Arizona bill Senate Bill 1186 aims to prioritize kinship care and strengthen youth in foster care. This bill will add new rights for youth in foster care. It also enshrines the children’s rights to receive medical care as well as outlines the rights of birth families to be informed of allegations, have an attorney present during child welfare investigations, refusal of home inspections, drug test or mental health evaluation barring a court order.
California Senate Bill 9 aims to extend foster youth age by five years making it the first state in the nation to offer housing, financial and caseworker support to youth through age 26 in order to prevent homelessness. This legislation is now backed by a group of Superior Court judges as well as the California Judges Association.
Montana House bill 317 introduces protections for American Indian Children by ensuring they are placed close to their respective tribe and reservation. This would the federal Indian Child Welfare Act into Montana law. This bill will need to pass the full House before progressing to the Senate.
Legislation update fromVoice for Adoption advocacy can be found here.
Update from theHuman Rights Campaign Foundation can be found here.
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