Resource family approval: training.

Existing law provides for the implementation of the resource family approval process and defines a resource family as an individual or family who has successfully met both the home environment assessment standards and permanency assessment criteria, as specified, necessary for providing care for a child placed by a public or private child placement agency by court order, or voluntarily placed by a parent or legal guardian. Under existing law, counties, as part of the resource family approval process, are responsible for ensuring that resource family applicants complete a minimum of 12 hours of preapproval caregiver training and that resource families complete a minimum of 8 hours of annual caregiver training. Existing written directives also require counties to ensure that resource family parents submit copies of certificates verifying completion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training no later than 90 days following resource family approval, and to verify that resource family parents maintain current certificates of CPR and first aid training. Under this bill, counties would be responsible for ensuring that resource families complete CPR and first aid training, or demonstrate equivalent certification, no later than 90 days following resource family approval. The bill would exempt from the CPR training requirement a resource family parent who has a life support-related certificate of completion, as specified. The bill would exempt from the first aid training requirement a resource family parent who has active and unrestricted licensure as a health care professional, as specified. Under the bill, counties would be responsible for ensuring that resource families obtain training to remain certified in CPR and first aid and submit copies of the certificates, except as specified. By creating new duties for counties, 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.