Foster care: infant supplement.
The implementation of AB 1952 will directly affect financial assistance for families and caregivers involved in the AFDC-FC program, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP), and the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program (ARC). The increase in monthly payments will provide additional resources for care and supervision, potentially improving the quality of care for children in the foster system. It highlights a recognition by the state of the increasing costs associated with raising infants and the need for caregivers to receive adequate financial support to foster a healthy environment for children in care.
Assembly Bill 1952, introduced by Assembly Member Dixon, seeks to amend Section 11465 of the Welfare and Institutions Code regarding the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program. The key provision of this bill is an increase in the infant supplement payment by $517.24 per month, which is designed to support foster care providers responsible for caring for infants and young children. This increase will be adjusted annually based on inflation, subject to appropriation by the state in the annual Budget Act, reflecting a commitment to provide better financial support to caregivers who manage the necessities of fostering infants.
There are notable points of contention associated with this bill, particularly regarding the financial implications for local agencies. While the bill proposes to enhance support for caregivers, it imposes additional requirements on counties that administrate the AFDC-FC, Kin-GAP, and ARC programs. Critics may raise concerns about the state’s mandate that counties absorb these costs without state reimbursement, arguing that it could strain local resources. Therefore, the bill includes provisions that ensure that costs mandated by the state will not require reimbursement under specific circumstances, which may lead to debates on fiscal responsibility and adequacy of funding for local programs.