HB 2801
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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
House: HHS DPA 7-2-0-0 | APPROPS DPA 12-0-2-1
HB 2801: extended foster care service model
Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4
Caucus & COW
Overview
Appropriates monies and FTEs to the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to implement an
Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Service Model (Model) that includes supportive services
and required case management provided by contracted community providers for eligible young
adults.
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 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).
Provisions
Extended Foster Care Comprehensive Service Model
1. Appropriates $15,000,000 from the state GF, $8,000,000 from expenditure authority and
seven FTE positions in FY 2024 to DCS to implement the Model and exempts the
appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 2)
2. Directs DCS to prepare a scope of work for a Model that includes supportive services and
required case management provided by contracted community providers for young adults who
participate in the extended foster care program within 10 days after the effective date of this
legislation. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2801
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3. Requires the Model's scope of work to include:
a) monthly 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; and
h) assistance with accessing transportation services for young adults. (Sec. 1)
Extended Foster Care Success Coaching Program (Success Coaching Program)
4. Mandates that the Model must include success coaches for young adults in the extended
foster care program. (Sec. 1)
5. Outlines experience and education qualifications for success coaches. (Sec. 1)
6. Specifies that each success coach must have a caseload of not more than 20 young adults.
(Sec. 1)
7. Asserts that the Success Coaching Program must be based on a practice that is youth driven
and that does the following:
a) promotes permanent connections;
b) supports the development of an educational foundation and skill set that enables young
adults to gain and maintain employment to support their financial needs;
c) ensures that young adults reside in safe, stable and secure housing;
d) links young adults to appropriate services that address physical and behavioral health
needs;
e) build skills for developing personal agency; and
f) ensures that young adults have the cognitive and social-emotional competencies essential
to survival. (Sec. 1)
8. Requires the 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;
f) deliver interventions that are tailored to each young adult's strengths and experiences;
and
g) contract with a public university to evaluate the effectiveness of the vendor's delivery of
the Success Coaching Program. (Sec. 1)
9. Directs DCS to solicit agencies to administer the Model within 30 days and select an agency
within 90 days after the effective date of this legislation. (Sec. 1)
10. Requires DCS to implement the Model within 150 days after the effective date of this
legislation. (Sec. 1)
11. Requires DCS to adopt rules to implement the Model and Success Coaching Program.
(Sec. 1) HB 2801
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Extended Foster Care Quality Review Committee (Committee)
12. Establishes the Committee within DCS to consist of DCS staff members. (Sec. 1)
13. Outlines criteria that the Committee must confirm that a young adult meets to participate in
the extended foster care program. (Sec. 1)
Reporting Requirements
14. Directs DCS to submit a report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), Senate
Health and Human Services Committee and House Health & Human Services Committee that
includes certain data and statistics, as outlined, within 150 days after the effective date of this
legislation. (Sec. 1)
15. Requires DCS to provide quarterly reports to JLBC that includes:
a) the number of young adults served in the extended foster care program;
b) the young adult's participating in regular reviews with extended foster care staff; and
c) other performance measures as updated by the Committee and as determined by the
Chairperson of JLBC. (Sec. 1)
Amendments
Committee on Health & Human Services and Committee on Appropriations
1. Modifies the model's scope of work to include weekly engagement with young adults, rather
than monthly.