Dependent children: locating extended family members

Existing law requires the juvenile court, after finding that a child is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court on the basis of abuse or neglect, to hear evidence on the question of the proper disposition to be made of the child. Before determining the appropriate disposition to be made of the child, the court is required to receive into evidence the social study of the child made by the social worker. Existing law also authorizes the juvenile court, in addition to or in lieu of adjudicating the child a dependent child of the court, to appoint a legal guardian of, or order a legal guardianship for, the child, as specified. Existing law requires the court to read and consider a specified assessment before appointing a legal guardian. Existing law additionally establishes a statewide multipurpose child welfare training program, as specified. This bill would revise the social study and the assessment described above to include information regarding whether the county welfare department has attempted to locate relative and nonrelative, as defined, extended family members of the child and establish permanent familial connections between the child and those persons. The bill would also revise the statewide child welfare training program to include training in making efforts to locate extended family members of dependent children and establish permanent familial connections for those children. By increasing the duties of social workers, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.