AB 196, as amended, Mansoor. Foster parent evaluations.
Under existing law, it is the policy of the state that all children in foster care have specified rights, including the right to live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable home where they are treated with respect, the right to be free from physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse, or corporal punishment, and the right to receive adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, and medical, dental, vision, and mental health services.
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, foster parents, caregivers, and current and former foster youth, to develop and implement a foster parent evaluation process. The bill would require that evaluation process to include a process to allow foster youth over 10 years of age and nonminor dependents to provide feedback on the
quality of care received in licensedbegin delete county or privateend deletebegin insert or certifiedend insert foster homes and group homes at least every 6 months and upon any exit from those homes. The bill would also require the evaluation process to include the development of an evaluation tool in partnership with current and former youth and caregivers that allows youth to provide feedback on the quality of care received, as specified, including feedback on the caregivers’ honoring of the rights of foster youth. The bill would require the department to implement the foster parent evaluation process and promulgate all necessary regulations pursuant to this provision on or before January 1, 2015.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 16000.8 is added to the Welfare and
2Institutions Code, to read:
(a) The State Department of Social Services, in
4consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, foster
5parents, caregivers, and current and former foster youth, shall
6develop and implement a foster parent evaluation process.
7(b) The evaluation process shall include, but is not limited to,
8all of the following:
9(1) A process to allow foster youth over 10 years of age and
10nonminor dependents to provide feedback on the quality of care
11received in licensedbegin delete county or privateend deletebegin insert
or certifiedend insert foster homes
12and group homes at least every six months and upon any exit from
13those homes.
14(2) The development of an evaluation tool in partnership with
15current and former youth and caregivers that allows the youth to
16provide feedback on quality of care received, including, but not
17limited to, feedback on all of the following:
18(A) The caregiver’s participation in implementing the youth’s
19case plan.
20(B) The caregiver’s provision of excellent, nurturing parenting,
21including incorporating the youth as a full member of the family,
22inclusion in family activities, respect for the youth’s culture,
23religion, and ethnicity, physical or psychological needs, sexual
24orientation,
gender identification or expression, and family
25relationships.
26(C) The caregiver’s honoring of the rights of foster youth.
27(D) The extent to which the caregiver respects and supports the
28youth’s ties to his or her biological family, including parents,
P3 1siblings, and extended family members, and assists the youth in
2visitation and other forms of communication.
3(E) The caregiver’s advocacy for the youth with the child
4welfare system and community agencies, including schoolsbegin delete,end delete and
5health and mental health providers.
6(F) The caregiver’s participation in the youth’s medical,
7psychological, and
dental care, including scheduling regular health
8and mental health exams and coordinating transportation for the
9youth.
10(G) The caregiver’s encouragement and support of the youth’s
11educational goals and school success, including participation in
12school activities and meetings, including Individualized Education
13Plan meetings,begin insert as appropriate,end insert assisting with school assignments,
14tutoring, meeting with teachers, including back to school nights
15and other school
events,begin insert andend insert working with an educational
16representative or surrogate, if one has been appointedbegin delete, and .
17encouraging and supporting the child’s participation in
18extracurricular activitiesend delete
19(H) The caregiver’s provision of developmentally appropriate
20opportunities to allow the youth to learn and practice life skills
21and have hands-on experiences in preparation for transition to
22adulthood, including participation in family and rulemaking
23decisions, cooking and cleaning, conflict resolution, assistance
24with job and career exploration and development, assistance with
25higher education and financial aid exploration and processes,
26assistance accessing community
resources, and encouragement to
27learn principles of money management and financial planning.
28(I) The caregiver’s provision of opportunities to develop the
29youth’s interests and skills, including identifying and supporting
30participation in extracurricular and enrichment activities.
31(J) The caregiver’s efforts to ensure any transitionbegin delete from homeend delete
32begin insert to foster care end insert respects the youth’s developmental stage and
33psychological needsbegin delete andend deletebegin insert,end insert allows for
ongoing relationshipsbegin insert, and is
34consistent with court orders for visitationend insert.
35(c) The department shall implement the foster parent evaluation
36process and promulgate all necessary regulations pursuant to this
37section on or before January 1, 2015.
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