- Committee -

SCS/SBs 923, 828, 876, 694 and 736 - This act modifies various provisions relating to foster care. A new section is created to outline the following rights:

- The state must treat foster parents, children, birth parents, and the child welfare team with courtesy, respect, and consideration;

- The state must provide foster parents with training and support, information, visits, and accessible respite care;

- Foster parents must keep information confidential, participate in pre-placement visits, and follow appropriate respite care procedures;

- Foster parents must be allowed to make daily decisions for the child and plan visitation with the biological family;

- Foster parents must respect a child's culture, values, and needs and must administer discipline in a sensitive manner;

- The state must provide to foster parents information about a child's progress after leaving foster care, notice before a child is removed from a foster home, and first consideration for adoption;

- Foster parents must inform a caseworker of their interest in a child who has re-entered the system and of their desire to adopt; if they do not choose to adopt, they should encourage permanent placement; reasonable advance notice should be given if parents want to request removal;

- Foster parents must be informed in a timely manner of all court hearings and must have timely access to the child placement agency's appeals process. This portion is substantially similar to SB 828. (Section 210.566).

This act also allows foster parents to be automatically registered with the Family Care Safety Registry at no additional cost (Section 210.906). This portion is identical to SB 876.

Currently, the Division of Family Services makes reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from a home. This act does not require such effort when a child is abused by a person other than the parent and circumstances indicate the parent knew or should have known about it. Section 211.183, RSMo, currently defines "reasonable efforts" as reasonable diligence and care by the Division of Family Services to utilize all available resources to meet the needs of the juvenile and the family (Section 211.183). This portion is identical to SB 694.

Current law requires the Department of Mental Health to establish a placement program for affected individuals. New language allows the Department of Social Services or the court to refer a child to the Department of Mental Health for assessment. If the assessment indicates a mental disorder or addiction, then the Department shall not refuse appropriate care including residential treatment services to that child, if required (Section 630.605). This portion is identical to SB 736.

ERIN MOTLEY