ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: HHS DP 8-1-0-1

HB 2704: foster youth permanency project team

Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4

Caucus & COW

Overview

Establishes a Foster Youth Permanency Project Team to implement solutions to remove barriers to permanency for children likely to be in custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) when they turn 18 years old or begin participating in the Extended Foster Care Program.

History

Extended Foster Care

The primary purpose of DCS is to protect children. To achieve this DCS will do and focus equally on: 1) investigating reports of abuse and neglect; 2) assessing, promoting and supporting the safety of a child in a safe and stable family or other appropriate placement in response to allegations of abuse and neglect; 3) cooperating with law enforcement regarding reports that include allegations of criminal conduct; and 4) coordinating services to achieve and maintain permanency for the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment services without compromising the child's safety (A.R.S. § 8-451).

DCS may establish an extended foster care program for qualified young adults. To participate in the program, a qualified young adult must meet certain eligibility requirements. DCS must provide a progress report every six months to the Young Adult Administrative Review Panel (Panel) for each participating young adult. The Panel must review, the qualified young adult's voluntary extended foster care case plan at least once every six months. This includes reviewing the services and supports provided and needed to assist the young adult in their successful transition to adulthood.

DCS must develop and coordinate educational case management plans for participating young adults to assist them in accomplishing the following: 1) graduating from high school; 2) passing the statewide assessment to measure pupil achievement; 3) applying for postsecondary education and financial assistance; and 4) completing postsecondary education classes (A.R.S. § 8-521.02).

Permanent Guardianship

Any party to a dependency proceeding or a pending dependency proceeding can file a motion for permanent guardianship. The motion must be verified by the person who files the motion and include the following: 1) the name, sex, residence, date and place of birth of the child; 2) the facts and circumstances supporting the grounds for permanent guardianship; 3) the name and address of the prospective guardian and a statement that the prospective guardian agrees to accept the duties and responsibilities of guardianship; 4) the basis for the court's jurisdiction; 5) the relationship of the child to the prospective guardian; 6) whether the child is subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978; and 7) the name, address, marital status and date of birth of the birth parents, if known. Before a final hearing, DCS, the agency or a person designated as an officer of the court must conduct an investigation addressing certain factors and whether the prospective permanent guardian or guardians are fit and proper to become permanent guardians and whether the best interests of the child would be served by granting the permanent guardianship (A.R.S. § 8-872).

Provisions

1. Requires DCS to establish a Foster Youth Permanency Project Team to implement solutions to remove barriers to permanency for children who are likely to be in DCS custody when the child turns 18 years old or begin to participate in the Extended Foster Care Program. (Sec. 1)

2. Require the DCS Director to appoint DCS staff and volunteers who have experience or expertise in child welfare to serve as team members. (Sec. 1)

3. Allows the DCS Director to appoint the following:

a) members who have expertise or experience in social work;

b) members who are attorneys and who have expertise in representing children or experience in child welfare law;

c) members who have served as guardians ad litem; and

d) members who have served as court appointed special advocates. (Sec. 1)

4. Prescribes duties for the Foster Youth Permanency Project Team. (Sec. 1)

5. Asserts that the Foster Youth Permanency Project Team must have access to all DCS documents and personnel that are necessary to perform the duties of the Foster Youth Permanency Project Team. (Sec. 1)

6. Allows the Foster Youth Permanency Project Team to enter into contracts with any of the following:

a) a child or adolescent psychiatrist who has expertise in effective therapies and assessing proper use of psychotropic medications;

b) an attorney who has expertise in social security benefits, education, immigration, disability, adoption, DCS and child welfare policies; or

c) a private investigator who can successfully locate relatives or kin of children who were not previously identified as placement options. (Sec. 1)

7. Requires the Foster Youth Permanency Project Team to take reasonable steps to prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy and to protect the privacy and dignity of children who are the subject of a permanency action plan. (Sec. 1)

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11. HB 2704

12. Initials AG/MT Page 0 Caucus & COW

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