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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session |
Senate: HHS DP 6-0-1-0 | APPROP DP 10-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 26-3-1-0 |
SB 1303: extended foster care service model
Sponsor: Senator Shope, LD 16
Committee on Health & Human Services
Overview
Codifies the Extended Foster Care (EFC) Service Model as permanent law. Requires the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to prepare a scope of work for an EFC Model that includes supportive services, case management provided by contracted community providers for eligible young adults and an Extended Foster Care Success Coaching Program.
History
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 (EFC Program) for qualified young adults. To participate in the EFC 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).
Laws 2023, Chapter 141 established as session law, required DCS to prepare a scope of work for an EFC Model that includes supportive services and required case management provided by contracted community providers for young adults who are between 17.5 and 20 years old and participating in the EFC program. The legislation also created the Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Model Fund (EFC Model Fund) to be administered by DCS and consisting of legislative appropriations. According to DCS's EFC Model Quarterly Report, as of September 2024 there were 864 young adults in the EFC program (DCS September 2024 Quarterly Report).
Provisions
Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Service Model
1. Directs DCS to prepare a scope of work for an EFC Service Model that includes supportive services and required case management provided by contracted community providers for young adults who participate in the EFC program within 10 days after the effective date of this legislation. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires the scope of work for the EFC Service Model to include:
a) weekly engagement with each young adult;
b) life skills training;
c) mental and physical health and well-being;
d) relational permanency;
e) education and enrollment assistance;
f) assistance with accessing safe housing attainment and stability for young adults;
g) career and employment planning and readiness;
h) assistance with accessing transportation services for young adults; and
i) flexible funding to support the unique needs of the young adult, including educational services and job training or workforce development. (Sec. 1)
3. Specifies that the EFC Service Model must include an extended foster care success coaching program for young adults in the EFC program. (Sec. 1)
4. Limits the caseload for success coaches to no more than 20 young adults. (Sec. 1)
Extended Foster Care Success Coaching Program
(EFC Success Coaching Program)
5. Requires the EFC Success Coaching Program to be based on a practice that is youth driven to:
a) promote permanent connections;
b) support the development of an educational foundation and skill set that enables young adults to gain and maintain employment to support their financial needs;
c) assist young adults to reside in safe, stable and secure housing;
d) link young adults to appropriate services that address physical and behavioral health needs;
e) build skills for developing personal agency; and
f) ensure that young adults have the cognitive and social-emotional competencies essential to survival. (Sec. 1)
6. Requires the EFC Success Coaching Program to:
a) operate from an evidence-based framework;
b) ensure that the young adults served are aware of their rights to normalcy;
c) assist young adults to advocate with caregivers to experience activities and opportunities that meet individual interests;
d) support caregivers in identifying root causes of behaviors that present barriers to transition and provide opportunities that assist young adults in healing and addressing underlying trauma;
e) develop feedback that allows young adults to communicate their needs and satisfaction with provided services; and
f) deliver interventions that are tailored to each young adult's strengths and experiences. (Sec. 1)
7. Directs each EFC success coach to:
a) successfully complete a DCS-administered foster care success coach training program;
b) possess a bachelor's or associate's degree or have equivalent credits equal to an associate's degree;
c) have experience working with youth or young adults; and
d) exhibit the belief that all young adults have the capacity to be successful in life. (Sec. 1)
8. Permits an EFC success coach to possess skills acquired through alternative routes such as relevant job training, community college attendance, military service or an apprenticeship in lieu of a degree or credits. (Sec. 1)
9. Requires DCS to supervise and monitor the success of the EFC Success Coaching Program. (Sec. 1)
10. Directs DCS to solicit agencies to administer the EFC Service Model within 30 days and select an agency within 90 days after the effective date of this legislation. (Sec. 1)
11. Requires DCS to implement the EFC Service Model within 150 days after the effective date of this legislation. (Sec. 1)
Extended Foster Care Quality Review Committee (EFC Review Committee)
12. Directs DCS to establish an EFC Review Committee within DCS consisting of DCS staff members. (Sec. 1)
13. Tasks the EFC Review Committee with confirming that a young adult who participates in extended foster care:
a) meets the eligibility criteria;
b) has connections to supportive adults who are actively involved in the young adult's life;
c) has a person-centered case and transition plan that supports the young adult's identified goals and future planning; and
d) is acquiring individualized skills to develop the tools that are needed to thrive outside of the EFC program. (Sec. 1)
14. Instructs DCS, annually on November 1, to submit a report on the developed EFC Service Model to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee. (Sec. 1)
15. Requires the EFC report to include data and statistics on:
a) the support and services to be offered by the EFC Service Model;
b) EFC's eligibility requirements;
c) the young adult's program responsibilities;
d) case and transition planning opportunities;
e) health insurance coverage for young adults in the EFC program;
f) educational opportunities for young adults in the EFC program;
g) opportunities for mentors through the EFC program;
h) transportation services for young adults in the EFC program, including obtaining a driver-license; and
i) housing, including semi-supervised living arrangements if such arrangements best meet the young adult's needs. (Sec. 1)
16. Requires DCS to provide to JLBC a quarterly report that includes:
a) the number of young adults served in the EFC Service Model;
b) the young adult's participation in regular reviews with EFC staff; and
c) other performance measures as updated by the EFC Review Committee and as determined by the chairperson of JLBC. (Sec. 1)
17. Establishes the EFC Model Fund as a permanent fund that consists of legislative appropriations, to be administered by DCS for purposes of implementing the EFC Service Model and the EFC Success Coaching Program. (Sec. 1)
18. Specifies that the EFC Model Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 1)
19. Defines Department and young adult. (Sec. 1)
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SB 1303
Initials AG Page 0 Health & Human Services
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