FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT CENTERS - H.B. 5242 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 5242 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Barb Vander Veen
House Committee: Family and Children Services
Senate Committee: Families, Mental Health and Human Services
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to allow the Family Independence Agency (FIA) to establish as pilot projects up to six foster and adoptive parent resource centers. Each resource center would have to provide, at least, support for and coordination of respite care and assistance to foster parents in obtaining day care. Resource center staff also would have to pursue other activities designed to promote permanency for children, particularly those with special needs, such as support aimed at retaining foster parents. The FIA could fund the pilot resource centers using money appropriated to it for the current fiscal year.
After the pilot project was in operation for two years, the FIA would have to evaluate the pilot project on its organization, effectiveness, and success. The FIA would have to report to the Legislature the results of the evaluation, including the number of foster parents who used each particular resource center, the top 10 concerns raised by the foster parents, and how those concerns were handled.
MCL 722.958 - Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local governments. The FIA currently provides postadoption services in seven regional resource centers and provides support services to foster care parents through contracts with agencies. The most expensive item in the promotion of permanency is support for respite care services.
- Fiscal Analyst: Constance ColeS0102\s5242sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.