Foster youth: case plan: placement changes.

Existing law establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care. In order to be eligible for AFDC-FC, existing law requires, in pertinent part, a child to be placed in one of several specified placements. Existing law sets forth the rights of a minor in foster care, including, among other rights, the right to be involved in the development of and to review his or her own case plan and plan for permanent placement, and, if he or she is 12 years of age or older and in a permanent placement, the right to receive information about his or her out-of-home placement and case plan, including the right to be told of changes to the plan. Existing law establishes the Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson as an autonomous entity within the State Department of Social Services for the purpose of providing children who are placed in foster care with a means to resolve issues related to their care, placement, or services. Existing law requires the office to investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of children placed in foster care, that relate to their care, placement, or services. This bill would require, prior to making a change in the placement of a dependent child, a social worker or placing agency to develop and implement a placement preservation strategy to preserve the dependent child's placement, and if a placement change is necessary, would further require a social worker or placing agency to provide 14 days prior notice of the change, as specified. The bill would prohibit placement changes from occurring during specified hours, except as specified. The bill would, if a complaint alleging that a placement change occurred in violation of these requirements is made to the Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson and that complaint is investigated, require the office to provide the findings of the investigation to the county child welfare director, or his or her designee, for the purposes of training, technical assistance, and quality improvement. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature with regard to these provisions and would make certain findings and declarations. By increasing the duties of county social workers and 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.