Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Funding California: Eligibility and Payment Rates

What the ARC Program Does

Relative caregivers who take in an emergency child welfare placement receive Emergency Caregiver funding while waiting for their Resource Family Approval (RFA) to finalize. The Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Funding Option Program fills a specific gap: it raises monthly payments from the lower CalWORKs child-only level to the full basic RFA foster care rate.

The program is authorized under California Welfare and Institutions Code § 11461.3. It exists because many relative caregivers who accept dependent children are not eligible for federal Title IV-E foster care funding — but still need support at more than the CalWORKs level to adequately care for the child.

Who Qualifies

ARC funding has specific requirements that distinguish it from other kinship payment programs:

• The child must be a court dependent — placed with you through the child welfare system
• You must be a relative in California who has achieved Resource Family Approval or received a child-specific criminal records exemption under SB 354
• The child must be ineligible for federal Title IV-E foster care funding

That last point is the key distinction. If the child qualifies for federal foster care payments (AFDC-FC), those payments apply instead. ARC covers the children who fall through that federal eligibility gap.

ARC is limited to active juvenile child welfare placements. If you are a private probate guardian or an informal caregiver with no child welfare involvement, ARC does not apply. CalWORKs child-only is the correct program for those arrangements.

How Much ARC Pays

ARC payments match the basic RFA foster care rate for the child's age group. This is significantly more than a CalWORKs child-only grant.

The exact amount depends on the child's age and any Level of Care or Specialized Care Increment adjustments. But the baseline difference is substantial — for a single child, ARC can provide several hundred dollars more per month than CalWORKs child-only.

Your county social worker calculates the specific ARC payment based on the child's individual circumstances. The payment comes directly from the county child welfare agency, not from the CalWORKs system.

ARC vs. Other Payment Programs

Understanding where ARC fits relative to other programs prevents confusion:

• CalWORKs child-only: Available to informal caregivers and probate guardians — no child welfare involvement needed. Pays at the CalWORKs MAP rate (lower)
• ARC: For court-dependent children placed with relatives who have RFA approval or a child-specific criminal exemption but are not federally eligible. Pays at the foster care rate (higher)
• AFDC-FC foster care: For court-dependent children who meet federal Title IV-E eligibility. Also pays at the foster care rate
• Kin-GAP: For children who transition from foster care to legal guardianship with a relative. Pays at the foster care rate and continues after court jurisdiction ends

A child can only be on one of these programs at a time. The county determines which track applies based on the child's legal status and federal eligibility.

Emergency Caregiver Funding Before RFA

When a relative first accepts an emergency placement of a dependent child — before RFA is finalized — the county provides Emergency Caregiver (EC) funding under WIC § 11461.36. EC funding matches the basic foster care rate and is payable for up to 120 days. If RFA processing takes longer (documented good cause), the county can extend EC funding to 365 days.

This means you are not stuck at CalWORKs rates while waiting for your RFA approval. Emergency Caregiver funding bridges the gap.

How to Access ARC

You do not apply for ARC directly. The pathway runs through the child welfare system:

1. A child is placed with you by the county child welfare agency
2. You begin the Resource Family Approval process
3. The county evaluates the child's Title IV-E eligibility
4. If the child is not federally eligible, ARC funding is available after you achieve RFA approval or receive a child-specific criminal exemption

Your county social worker handles the determination and payment setup. If you believe a child in your care should be receiving ARC but is only getting CalWORKs child-only, contact your assigned social worker and ask for a review.

The California Kinship Financial Help Guide breaks down each payment program by care arrangement, so you can see exactly which programs apply to your situation.

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