Existing law requires monthly visits by a county social worker or county probation officer to foster children, as specified. Existing law requires the monthly visit to include a private discussion between the social worker or probation officer and the foster child, and prohibits the contents of the private discussions from being disclosed to the foster parent or caregiver or group home staff, except as specified.

The bill would require, no later than July 1, 2027, the State Department of Social Services to convene a working group to develop guidelines for county placing agencies and attorneys representing nonminor dependents related to engaging and supporting nonminor dependents who are placed out of state, as specified. The bill would require, no later than July 1, 2027, and contingent upon an appropriation for this purpose, the department to convene stakeholders, as specified, to develop best practices in casework practices to support and promote the healthy adult development of nonminor dependents. The bill would require the department to utilize that input to develop and deliver training, and possibly other means of support, for county placing agencies.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.