SB 528: Take Action to Support Young Parents in Foster Care Last Wednesday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee heard Senate Bill 528 (Yee) and placed it on suspense where it will remain until later this month, when committee members meet to vote which bills will move on to a full vote of the Assembly. If successful, SB 528 would improve access to subsidized child care for parenting foster youth, track the number of dependent parents, clarify that county agencies are authorized to share information about pregnancy prevention and encourage counties to implement a practice of specialized conferences for pregnant youth. Opposition to SB 528 has focused primarily on the cost to the State of tracking the number of parenting dependents. Other key elements, including referring youth to reproductive health services and conducting specialized conferences, are encouraged, but not required by counties, Currently, young parents in foster care face serious challenges: 1 in 5 do not get prenatal care until their last trimester of pregnancy and less than half graduate from high school. Even the benefits of foster care to age 21 are often out of reach for parenting foster youth; in 2012, just 4 percent received subsidized child care, making it difficult to meet one of the five conditions required to participate in extended foster care. Please take a moment to express your support for SB 528 by emailing the Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee Mike Gatto to let him know that improving services for parenting youth is an issue you care about.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:32:38 +0000
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