SB 245: Foster youth: sexual health education.

Existing law requires a county social worker to create a case plan for foster youth within a specified timeframe after the child is introduced into the foster care system. Existing law requires the case plan to include prescribed components, including, among other things, for youth in foster care 14 years of age and older and nonminor dependents, a document that describes the youths rights with respect to education, health, visitation, and court participation, the right to be annually provided with copies of his or her credit reports at no cost, and the right to stay safe and avoid exploitation.

This bill would additionally require, for youth in foster care 10 years of age and older and for nonminor dependents, dependents who are enrolled in high school, the case plan to include documentation be updated yearly to indicate that the case management worker has verified that the youth has received comprehensive sexual health education, as specified, and specified. The bill would also require, for youth in foster care 10 years of age and older and for all nonminor dependents, the case plan to be updated annually to document yearly to indicate that the case management worker has provided the youth or nonminor dependent certain information, including, among other things, that he or she may access age-appropriate, medically accurate information about reproductive and sexual health care. By imposing additional duties on county case management workers, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires foster care providers to ensure that adolescents who remain in long-term foster care receive age-appropriate pregnancy prevention information, provided that the department develops guidelines that describe the duties and responsibilities of foster care providers and county case managers in delivering pregnancy prevention services and information.

This bill would require the department to develop a curriculum for case management workers and foster care providers that addresses certain topics related to sexual and reproductive health care, including, among others, how to document sensitive health information including sexual and reproductive health issues in a case plan. The bill would also require these topics to be addressed in certain additional training, including, among others, training for administrator certification programs for group homes and short-term residential therapeutic programs.

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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.