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 The California Fostering Connections Coalition is a statewide effort to advocate for the passage of California State Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12), the California Fostering Connections to Success Act. If passed, this important legislation will significantly reform California’s foster care system in two ways:
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Assist youth who “age out” of foster care: Each year in California, over 4,000 youth “age out” when they turn 18 and are no longer eligible for foster care.Without the support of a family, these youth do not fare well as youngadults and experience homelessness, unemployment, criminal justice involvement andlow educational attainment at rates greater than their peers.AB 12 will ensure a brighter future for older youth in California’s foster care system by expanding support for foster youth to age 21, an approach proven tolead to better outcomes and that leverages substantial new federal funds.
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 Support relative caregivers: In 2001, California created the Kinship Guardian Assistance Program (Kin-GAP) to ensure that relatives who take legal guardianship of a child from the foster care system receive the same support provided to non-family members. AB 12 will build on this support by drawing on new federal dollars to operate what is currently an entirely state-funded program. Doing so will save California an estimated $70 million per year.
The California Fostering Connections Coalition will:
- Increase public awareness about both the needs of youth as they transition out of the foster care system and the needs of relative caregivers
- Educate Californians about the opportunity presented by the new federal legislation as well as AB 12
- Ensure the careful consideration of the opinions of a broad range of stakeholders, including foster youth and child welfare professionals
- Participate in the thoughtful design of the legislation
- Generate overwhelming support for the passage of AB 12
- Monitor and guide the implementation of AB 12 once it passes
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