AB12 Implementation
AB 12 Implementation
In October 2010, California passed Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12) California Fostering Connections to Success. AB 12 is one of the biggest successes for foster youth in years. AB 12 drastically changes foster care, by optionally extending foster care until the age of 20 (and in the future 21); increasing support for kinship care (opportunities for youth to live with family members); improving education stability; coordinating health care services; providing direct child welfare support to Native American tribes; and expanding federal resources to train caregivers, child welfare staff, attorneys, and more.
AB 12 makes such significant changes to child welfare, and there are a lot of decisions to be made about how AB 12 should be implemented. The Statewide Youth Council that CYC is co-creating in partnership with California Connected by 25 Initiative, CDSS, CDWA and the Co-Investment Partnership, will spend some of their time providing youth input to the AB 12 implementation.
AB 12 May Revise
* Foster Care Increase- An increase of $10.7 million in 2011-2012 to increase payment rates for foster family homes as well as prospective Adoption Assistance Payment, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment, and Non-Related Legal Guardian payment rates pursuant to the Foster Parent Association, et al vs. John A. Wagner, et al court case. This increase is partially offset by savings of $1.6 million as a result of elimination of the supplmental clothing allowance for foster family homes.
* Suspend the CWS/Web Project - A decrease of $3.1 million in 2011-2012 from indefinitely suspending the development of the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System(CWS/Web)Project. The federal Administration for Children and Families has recently indicated that it intends to revise its requirements for the statewide automated child welfare information system. The CWS/Web Project is in the planning and procurement phase, and is currently schedulded to move to the system design anf implementation phase in 2012-2013, which will require significant additional resources. This reduction also makes available $838,000 in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant funds that can be transferred to the California Student Aid Commission to offset a like amount of General Funds for Cal Grants.
For a youth friendly AB 12 Fact Sheet please click here.
Also you can stay up to date with the implementation process by following our AB 12 Facebook page
"After 18" Campaign
The "After 18" Campagin is the latest message that CYC is promoting about AB 12. Now that foster care is extended to 20 (and hopefully 21 by 2014), it is important to acknowledge the support and partnership of young adults in AB 12- especially "After 18". Below are several documents available to the public about the "After 18" campagin.
* "After 18" Benefits Info Flyer: Click here for a youth friendly flyer that will help explain AB 12 and all of its benefits.
* "After 18" Fact Sheet: Click here for basic facts regarding the extension of foster care.
* "After 18" FAQ: Click here for commonly asked questions and their answers.
* Youth Orientation Powerpoint: Want a powerpoint which is an overview on AB 12? Click here and utilize a youth developed orientation on AB 12 and eligibility requirements. Share this with youth, adults, everyone in your community!
* Youth Orientation Trainers Guide: Click here for a document that will breakdown the Youth Orientation PowePoint and can be used as a support tool, when using the Youth Orientation Powerpoint.
