CA AB2459

Requires county welfare department social workers and probation officers to include information about voluntary mentoring services for foster youth in supplemental reports and social studies prepared for court status review hearings.

Defines "mentoring" as a meaningful relationship between a mentor and mentee focused on positive behaviors, educational success, and mental health well-being, which may be conducted on a one-to-one basis if provided by organizations exempt from mandated reporter requirements.

Mandates documentation that foster youth understand mentoring is voluntary, have provided explicit written informed consent for information sharing with mentors, and cannot face discipline or adverse action for discontinuing participation.

Requires social workers and probation officers to refer interested children and nonminor dependents to nonprofit organizations with experience mentoring foster youth in a trauma-informed manner.

Provides that no state reimbursement is required for costs already borne by local agencies under 2011 Realignment Legislation, limiting state funding obligations for the new mentoring requirements.