Foster care: placement transition planning.

Assembly Member Elhawary's foster care reform legislation requires California counties to develop comprehensive placement transition policies to support children moving between foster care settings or reunifying with their families. The bill mandates that these policies ensure children can provide input on their transitions and establishes guidelines for social workers to gather and share information in ways that reduce trauma and address children's developmental, cultural, and emotional needs.

Under the legislation, county child welfare agencies must consult with foster youth and caregivers to create policies that consider children's educational, medical, mental health, and social needs while maintaining important relationships and community connections. The policies must detail how transitions will be managed - from timing and preparation to transportation and participation in upcoming activities. Counties are required to designate staff to communicate with children throughout transitions to ensure they understand the process.

The State Department of Social Services will issue guidance on transition planning best practices, after which counties have one year to submit their policies for review. The bill also amends existing law to expand foster children's rights and modify resource family approval processes, requiring additional training on supporting placement transitions. These changes aim to create more stable and supportive environments during necessary placement changes.

The measure builds upon current requirements for placement preservation strategies by establishing standardized procedures for cases where preservation is not possible. Counties must document and report on transitions that extend beyond standard timeframes, enabling oversight of implementation and outcomes.