HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03312009 - C.29 (2)RECOMMENDATION(S):
SUPPORT AB 1625 (Beall, Bass, Steinberg), a bill that AB 12 would: 1) re-enact California's existing Kin-GAP
program to align it with new federal requirements and 2) provide transitional support to qualifying foster youth until
age 21, as recommended by the Employment and Human Services Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Landmark federal legislation provides California with the ability to use federal funds to support youth to age 21.
California would utilize federal funds to meet costs currently borne by the state and counties, and would realize
proven savings from declines in unemployment, homelessness, teen pregnancy, public assistance, and the other costly
outcomes for young adults who “age out” of foster care.
BACKGROUND:
Recent federal legislation presents California with an historic opportunity to access federal funding for programs to
assist foster children and their families. Assembly Bill 12, the California
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD
COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 03/31/2009 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYES 5 NOES ____
ABSENT ____ ABSTAIN ____
RECUSE ____
Contact: L. DeLaney, 5-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of
the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 31, 2009
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Katherine Sinclair, Deputy
cc:
C.29
To:Board of Supervisors
From:David Twa, County Administrator
Date:March 31, 2009
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Support Position for AB 12 (Beall, Bass, Steinberg): California Fostering Connections to Success Ac
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Fostering Connections to Success Act, would enable California to implement provisions of the new federal law that
could help build a brighter future for our state’s most vulnerable children and result in net fiscal savings for the state
during challenging economic times. AB 12 has garnered bipartisan support from California’s legislative, judicial,
child welfare and advocacy communities.
In October 2008, the federal government enacted the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
(Public Law 110-351). This new law gives states the ability to establish relative guardianship programs with federal
financial participation in the costs. PL 110-351 also makes federal funds available for foster care,
kinship-guardianship, and adoption assistance benefits to youth who meet certain conditions (e.g., employment and
education related requirements) until age 21. PL 110-351 provides California with an unprecedented opportunity to
access federal funding to improve the lives of our state’s most vulnerable youth.
AB 12 would ensure that California opts into these essential federal funding opportunities. AB 12 would: 1) re-enact
our existing Kin-GAP program to align it with new federal requirements and 2) provide transitional support to
qualifying foster youth until age 21. These changes represent both fiscally and socially responsible improvements to
California’s foster care system. As a result, California would utilize federal funds to meet costs currently borne by the
state and counties, and would realize proven savings from declines in unemployment, homelessness, teen pregnancy,
public assistance, and the other costly outcomes for young adults who “age out” of foster care.
CO-SPONSORS
- CA Alliance of Child & Family Services - CA Youth Connection
- Children's Law Center of LA - County Welfare Directors Assoc. of CA
- John Burton Foundation - Judicial Council of CA
- SEIU State Council - Youth Law Center