legislation

Budget Request for Child Care for Foster Children Moves Forward

At this moment, members of the Legislature’s Conference Committee are meeting to decide which proposals to include in the 2016-2017 state budget. One of the proposals under consideration is the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children, which would allocate $22 million annually to provide time-limited child care vouchers to foster children. The request …

Budget Request for Child Care for Foster Children Moves Forward Read More »

Recent Legislation Aligns State Law With Federal Law to Protect Immigrant Youth in California

Prior to 1990, undocumented children who were under the state court’s jurisdiction due to abuse, abandonment or neglect found themselves in a precarious immigration dilemma. Upon reaching the age of majority, the court’s jurisdiction terminated and youth were left to face the world without any protections or lawful immigration status. Since 1990, many legislative steps …

Recent Legislation Aligns State Law With Federal Law to Protect Immigrant Youth in California Read More »

Legislative Update 2015

AB 423: Enhancements to the Approved Relative Caregiver Program AB 423 is a clean-up bill that addresses the state’s new Approved Relative Caregiver Program. AB 423 will ensure that families start receiving CalWORKs benefits immediately upon the placement of the child(ren) into their home by requiring counties to initiate the funding. This will ensure that …

Legislative Update 2015 Read More »

Legislative Season 2015

Continuum of Care Reform: Working toward a financial support model that stabilizes placements and promotes permanency Children housed in group homes are at greater risk of high school dropout, incarceration and eventual homelessness as compared to those raised in family settings. It is estimated that 3,000 youth have resided in California’s group homes for more …

Legislative Season 2015 Read More »

New Federal Legislation has Good Intentions, but Doesn’t Fix Group Home Problem

On September 18, 2013, Senator Orrin Hatch introduced S. 1518, otherwise known as the Improving Outcomes for Youth at Risk for Sex Trafficking Act of 2013. The legislation is intended to reduce time foster youth spend in congregate care such as group homes. S. 1518 includes some positive measures, such as a requirement that states …

New Federal Legislation has Good Intentions, but Doesn’t Fix Group Home Problem Read More »

Changing Policies to Better Support Foster Youth and Their Caregivers

Many children in foster care face serious developmental delays and disabilities as a result of abuse, neglect and prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol. California’s Regional Centers provide specialized services and supports to improve and overcome these conditions. However, under existing law, there are no requirements to transfer these services if a child moves, which …

Changing Policies to Better Support Foster Youth and Their Caregivers Read More »