4519. Concrete Goods

Applies To:  This policy applies to Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) employees.

Policy Number & Title:  4519. Concrete Goods

Effective Date:  July 1, 2024

Purpose 

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the use of concrete goods. Concrete goods are to assist children, youth and families with goods or expenditures to support children’s and youth’s safety, reduce risk of abuse or neglect, prevent or support out-of-home placement, or facilitate safe reunification. 

Policy 

1. Caseworkers:
   1. Must:
      1. Provide concrete goods for children, youth, parents, guardians, relatives, and suitable persons that are in-home, placed in out-of-home care, or to remove barriers for a trial return home, when:
         1. Funding is available and approved.
         2. Purchases are made that are economical and reasonable.
         3. The goods or services meet the identified need to maintain safety, well-being, stability, or placement.
      2. Not use concrete goods for the following:
         1. Items or services that may be paid through a DCYF service contract.
         2. As an ongoing means of support.
         3. For licensed placements, including relatives and suitable persons, unless is meets the criteria outlined in the Concrete Goods Guide document.
      3. Obtain approval for:
         1. In and out-of-home concrete goods, for children or youth placed in-home, as follows:
            1. $501 to $1000 must be approved by supervisors.
            2. $1001 to $2000 must be approved by area administrators.
            3. $2001 or more must be approved by regional administrators or designees.
         2. Additional clothing vouchers for children or youth up to $400 per year when a child or youth demonstrates an exceptional clothing need, per the Concrete Goods Guide document.
2. May approve:
   1. Purchases of concrete goods up to $500.
   2. Clothing vouchers for up to $400 when children are initially placed (regardless of placement type, in-home or out-of-home), at case closure or reopening, and when a child enters or exits a trial return home.
3. LD workers may purchase concrete goods for relatives and suitable persons for goods needed to either:
   1. Support their home study completion.
   2. Assist in meeting licensing requirements, prior to becoming licensed or ongoing.  
4. Caseworkers and LD workers must follow these when accessing gift and stored value cards:
   1. DCYF Administrative 1.01.05 Gift Cards and Stored Value Cards policy.
   2. Concrete Goods Guide document.

Resources 

Concrete Goods Guide 

Concrete Goods procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules SharePoint)

DCYF Administrative 1.01.05 Gift Cards and Stored Value Cards policy

Original Date:  May 1, 2014

Revised Date:   July 1, 2024

Review Date:   July 31, 2028

Approved by:  Vickie Ybarra, Assistant Secretary of Partnership, Prevention, and Services Division