HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02082005 - 2005 RES 62 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this order on February 8, 2005, by the following vote:
AYES: Gi oli p, , U L L1C MA, V016 e H O 1 V&SMAL j+ 14 p-#
NOES: ping F_
ABSENT: N o o g
ABSTAIN. b .
RESOLUTION NO. 2005 l 62
SUBJECT: Kinship Gap
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature to move children out of the foster care system and into
permanent guardianship; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide equal benefits for all dependent children; and
WHEREAS, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) program was established in 9998
by SS 9901 in an attempt to move children out of the faster care system and into permanent
guardianship placements; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has expressed its intent that the Kin-GAP program be utilized to enhance the
preservation of families and stabilize children in long-term, save and stable placements with relatives;
and
WHEREAS, the Kin-GAP program is currently under-utilized by eligible relative foster caretakers due to
the loss of clothing and special needs resources for children moving from foster care into the program;
and
WHEREAS, aid payment amounts as well as cost of care allowances for guardian families differ
depending on whether or not the guardian is a relative of the child and whether or not the child meets the
federal eligibility requirement for foster care; and
WHEREAS, the differences in aid payment amounts as well as access to cast of care allowances result
in disparaging amounts of support from child to child; and
WHEREAS, inequities in aid payments and benefits provide a disincentive to relatives who otherwise
would become guardians to foster children; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature to equalize the aid payment across relative and non-relative
legal guardianship to eliminate inequities, increase the utilization of Kin-GAP by relative caretakers, and
to increase the welfare of children who find themselves so affected.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors supports
legislative action to standardize levels of aid payments for relative and non-relative legal guardians to
encourage and support relative caretakers in taking guardianship of dependent children.
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action
taken and entered on the minutes of the ward of Supervisors
on the date shown:
ATTESTED: tJ
JOHN SWEETEN,Clerk of t e Board of Supervisors and
County Administrator
By` Deputy
Cc: EHSD
CAO
RESOLUTION NO. 2005 t 62