AB 2597 Summary

• Prohibits denial of resource family approval based solely on reliance on AFDC-FC, Kin-GAP, or Adoption Assistance Program benefits to meet household expenses from child placement.

• Allows relatives and nonrelated extended family members to be approved as resource families only for specific children when exceptional circumstances exist, with county review prior to placement of additional children.

• Requires psychosocial assessments to consider the relationship between applicants and specific children placed with them on an emergency basis or for whom they are applying.

• Permits AFDC-FC funding to begin no later than 90 days after placement if resource family approval process is delayed due to circumstances beyond the family's control.

• Requires county or foster family agency supervisory staff to review all denials of resource family approval for compliance with approval standards, and imposes related state-mandated local program costs.