Guardianship Assistance Eligibility/Successor Guardian Program

Prospective guardians who have placement of a child in foster care with a goal of guardianship have an opportunity to request guardianship assistance and medical subsidy when reunification and adoption have been ruled out. The child’s foster care worker will apply using the DHS-3310, Juvenile Guardianship Assistance Application

For a child to be eligible for the guardianship assistance program (GAP), the child must meet all the guardianship assistance eligibility requirements. Eligibility for guardianship assistance is determined by AGAO. Prior to the appointment by the court the DHS-3313 Guardianship Assistance Agreement must be signed by the guardian(s) and the MDHHS AGAO program manager or designee.

Guardianship Assistance Act- MCL 722.871 et seq. Policy: GDM 700 JUVENILE GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW.

If the child is found not eligibility for the Juvenile Guardianship Assistance program, the guardianship has already been appointed without an agreement in place, or child is not exiting foster care to a permanent guardianship, then the child would not be eligible for guardianship assistance through AGAO. You may be eligible an Ineligible Grantee Award (Child Only Grants), for the child regardless of household income. The Assistance Application, DHS-1171, is available online at www.michigan.gov/mibridges. Your local MDHHS office can assist you with applying for Ineligible Grantee Funds.

A guardianship assistance agreement does not automatically transfer to a new guardian when a successor guardian is appointed. The successor guardian(s) may be eligible to receive guardianship assistance on behalf of an eligible child if the AGAO determines that a DHS-3313 Juvenile Guardianship Assistance Agreement for the child was in effect before the appointment of the successor guardian(s), and the successor guardian(s) was appointed by the court as a result of the death or incapacitation of the preceding guardian(s).

Example: Incapacitation due to severe illness or physical disabilities.

Policy: GDM 750 SUCCESSOR GUARDIAN

Please allow at least four to six weeks from the date your foster care worker submits a complete request for your case to be opened to receive your first guardianship payment.  You must be registered on SIGMA to receive payment.

SIGMA

Nonrecurring expenses (NRE) are reasonable and necessary fees and expenses directly related to the process of obtaining juvenile guardianship of an eligi­ble child for children who are found eligible for guardianship assistance.

Policy: GDM 730 NONRECURRING EXPENSES ELIGIBILITY AND REIMBURSEMENT - GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE

The ongoing daily guardianship assistance rate may not exceed the maximum daily guardianship assistance rate determined prior to the appointment of the guardian(s). The AGAO determines a maximum rate for the child’s guardianship assistance payment. The rate is determined based on the foster care rate the child received prior to application for guard­ianship assistance, without regard to the income of the prospective guardian(s).

Guardian(s) who agreed to an ongoing assistance rate that is less than the maximum daily rate per their assistance agreement may request a renegotiation of the guardianship assistance rate when extraordinary circumstances occur that will impact the child's needs or family circumstances over an extended period of time.

Guardianship assistance rate policy can be found here: GDM 720 JUVENILE GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE RATE DETERMINATION