HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY  - J. RYDINGSWORD

Approve Support Letter for the Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130

The Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children is being proposed through both a policy bill, AB 1164 (Thurmond), and as a State budget request. This proposal would provide emergency, time-limited vouchers to help Foster Families pay for child care immediately upon placement, bridging these families to long-term child care through the existing subsidized child care system administered by the California Department of Education. Child care assistance would be available to relative caregivers pending approval, approved resource families, licensed or certified foster families, and parenting foster youth for 6 months (which may be extended to 12 months) until families can access other subsidized child care programs.  Due to capped funding for child care under this proposal, counties would have discretion in determining their target populations for the child care bridge program.  The proposal also includes support for child care navigators and trauma-based training for child care providers serving foster children.  Additional information is included in the attached Fact Sheet and Funding Background documents.

Authorize the Board Chair to sign said support letter for the Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children through both a policy, AB 1164 and as a State budget request.