STATE POLICY – Update on AB 12, The California Fostering Connections to Success Act

STATE POLICY

Update on AB 12, The California Fostering Connections to Success Act

FYA’s new Interim Executive Director, Reed Connell, has written this update on AB12 – California’s Fostering Connections to Success Act

Since passing out of Appropriations in April, AB 12 has only continued to gain support and momentum. As of this writing, AB 12 has 44 co-authors in the Assembly. The bill was heard in Appropriations yesterday, following the release on May 19th of the LAO analysis of fiscal impact. Again, very briefly, AB 12 provides for the extension of foster care supports and services to age 21, and seeks federal financial participation in the KinGAP program. The most recent set of amendments to the bill, added on April 29th, brought the total text up to 161 pages. In the next week or so, the bill co-authors expect to add another major set of amendments, dealing with support available to probation youth, criminal background checks, and the future of THP-Plus.

The coming amendments will address:

The future of California’s THP-Plus program. As of now, it appears that THP-Plus will be maintained, both as a “parallel track” for youth who reach 18 and decide to opt out of extended foster care support, and for youth 21 to 24, who are currently eligible for THP-Plus, but will not be eligible for extended foster care. It is likely that the yearly allocation will be scaled back somewhat, in recognition of the eligibility overlap and the historical pattern of THP-Plus utilization. Thus current programs may continue to operate as they have. Amendments will also likely specify an option for current THP-Plus programs to “convert” to foster care settings in a new category, “THP-Plus Foster Care,” to serve youth 18 to 21, under continued court and child welfare oversight. Current programs may also choose to “convert” to THPP programs, allowing them to serve youth from ages 16 to 21.

Read the entire report.

Related posts:

1. STATE POLICY AB 12—California Fostering Connections to Success Act
2. STATE POLICY: AB 12—California Fostering Connections to Success Act
3. Federal Policy – Fostering Connections to Success Act
4. Support AB 12 California Fostering Connections to Success Act Today
5. FEDERAL POLICY- Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008