(SACRAMENTO) - Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) announced AB 276 today to ensure continuous, quality care for foster children at community care facilities.
On average, out-of-state background checks take almost three months to complete. These long waiting periods to onboard staff adversely affect community care facilities' ability to provide top-rate services and programming for foster children and youth. The bill would allow these facilities (which include childcare facilities and foster family homes) to address staffing shortages by allowing qualified applicants to work at a facility while waiting for out-of-state clearance.
"Foster youth and families suffer when programs can't hire the qualified staff they need due to lengthy background check delays," said Adrienne Shilton, Vice President of Public Policy for the California Alliance of Child and Family Services. "By aligning state policy with federal law and adhering to California's rigorous safeguards, this bill ensures that agencies can meet the urgent needs of California's most vulnerable populations."
"Every foster child deserves timely and high-quality care from trusted professionals, which is why Casa Pacifica fully supports Assemblymember Steve Bennett's AB 276," said Shawna Morris, MPA, Chief Executive Officer of Casa Pacifica. "The current delays in out-of-state background checks impact our ability to provide the high-quality care these children need and deserve. By streamlining this process, AB 276 will remove a critical obstacle to hiring qualified staff and ensure community care facilities can deliver on their mission. We are deeply grateful to Assemblymember Bennett for championing this essential legislation."
"The damage done to foster children while being held in an inappropriate setting for up to three months can be permanent. Out of state screening of perspective employees takes too much time," said Assemblymember Steve Bennett. "This bill speeds up the day that a foster child gets appropriate services while maintaining basic perspective employee review by the Department of Justice, the FBI and the California Child Abuse Central Index check." Assemblymember Bennett has continuously supported foster families since serving on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, including authoring AB 1051.
Steve Bennett represents the 38th Assembly District, which includes Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, and Ventura. He is chair of the Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Transportation.
CONTACT: Michelle.Sevilla@asm.ca.gov