Straight from the Heart, Inc.

The following information has been provided courtesy of

Regina Deihl, Executive Director of LAPP

New California Laws Take Effect January 1, 2008

GREAT NEWS! Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger today signed a package of foster care legislation, including the first priority for our LAPP Leaders Group.

The Governor signed AB 298 by Assemblymember Bill Maze that ensures that children will not be removed from relative caregivers for the sole reason that their relative caregivers prefer to take legal guardianship rather than adopt the children. This is an important first step in making sure the legislature hears your voices. Many, many thanks to all the foster parents and relatives that sent letters supporting this legislation – the Governor heard you!!

Also, please note that our 5% rate increase went through.

Thank you all for your wonderful support!

In addition, the following legislation was also signed into law:

AB 1331 by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) which ensures foster youth with disabilities access to critical services that will support them in their transition to adulthood. It requires counties to screen foster youth between the age of 16 ½ and 17 ½ to determine their potential eligibility for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits and to make applications for those who may be eligible.

AB 1453 by Assemblymember Nell Soto (D-Ontario) which convenes calls for the development and testing of a plan to transform the current system of group care for foster children and for children with serious emotional disorders into a system of residentially-based services (RBS) that is focused on improving outcomes.

SB 785 by Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that facilitates access to mental health services for foster children who are placed outside of the original county of jurisdiction, including those being adopted or entering into a guardianship with a relative.

SB 39 by Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) that allows the public release of specified portions of juvenile case files of any child who has suffered a fatality as the result of substantiated abuse or neglect.

AB 340 by Assemblymember Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) which creates the Resource Family Pilot Program to establish a unified approval process for foster family homes, foster care providers and adoptive families. This program will streamline applications and reduce the duplicative process that foster and adoptive families must complete before foster youth can be placed in a safe, permanent home.

AB 1512 by Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) that creates an expedited process to ensure the continued provision of health benefits when foster youth are transferred from a county organized health system to an out-of-county placement.

Governor Schwarzenegger also signed AB 402 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) which amends the inter-familial exemptions for property transfers and allows foster parents to transfer their property to current or former foster youth without the value of the property being reassessed for property tax purposes.

The Governor’s 2007-08 budget includes $4.1 billion ($1.6 billion General Fund) to support child welfare, including abuse prevention, foster care and adoption and foster care services, a 4.5 percent increase over revised 2006 Budget Act levels. Major investments in the child welfare system include:

An increase of $3.7 million ($2 million General Fund), effective February 1, 2008, to double the reimbursement rate for non-profit private adoption agencies that specialize in finding permanent homes for children with high needs.

An increase of $17.2 million ($9.6 million General Fund), effective January 1, 2008, to provide a 5-percent increase to foster family home base rates, specialized care increments, and group home rates; Adoption Assistance Program cases prospectively; and all Kin-GAP and Emergency Assistance cases.

An increase of $30.8 million ($15.2 million General Fund) to create a standard rate paid to foster care and adoptive families who care for children with developmental disabilities. These children are served by both the Department of Social Services and the Department of Developmental Services. The effect of this change will be an expedited and streamlined process for families accessing services through this program. Under this change, the vast majority of families will receive a rate increase and no family will see a decrease. Children will continue to receive all necessary services related to their developmental disability through the regional center system.

An increase of $20.2 million General Fund to increase participation in the Transitional Housing Plus Program, which provides services to youth between 18 and 24 years of age emancipating from the foster care system.

Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed May 2007 as “Foster Care Month” to applaud foster families for instilling emotional nourishment and hope into children who need a stable, loving home life.

Straight From The Heart, Inc.* 839 W. San Marcos Blvd. * San Marcos, CA * 92078 * 760-744-2240 phone * 760-744-3209 fax