Foster care: foster sibling relationship.

Existing law provides that a child may be adjudged to be a dependent of the juvenile court because of abuse or neglect. Existing law requires the court to review the status of every dependent child in foster care no less frequently than once every 6 months and requires a supplemental report to be filed as part of that review. Existing law also requires, if a child or nonminor dependent is in a placement other than the home of a legal guardian and jurisdiction has not been dismissed, the status of the child to be reviewed at least every 6 months by the court or a local agency, and requires, at the periodic review regarding a child who has been ordered placed for adoption, as specified, the county welfare department to prepare and present a report. Existing law, as part of those reviews and reports, requires the court, appropriate local agency, or county welfare department to determine or discuss the extent of a county's efforts to identify and maintain relationships between a child who is 10 years of age or older and who has been in an out-of-home placement, as specified, and individuals who are important to the child. Existing law also requires a social worker to ask the child to identify individuals who are important to the child. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature for siblings to be placed in foster care together, except as specified, and requires the responsible local agency to make a diligent effort in all out-of-home placements of dependent children and wards in foster care, to place siblings together in the same placement, and to develop and maintain sibling relationships. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to maintain a foster sibling relationship for dependent and nonminor dependent children in out-of-home placement when they are no longer placed together, and would define "foster sibling relationship" to mean a relationship between dependent or nonminor dependent children who are placed together in foster care and develop a sibling-like bond, despite having no relationship through blood, adoption, or affinity. The bill would require the court, appropriate local agency, or county welfare department to determine or discuss in the above-described reviews and reports the county's efforts in identifying and maintaining relationships between a child who is 10 years of age or older and who has been in an out-of-home placement, as specified, and any dependent child or nonminor dependent in an out-of-home placement with whom the child has developed a foster sibling relationship. The bill would also require a social worker to ask the child to identify any dependent child or nonminor dependent in an out-of-home placement with whom the child has developed a foster sibling relationship. By imposing additional duties on county officials, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.