The State of Florida offers the benefit of Guardianship Assistance payments to relatives and fictive kin who commit to providing long-term care for children in Florida’s Child Welfare System and meet eligibility criteria. The Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) is governed by s. 39.6225, F.S. and is designed to provide additional services and supports to caregivers of children who were removed from their primary caregiver due to abuse or neglect.
For more information about this program, please contact your local community-based care lead agency .
When a child is not able to safety remain at home with their parents, or adopted, permanent guardianship with a family or like-family member who is willing and able to provide care for the child, is the next best alternative. Permanent guardianship allows the child to live with people they already know and trust.
Families that meet the eligibility criteria for the Guardianship Assistance Program will have access to the following benefits:
Under the Guardianship Assistance Program, caregivers are eligible to receive a minimum of $333 monthly payment per child once all eligibility criteria have been met.
All children who receive a monthly GAP payment are eligible to receive health care through the Medicaid program until age 18. Some children are eligible for Medicaid until age 21. Upon moving out of the State, your child may no longer be eligible for Medicaid due to their initial IV-E status, which is determined at the time of the child’s initial removal from their home.
While private forms of guardianship can be a financial burden to the caregiver, obtaining permanent guardianship through Florida's child welfare system costs nothing to the caregiver. The required educational resource hours and home study are provided free of charge, and even court costs and fees can be covered through the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Florida's children participating in GAP are eligible for free tuition at any Florida state university, community college or vocational school in Florida up until age 28. Additionally, some Florida private institutions of higher learning will provide free tuition for children who have been placed in permanent guardianship from foster care.
DCF works in partnership with local community-based care lead agencies to provide a wide range of services and supports to assist Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) families. For more information on the services and supports available in your local community, please contact your local community-based care agency .
Families entering into a Guardianship Assistance Agreement when a child is age 14-17, may be eligible for the Extension of Guardianship Assistance Program if eligibility criteria is met. Eligibility criteria for the Extension of Guardianship Assistance Program includes the young adult participating in at least one of the following: