SB 56

Abstract

Foster Care Prevention program. Establishes the Foster Care Prevention program to facilitate placements with relatives and ensure that such relatives are provided with the resources necessary to provide care for the child. The bill provides that a child is eligible to participate in the Foster Care Prevention program if the local department of social services (local department) determines that (i) the child is being cared for by a relative; (ii) the child's parent or guardian voluntarily placed the child with such relative after November 1, 2020; (iii) the child demonstrates a strong attachment to the relative, and the relative has a strong commitment to caring for the child; and (iv) the placement of the child with the relative was necessary to prevent or eliminate the need to place the child in foster care. The bill requires relatives seeking to receive Foster Care Prevention program payments to enter into an agreement with the local department and Department of Social Services that describes the manner in which payments will be provided and establishes the amount of such payments.

Foster Care Prevention program. Establishesthe Foster Care Prevention program to facilitate placements withrelatives and ensure that such relatives are provided with the resources necessary to provide care for the child. The bill provides that achild is eligible to participate in the Foster Care Prevention programif the local department of social services (local department) determinesthat (i) the child is in the custody of a relative pursuant to acourt order; (ii) the child's parent or guardian voluntarily placedthe child with such relative; (iii) the child demonstrates a strongattachment to the relative, and the relative has a strong commitmentto caring for the child; and (iv) had the relative not agreed totake custody of the child, the local department likely would havefiled a petition to remove the child from his home due to an imminentthreat of child abuse or neglect. The bill requires relatives seeking to receive Foster Care Prevention program payments to enter intoan agreement with the local department and Department of Social Servicesthat describes the manner in which payments will be provided and establishes the amount of such payments. The bill requires the juvenileand domestic relations court, in any custody case involving the FosterCare Prevention program wherein a relative is awarded custody ofa child, to establish the timelines of the custody order and allowsthe court to order the local department to provide case managementservices.