BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2342
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 5, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2342 (Evans) - As Amended: April 15, 2010
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:4 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS)
develop a resource guide for foster youth that outlines
available statewide programs and services. Specifically, this
bill:
1)Requires DSS develop a resource guide for foster youth that
outlines programs, including those associated with education,
health, housing, mental health services, independent living
programs, personal finance, and career and job opportunities.
2)Requires that DSS make the guide available on its Internet Web
site and in printed format.
3)Requires DSS consult with relevant state departments and
foster youth stakeholders.
4)Requires DSS seek public and private grants to assist in the
funding of the resource guide.
FISCAL EFFECT
Costs in the range of $350,000 GF for DSS to work with
stakeholders and develop a resource guide for foster youth.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, "There are many local and
state, and public and nonprofit organizations in California
that have developed their own version of a resource guide for
foster youth, however, these resource guides usually include
AB 2342
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information for each specific organization only, or are not
developed specifically to include information for foster
youth." The author believes that developing and distributing a
resource guide will provide foster youth, particularly those
foster youth "aging out" of the system, with a valuable tool
that they can use to navigate the complex, and sometimes
intimidating, system of public agencies and organizations
statewide.
2)Emancipated Foster Youth . In 2008-09, 5,531 foster youth
aged-out of the foster care system without finding a permanent
home. Previous studies of foster youth show that they face
significant challenges once they become independent.
a) 65% of the emancipated foster youth in California leave
foster care without a permanent place to live.
b) 67% of female foster youth who emancipated had at least
one child within 5 years of leaving foster care.
c) Foster youth suffer post traumatic stress disorder at
rates nearly twice as high as United States war veterans.
d) Over 22% of former foster youth report being homeless
for one day or more after leaving foster care.
e) One third had incomes at or below the United States
poverty level.
f) Over 16% receive public assistance.
3)Related Legislation . AB 1983 (Bass) of 2006 would have
required DSS to form a workgroup to identify services
available to former foster youth, and the eligibility
requirements for those services, and to perform outreach to
make those services more accessible. AB 1983 was held on this
committee's Suspense File.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081