BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SCR 104
          Author:   Steinberg (D)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
          WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE OR FILE


           SUBJECT  :    Foster Care Month

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This resolution designates May 2010 as Foster  
          Care Month.

           ANALYSIS  :    

          This resolution makes the following Legislative findings:

          1.In California, there are more than 60,000 children and  
            youth in foster are who need and deserve safe and stable  
            homes, permanent connections to loving adults, and  
            adequate preparation for adulthood.

          2.A child's and youth's need for a sense of belonging,  
            unconditional love, and emotional commitment are best met  
            in families.

          3.Many California counties are working to provide permanent  
            family connections for foster youth, provide support for  
            families at risk of entering the child welfare system,  
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            and improve practices to fully engage youth, family, and  
            communities, thereby reducing the number of children and  
            youth in foster care.

          4.California recognizes the enduring and valuable  
            contribution of relatives, foster parents, and adoptive  
            parents who open their hearts, families, and homes to  
            vulnerable children and youth.

          5.California recognizes the numerous individuals in public  
            agencies and private organizations that work to ensure  
            that the needs of children and youth living in, and  
            leaving, foster care are met, that help to provide foster  
            children and youth and former foster children and youth  
            with vital connections to their siblings, and that help  
            launch young people into successful adulthood.

          6.The current economic recession has presented additional  
            challenges for individuals, agencies, and organizations  
            working to meet the needs of foster youth.

          7.A recent federal law, the Fostering Connections to  
            Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law  
            110-351), offers opportunities to improve California's  
            efforts to promote permanent families for children in  
            foster care, improve outcomes for older youth in foster  
            care, increase support for Native American foster  
            children and youth, improve the quality of staff working  
            with children and youth in the child welfare system,  
            expand our support of relative and adoptive caregivers,  
            and assist older foster youth in securing meaningful  
            supportive transitions from foster care.

          8.The federal act affirms California's leadership and  
            success in pioneering innovative child welfare  
            approaches.

          9.California is committed to working in partnership with  
            the federal government to improve the lives and futures  
            of all children and youth touched by the child welfare  
            system.

          This resolution designates May 2010 as Foster Care Month.








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           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Fiscal Com.:  No

          RJG:do  4/27/10   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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