CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1006Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca RubioFebruary 18, 2021 An act to add Section 16001.3 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster care. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1006, as introduced, Blanca Rubio. Foster care: social worker turnover workgroup.Existing law provides for the foster care system, which is overseen by the State Department of Social Services and administered by county welfare departments. Existing law generally provides for children placed in foster care to be assigned a social worker who meets regularly with the foster child and performs specified services on behalf of the child.This bill would require the department to convene a workgroup to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster youth and children and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster youth and children. The bill would require that the working group include representatives from specified state agencies and stakeholders. The bill would require the department to submit specific recommendations to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2022.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 16001.3 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:16001.3. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup with concerned stakeholders, as specified in subdivision (b), to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster children and youth and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster children and youth.(b) The membership of the workgroup shall be comprised of, but not be limited to, all of the following interested parties and stakeholders:(1) Foster youth or former foster youth.(2) Foster care caregiver organizations.(3) Child advocacy organizations.(4) Foster family agency social workers.(c) Based on the findings of the workgroup, the department shall submit specific recommendations to the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2022, to implement measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover. A recommendation made pursuant to this paragraph is not binding on any state or local government agency.(d) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (c) is inoperative on December 31, 2026, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1006Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca RubioFebruary 18, 2021 An act to add Section 16001.3 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster care. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1006, as introduced, Blanca Rubio. Foster care: social worker turnover workgroup.Existing law provides for the foster care system, which is overseen by the State Department of Social Services and administered by county welfare departments. Existing law generally provides for children placed in foster care to be assigned a social worker who meets regularly with the foster child and performs specified services on behalf of the child.This bill would require the department to convene a workgroup to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster youth and children and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster youth and children. The bill would require that the working group include representatives from specified state agencies and stakeholders. The bill would require the department to submit specific recommendations to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2022.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1006 Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca RubioFebruary 18, 2021 Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio February 18, 2021 An act to add Section 16001.3 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster care. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1006, as introduced, Blanca Rubio. Foster care: social worker turnover workgroup. Existing law provides for the foster care system, which is overseen by the State Department of Social Services and administered by county welfare departments. Existing law generally provides for children placed in foster care to be assigned a social worker who meets regularly with the foster child and performs specified services on behalf of the child.This bill would require the department to convene a workgroup to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster youth and children and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster youth and children. The bill would require that the working group include representatives from specified state agencies and stakeholders. The bill would require the department to submit specific recommendations to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2022. Existing law provides for the foster care system, which is overseen by the State Department of Social Services and administered by county welfare departments. Existing law generally provides for children placed in foster care to be assigned a social worker who meets regularly with the foster child and performs specified services on behalf of the child. This bill would require the department to convene a workgroup to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster youth and children and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster youth and children. The bill would require that the working group include representatives from specified state agencies and stakeholders. The bill would require the department to submit specific recommendations to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2022. ## Digest Key ## Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 16001.3 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:16001.3. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup with concerned stakeholders, as specified in subdivision (b), to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster children and youth and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster children and youth.(b) The membership of the workgroup shall be comprised of, but not be limited to, all of the following interested parties and stakeholders:(1) Foster youth or former foster youth.(2) Foster care caregiver organizations.(3) Child advocacy organizations.(4) Foster family agency social workers.(c) Based on the findings of the workgroup, the department shall submit specific recommendations to the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2022, to implement measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover. A recommendation made pursuant to this paragraph is not binding on any state or local government agency.(d) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (c) is inoperative on December 31, 2026, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 16001.3 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:16001.3. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup with concerned stakeholders, as specified in subdivision (b), to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster children and youth and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster children and youth.(b) The membership of the workgroup shall be comprised of, but not be limited to, all of the following interested parties and stakeholders:(1) Foster youth or former foster youth.(2) Foster care caregiver organizations.(3) Child advocacy organizations.(4) Foster family agency social workers.(c) Based on the findings of the workgroup, the department shall submit specific recommendations to the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2022, to implement measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover. A recommendation made pursuant to this paragraph is not binding on any state or local government agency.(d) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (c) is inoperative on December 31, 2026, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. SECTION 1. Section 16001.3 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: ### SECTION 1. 16001.3. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup with concerned stakeholders, as specified in subdivision (b), to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster children and youth and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster children and youth.(b) The membership of the workgroup shall be comprised of, but not be limited to, all of the following interested parties and stakeholders:(1) Foster youth or former foster youth.(2) Foster care caregiver organizations.(3) Child advocacy organizations.(4) Foster family agency social workers.(c) Based on the findings of the workgroup, the department shall submit specific recommendations to the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2022, to implement measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover. A recommendation made pursuant to this paragraph is not binding on any state or local government agency.(d) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (c) is inoperative on December 31, 2026, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. 16001.3. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup with concerned stakeholders, as specified in subdivision (b), to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster children and youth and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster children and youth.(b) The membership of the workgroup shall be comprised of, but not be limited to, all of the following interested parties and stakeholders:(1) Foster youth or former foster youth.(2) Foster care caregiver organizations.(3) Child advocacy organizations.(4) Foster family agency social workers.(c) Based on the findings of the workgroup, the department shall submit specific recommendations to the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2022, to implement measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover. A recommendation made pursuant to this paragraph is not binding on any state or local government agency.(d) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (c) is inoperative on December 31, 2026, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. 16001.3. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup with concerned stakeholders, as specified in subdivision (b), to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster children and youth and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster children and youth.(b) The membership of the workgroup shall be comprised of, but not be limited to, all of the following interested parties and stakeholders:(1) Foster youth or former foster youth.(2) Foster care caregiver organizations.(3) Child advocacy organizations.(4) Foster family agency social workers.(c) Based on the findings of the workgroup, the department shall submit specific recommendations to the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2022, to implement measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover. A recommendation made pursuant to this paragraph is not binding on any state or local government agency.(d) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (c) is inoperative on December 31, 2026, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. 16001.3. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup with concerned stakeholders, as specified in subdivision (b), to examine the negative effects of high turnover of foster family agency social workers on foster children and youth and to identify measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover in order to improve permanency outcomes for foster children and youth. (b) The membership of the workgroup shall be comprised of, but not be limited to, all of the following interested parties and stakeholders: (1) Foster youth or former foster youth. (2) Foster care caregiver organizations. (3) Child advocacy organizations. (4) Foster family agency social workers. (c) Based on the findings of the workgroup, the department shall submit specific recommendations to the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2022, to implement measures to reduce foster family agency social worker turnover. A recommendation made pursuant to this paragraph is not binding on any state or local government agency. (d) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (c) is inoperative on December 31, 2026, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code. (2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.