Foster care: nonminor dependent parents.

Existing law provides aid and services to children placed in out-of-home care through various social service programs, including Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) and the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP) . Existing law provides that, when a child is living with a parent who receives AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, the rate paid to the provider on behalf of the parent include an amount for care and supervision of the child, as specified. Existing law provides for specified payments in instances in which a child is living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home, as defined, and requires the same rate to be paid for a child living with a nonminor dependent parent who is eligible to receive AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, as specified. Existing law provides that a nonminor dependent may receive all of his or her AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP payments directly, provided that he or she is living independently in a supervised placement. Existing law requires, in instances in which a child is living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home, that a written shared responsibility plan be developed between the parent, his or her caregiver, and a representative of the county or other agency providing direct supervision to the caregiver. Existing law requires that, once this plan has been completed and provided to the appropriate agencies, the payment made to the caregiver be increased by an additional $200 per month to reflect the increased care and supervision of the child. This bill, on or after July 1, 2015, would similarly authorize the development of a parenting support plan between a nonminor dependent parent who resides in a supervised independent living placement, an identified responsible adult who has agreed to act as a parenting mentor, and a representative of the county child welfare agency or probation department. The bill would require a nonminor dependent who develops a parenting support plan pursuant to these provisions to provide a copy of the plan to the county child welfare agency or probation department and to inform these entities of any subsequent changes to the plan. The bill would require that after the completion and approval of the plan and a determination by the county agency that the identified responsible adult meets specified criteria, the payment to the nonminor dependent parent be increased by an additional $200 per month. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to convene a working group to develop and issue an all-county letter that specifies the minimum criteria a person must meet in order to serve as an identified responsible adult to a nonminor dependent parent, as specified. The bill would require a person who wishes to become an identified responsible adult to meet the minimum criteria described above, be at least 21 years of age, and undergo a criminal records check and a Child Abuse Central Index check, as specified. By increasing the duties of counties providing child welfare services, 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.