Foster children: social worker: visits.

Existing law requires that all foster children who are placed in group homes by county welfare departments or county probation departments be visited at least monthly by a county social worker or probation officer, and that each visit include a private discussion between the foster child and the county social worker or probation officer that is not held in the presence or immediate vicinity of the group home staff. Existing law also requires a county social worker or probation officer to make a regular visit with a child in any licensed, certified, or approved foster home, and requires that the visit include a private discussion between the foster child and the social worker or probation officer that is not held in the presence or immediate vicinity of the foster parent or caregiver. This bill would require that the location of monthly visits for each foster child who is placed in a group home or a licensed, certified, or approved foster home by a county welfare department or a county probation department comply with specified federal requirements. The bill would prohibit more than 2 consecutive monthly visits from being held outside the residence of the foster child and, if the visit does not occur in the place of residence, would require the social worker or probation officer to document in the case file and in the court report the location of the visit and the reason for the visit occurring outside the place of residence. The bill would also require the social worker or probation officer to advise the foster child that he or she has the right to request that the private discussion occur outside the group home or foster home. The bill would provide, however, that if a foster child requests to have the private discussion outside the group home or foster home, that private discussion shall not replace the visit in the group home or foster home. The bill would also provide that the social worker or probation officer shall not be required to schedule an additional visit to accommodate the request. By imposing additional duties on county employees, the 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.