(a)
The Legislature finds and declares that there is an urgent need to develop placement resources to permit sibling groups to remain together in out-of-home care when removed from the custody of their parents due to child abuse or neglect. Multiple barriers exist, including local ordinances and community care licensing standards, that limit or prevent the county placement agency from fulfilling its obligation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16002 to place siblings together.
Therefore, the Legislature declares its intent to develop specific placement resources to accommodate sibling groups.
(b)
The State Department of Social Services shall, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, the Judicial Council, organizations representing foster youth, and other similar, interested organizations, make recommendations to increase the available sibling placement resources. The possible policy changes to be addressed shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(1)
The creation of a special licensing category for sibling care, including sibling group foster homes.
(2)
Development of children’s villages with separate cottages to provide a home for each sibling group.
(3)
Funding for targeted recruitment of foster parents for large sibling groups.
(4)
Establishment of a higher foster care payment rate for caretakers who accept sibling groups.
(5)
Funding for one-time capital improvement costs to remodel homes to accommodate placement of siblings and provide for other up-front costs, such as vans, car seats, and other items.
(6)
Establishment of guidelines for placing siblings, who cannot be placed in the same home, within geographic proximity to each other and exploration of the possibility of permitting these siblings to have the option of enrolling in the same school district even when the siblings reside in different school districts.
(c)
The department shall develop recommendations for the Legislature, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers Association and the County Welfare Directors Association, regarding procedures for doing both of the following:
(1)
Placing siblings together when one or more siblings are in the juvenile dependency system and one or more siblings are in the juvenile delinquency systems, when such placements are appropriate.
(2)
Maintaining contact and sharing information between siblings who are placed separately in out-of-home care under the juvenile dependency and the juvenile delinquency systems.
(d)
The department shall submit the recommendations described in subdivisions (b) and (c) to the Legislature by November 1, 2001.