Foster care: sibling placement.

Existing law provides for the placement of dependent children by the juvenile court according to specified procedures. Existing law declares the policy of the Legislature relating to foster care, including that foster care should be a temporary method of care for children and that reunification with the natural parent or parents or another alternate permanent living situation such as adoption or guardianship is more suitable to a child's well-being than is foster care. Existing law requires any order placing a dependent child in foster care, and ordering reunification services, to provide for visitation between the child and any sibling, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that sibling interaction is detrimental to either child. This bill would, instead, require the order to provide for visitation unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the interaction is contrary to the safety or well-being of either child. Existing law requires the responsible local agency to make diligent efforts in all out-of-home placements of dependent children to develop and maintain sibling relationships. If siblings are not placed together, the social worker is required to explain why those efforts are not appropriate. This bill would, instead, require the social worker, if siblings are not placed together, to explain why those efforts would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings. The bill also would require the social worker to make diligent efforts to place siblings together in the same placement. Existing law requires, as soon as possible after a placing agency makes a decision with respect to a placement or a change in placement of a dependent child, the placing agency to notify the child's attorney and provide specified information. This bill would recast and revise the above requirements relating to the placement of siblings, including requiring the placing agency to make a specified notification to the child's attorney and the child's sibling's attorney when a planned change of placement will result in the separation of siblings currently placed together. By increasing the duties of social workers and county placing agencies, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.