AB 2597: Resource family approval.

Existing law provides for the early implementation, by counties and foster family agencies, of the resource family approval process, which is a unified, family friendly, and child-centered approval process that replaces the multiple processes for licensing foster family homes, approving relatives and nonrelative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving adoptive families. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement the resource family approval process in all counties and with all foster family agencies by January 1, 2017. Existing law requires a resource family to demonstrate, among other things, the financial ability within the household to ensure the stability and financial security of the family, and requires a resource family applicant to complete a psychosocial assessment. Existing law also provides, in specified circumstances, that AFDC-FC funding shall not be available until approval of the resource family has been completed.

This bill would provide that a family who will rely on AFDC-FC, Kin-Gap, Kin-GAP, or Adoption Assistance Program benefits to meet additional household expenses incurred due to the placement of a child or children shall not, for that reason, be denied approval as a resource family. The bill would authorize a family member or non-related nonrelated extended family member to be approved as a resource family only for the placement of a specific child or children in certain circumstances. The bill would provide that require a family approved only for the placement of a specific child or children pursuant to that provision or on an emergency basis be reassessed to be reviewed by the county prior to the placement of any other or additional children. children and would require any changes to be reflected in an updated permanency assessment. The bill would require the psychosocial assessment for an applicant who has a specific child or children placed with him or her on an emergency basis, or who is applying to become a resource family for a specific child or children, to consider the relationship between the applicant and the child or children. The bill would also provide, in specified circumstances, that if the resource family approval process is not completed within 90 days after placement due to circumstances outside the control of the resource family, then the beginning date of aid for AFDC-FC shall be no later than 90 days after placement. The bill would also require that a determination to deny approval of a resource family be reviewed by county or foster family agency staff at the supervisory or administrative level, level for compliance with the approval standards, as specified. By increasing duties on county staff, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and other social services to needy families through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, state, and county funds. Existing law requires that an application for CalWORKs filed on behalf of specified children in the juvenile dependency system be processed pursuant to an expedited process. Existing law makes that provision inapplicable if the person who applies for aid on behalf of that child is also an applicant for or a recipient of CalWORKs benefits.

This bill would delete the latter provision and instead provide that a person who applies for aid on behalf of that child and who is an applicant for or recipient of CalWORKs benefits is responsible for applying for CalWORKs benefits, and complying with continuing eligibility requirements, for himself or herself. The bill would also require that those specified children in the juvenile dependency system receive the applicable regional CalWORKs grant for a recipient in an assistance unit of one, and provide that his or her application date for CalWORKs benefits is the date he or she was placed with his or her relative. By increasing the number of expedited applications the county is required to process, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.