Requiring that a haircare plan is part of the case plan for a child in custody of the secretary for children and family services and requiring the secretary to offer training on culturally competent haircare to caregivers.
Impact
The bill places an emphasis on training for foster parents and kinship caregivers regarding culturally competent haircare practices. By July 1, 2026, the Secretary for Children and Families is required to have developed training resources that assist caregivers in meeting the specific haircare needs of children in state custody. This initiative has the potential to enhance the quality of care provided to children in the state's foster care system by ensuring that caregivers are adequately prepared to address cultural and personal haircare needs, thus fostering a more inclusive environment.
Summary
Senate Bill 149 aims to amend the revised Kansas Code for Care of Children by incorporating requirements related to the haircare needs of children in custody of the Secretary for Children and Families. A significant feature of this bill is the inclusion of a haircare plan within each child's case plan, ensuring that children are provided with appropriate care that respects their gender, race, religion, and cultural background. The bill mandates that the development of this plan includes input from the child, when age-appropriate, alongside parents, foster parents, and caregivers, thus promoting a collaborative approach to individualized care.
Contention
While the bill collaborates on improving the care of children in custody, potential areas of contention may arise around the implementation of these requirements. Critics may voice concerns regarding the adequacy and comprehensiveness of training programs as well as the practical ability of caregivers to implement such culturally sensitive practices. Furthermore, additional resources may be needed to support foster parents adequately, which could lead to debates regarding funding and resource allocation within the child welfare system. Overall, while the bill seeks to enhance care standards, its success hinges on adequate support and oversight.
Directing the secretary for children and families to identify relatives and persons with whom a child in custody of the secretary has close emotional ties for placement and send notice of custody to the persons when identified.
Substitute for HB 2189 by Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care - Granting jurisdiction to the court to extend custody of non-minor dependents and allow the secretary for children and families to provide reentry services to an eligible young adult.
Establishing procedures for law enforcement agencies and the secretary for children and families to follow and use when a child in custody of the secretary is reported missing and requiring the secretary to obtain a nondrivers' identification card for such reports.
Requiring the secretary for children and families to assess certain children and the secretary of corrections to provide certain services to juveniles in detention, changing the criteria used to refer and admit juveniles to a juvenile crisis intervention center, allowing evidence-based program account money to be used on certain children, requiring the department of corrections to build data systems and allowing for overall case length limit extensions for certain juvenile offenders.
Requiring the secretary for children and families to reimburse hospitals when a child in custody of the secretary remains at such hospital and is no longer receiving medical services.
Prohibiting the secretary for children and families from using federal benefits of a child in need of care for the care and custody of the child and requiring the secretary to create and maintain an account of such benefits received for such child.
Requiring the secretary for children and families to release certain information related to a child fatality when criminal charges are filed alleging that a person caused such fatality.
Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices, requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations, enacting the Representative Gail Finney memorial foster care bill of rights, applying the federal Indian child welfare act to certain actions under the revised Kansas code for care of children.
Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices, requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations, enacting the Representative Gail Finney memorial foster care bill of rights, applying the federal Indian child welfare act to certain actions under the revised Kansas code for care of children.