Foster care: foster sibling relationship.
The proposed changes would require local agencies and the juvenile court to make diligent efforts to verify that siblings remain connected, even when they are no longer in the same placement. The bill amends existing laws, stating an intent to promote the nurturing and preservation of sibling-like bonds among children in foster care, which could influence the judgments made during status reviews and placements. County welfare departments will be tasked with outlining their efforts to foster these relationships during regular review periods, aimed at ensuring children's emotional well-being is prioritized.
Assembly Bill 2051, introduced by Assembly Member Reyes, amends sections of the Welfare and Institutions Code to enhance the foster care system by establishing the concept of a foster sibling relationship. The bill proposes that siblings placed together in foster care should maintain those relationships, even if they are separated in out-of-home placements. It emphasizes the importance of these emotional bonds for dependent and nonminor dependent children and aims to facilitate the assessment and maintenance of these relationships during reviews mandated by the juvenile court.
As the bill also imposes additional responsibilities on social workers and county agencies, it raises questions regarding the funding and resources required to implement these changes effectively. There might be opposition centered around the strain on already limited resources, as the bill explicitly states that no reimbursement will be provided for the new mandates it introduces. Critics may argue that, without financial support, the legislation could place an undue burden on local agencies that are already grappling with high caseloads.