CA AB1154

Requires social workers and probation officers to document in court reports the likely emotional and social benefits of one-to-one mentoring for foster youth and recommend mentoring services.

For dependent children, mentoring referrals are voluntary and require the foster youth's agreement to participate; the court must ask the youth at status hearings if they are interested.

For wards in the juvenile justice system, mentoring programs may be included in case plans only if the foster youth agrees, and participation must remain voluntary with no adverse consequences for discontinuing.

Limits mentoring referrals to nonprofit organizations that meet specific criteria including experience serving foster children, trauma-informed training, established screening procedures, and professional monitoring systems.

Requires social workers and probation officers to make best efforts to identify and refer eligible foster youth to qualifying mentoring organizations, with the youth's explicit written consent to share case information with mentors.