Bill > AB896

This bill requires each county child welfare agency to adopt a comprehensive placement transition planning policy for foster children, with the goal of reducing trauma and supporting children during placement changes. The policy must ensure that foster children are given the opportunity to provide input on their placement transition, taking into account their age and developmental stage. The bill recognizes that multiple placement changes can be emotionally damaging for children and aims to create a more thoughtful, child-centered approach to transitions. Counties will be required to develop policies that consider the child's educational, medical, mental health, cultural, and social needs, and ensure continuity in the child's relationships and activities. Social workers will be guided to obtain input from the child and their current caregiver, create detailed transition plans, and communicate effectively throughout the process. The State Department of Social Services will be responsible for issuing guidance to counties about best practices for transition planning. While the bill imposes new requirements on counties, it does not mandate state reimbursement for these new duties. The legislation stems from a recognition that placement transitions can be traumatic for children in foster care and seeks to minimize disruption and support the child's emotional well-being during these critical moments.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB896