home with their parents for whatever reasons. If you are a non-needy relative caregivers who has taken in a child informally and has been designated as having temporary guardianship/custody of the child (by agreement with the parent, Pechanga Children & Family Services or Tribal court) until the biological or custodial parent is able to care for the child: the child is eligible to receive TANF funded assistance and/or services as a “child only” case as long as they are residing with the designated custodial relative caretaker on a temporary basis.
The Pechanga Tribal TANF program offers relative caregivers of dependent children a new option for providing a home to these children. It is our intent that this program be utilized to enhance family preservation and stability in safe and stable placement with relatives.
RELATIVE CAREGIVER
A relative caregiver is a relative who exercises responsibility for the day to day care and control of a related child with the duty of providing care and management of the minor child (child under age 18);. This includes Siblings, Aunts, Uncles Grandparents, Cousins, Nieces, and Nephews.
ELIGIBILITY FOR RELATIVE CAREGIVERS
Pechanga Tribal TANF will determine if you are eligible for a child only case. The following are the minimum requirements for eligibility*:
- Head of Household must reside on the Pechanga Indian Reservation or reside in the off reservation areas of Orange County and Riverside County.
- The child is under 18 years old and is not in foster care.
- You are related to the child by blood or marriage.
- The child’s biological parent is not residing in the home.
- The adult has a temporary custodial relationship with the child.
