Sacramento – With bi-partisan participation, California legislators have led the efforts to improve the state’s Foster Care System, the largest in the nation. With more than 87,000 children in the System, the state’s Select Committee on Foster Care has embarked on a campaign that addresses the state’s foster care issues. Assemblymember Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) chairs the Select Committee with Assemblymember Bill Maze (R-Barstow) serving as the vice chair.

“The goal is to ensure that our efforts have an immediate impact on the state’s Foster Care System,” said Assemblymember Bass. “It’s evident that we need to directly tackle the problems that have crippled our System by strategically focusing on the key issues in order to improve foster care in California.”

With the Select Committee’s efforts to bring the foster care issues to the forefront, major strives have been made through the state Senate and Assembly.

• The bipartisan Select Committee developed a 25 piece legislative packet, which addresses various components of the System including emancipation, health, education, relative care, social worker workload, state oversight and legal issues. Currently, the packet is making its way through the legislative process.
  
  
• A series of Select Committee hearings were held throughout to state addressing relative caregivers, and emancipation issues. Attendees included foster youth, social workers, administrators and foster care reform advocates.
  
  
• The state’s historic bond package includes $50 million that will address housing needs for emancipated youth.
  
  
• The Senate approved $75 million Foster Care and Child Welfare budget package, which would provide funds for caseload standards, kinship support, transitional programs, Title IV-E waiver implementation, dependency drug courts, and systemic improvements.
  
  
• The Assembly approved $83.2 million Foster Care and Child Welfare budget packet, which would mirror the Senate funding as well as an additional $8.2 million more to fund services for foster youth in group homes and extended services for probationary youth.

“Improving California’s Foster Care System requires a collective coalition,” stated Assemblymember Maze. “We must work together to make sure that sufficient funds and resources are allocated to help the System become the most efficient, effective and responsive.”

Early this year, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Foster Care was created, which studies how to secure safe and permanent homes for children in California’s foster care system. Chaired by California Supreme Court Justice Carlos R. Moreno, the commission is made up of judges, attorneys, community leaders, foster care experts and legislators including Assemblymember Bass.

“These are our children and we must make every possible effort to guarantee that they have the opportunity to become productive citizens,” concludes Bass.