HB653:

Foster care; DSS to establish and implement a collaborative local board placement program.

Bill Summary:

Foster care; local boards of social services; collaborative placement program. Directs the Department of Social Services to establish and implement a collaborative local board placement program to increase kinship placements and the number of locally approved foster homes. The bill provides that such program shall require local boards of social services (local boards) within each region to work collaboratively to (i) facilitate approval of kinship foster parents through engagement, assessment, and training and (ii) expand the pool of available foster homes within and across the localities of such local boards. The bill also requires local boards, when placing a child, to seek placement with a foster family within the locality of the local board or a nearby locality through the collaborative local board placement program.