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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
kinship foster care; TANF monies
Purpose
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant in FY 2020 to the Department of Child Safety (DCS) for the costs of TANF provided to kinship foster care parents.
Background
Children who have been removed from their home and are in custody of DCS are placed in temporary out-of-home care, commonly called foster care, with a goal of permanent placement established for each child. Statute requires DCS to place a child in the least restrictive type of placement available, consistent with the best interests of the child. The order of preference for placement is: 1) with a parent; 2) with a grandparent; 3) in kinship foster care with another member of the child’s family including a person who has a significant relationship with the child; 4) in family foster care; 5) in therapeutic foster care; 6) in a group home; or 7) in a residential treatment facility (A.R.S. § 8-514).
An individual who seeks to become a kinship foster care parent must apply with DCS, be at least 18 years of age, sign an agreement outlining the conditions of placement, submit to a criminal records check and submit to a DCS central registry check. Additionally, DCS is required to determine if kinship foster care applicants can meet a child's health and safety needs by conducting at least one home visit and interviewing the kinship foster care applicant. Kinship foster care parents are not required to be licensed foster care homes; however, they may choose to become licensed foster care parents. Currently, a licensed kinship foster care parent may be eligible to receive full foster care benefits, including foster care maintenance payments, if the kinship foster care parent becomes a licensed foster care home. Unlicensed kinship foster care parents may be eligible to receive TANF monies, for a child-only case, and supplemental financial support (A.R.S. § 8-514.03).
The purpose of the TANF Block Grant is to: 1) provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; 2) end dependency by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; 3) prevent or reduce out‑of‑wedlock pregnancies; and 4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, DCS was appropriated $149,472,700 from the TANF Block Grant in FY 2018 (JLBC FY 2018).
S.B. 1306 appropriates $5,000,000 from the TANF Block Grant in FY 2020 to DCS.
Provisions
2. Specifies that a kinship foster care parent is eligible for full foster care benefits, including foster care maintenance payments, if the kinship foster care parent becomes a licensed foster care home.
3. Stipulates that an unlicensed kinship foster care parent must be provided child-only TANF cash and supplemental financial support on behalf of an eligible dependent child without filing an application.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Specifies that TANF cash for a child-only case and supplemental financial support must be given to specified kinship foster care parents on behalf of an eligible dependent child.
Senate Action
HHS 2/13/19 DP 7-0-1
APPROP 2/26/19 DP 9-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 8, 2019
CRS/AB/gs